The Animal Control Report

It’s the first episode of Keep it Humane for 2026, and we’re kicking off the year by catching up. Daniel Ettinger, Ashley Bishop, and Ashlee Bishop sit down to reflect on the past year—what challenged us, what surprised us, and what reminded us why this work matters. From lessons learned in animal control and animal welfare to the realities of burnout, leadership, and showing up for both people an...

In this powerful episode, Daniel Ettinger and Ashlee Bishop sit down with Nina Jackel, founder of Lady Freethinker, for an in-depth conversation about the global fight against animal cruelty and what it takes to create real, lasting change. Nina shares her remarkable journey from freelance journalist to leading an international nonprofit that exposes abuse, funds on-the-ground rescuers, and drives...

In this powerful and eye-opening episode of Keep it Humane: The Podcast, Daniel Ettinger, Ashley Bishop and Ashlee Bishop sit down with Dr. A. Michelle Gonzalez—veterinarian, forensic expert, and host of The Animal Welfare Junction. Dr. Gonzalez has been leading a groundbreaking investigative series on Steffen Baldwin, a self-proclaimed “trainer” whose history of animal cruelty and misconduct has...

While Daniel was somewhere over the Rockies on a flight, Ashlee and Ashley held down the fort and sat down with one of animal welfare’s most respected leaders: Kenny Lamberti. In this episode, Kenny shares insights from his decades of experience in community engagement, shelter operations, and national-level advocacy. Together, they dig into the evolving landscape of animal welfare, the importance...

In this special throwback episode of Keep It Humane: The Podcast, we revisit one of our most powerful interviews featuring David Hunt from the Ohio Department of Agriculture. David was an avid and skilled investigator of animal fighting cases, dedicating his career to uncovering and dismantling some of the most complex operations in the field. This episode is packed with insight, strategy, and pra...

In this episode of Keep it Humane, Daniel and Ashley explore an inspiring initiative where teens aren’t just learning about animal welfare—they’re actively shaping it. We dig into the story of the Snake River Animal Shelter’s “Paws for a Cause” program, which brought local teenagers into direct service with shelter animals and their community. East Idaho News You’ll hear how the five-week program...

As Albuquerque faces what some are calling a “kitten takeover,” shelters across New Mexico are stretched to capacity. In this episode, Daniel Ettinger and Ashley Bishop sit down with Val Wilson, Executive Director of Animal Humane New Mexico, to discuss what’s behind the surge in kitten intakes and how shelters can adapt to the changing landscape of animal welfare. Val shares insights from her lea...

In this episode, Daniel and OG Bishop dive into an inspiring story out of Eastpointe, Michigan, where Animal Control Officer Ashley Sanchez is making a real difference for pets and their owners. They explore how strict city ordinances (Eastpointe spans just five square miles) have been paired with a compassionate outreach program: a pet-food pantry, low-cost vaccination and micro-chip clinics, and...

In this unfiltered episode of Keep It Humane: The Podcast, Daniel and Ashley drop the script, silence the filters, and just talk. No guests. No agenda. No BS. They open up about the highs and lows of working in animal welfare — the burnout, the wins that keep them going, the moments they’ve doubted themselves, and the people who’ve helped them grow along the way. This is an honest, vulnerable conv...

In this episode of Keep It Humane: The Podcast, we sit down with Steve Kaufman, former leader at PetSmart Charities and now a respected consultant in the animal welfare space. Steve shares his unique perspective on how access to veterinary care is evolving and why it’s one of the most pressing issues facing shelters, rescues, and communities today. We explore his views on the future of animal welf...

Join us for a captivating conversation with Arthur von Wiesenberger, the visionary host and executive producer behind AnimalZone. In this special episode, Arthur takes us behind the scenes of the series and shares how his lifelong passion for animals shaped his mission to uplift their stories through media. We dive into: Arthur’s early life, education, and the formative moments that ignited his lo...

In this episode, we welcome Rachel Bellis from PETA to discuss the organization’s provocative new commercial challenging the “No-Kill” shelter movement and why they believe the approach is failing animals. Based on PETA’s recent feature “What Does Best Friends Animal Society’s ‘No-Kill’ Push Mean for Animals?”, we dig into the realities behind the rhetoric. PETA Rachel walks us through PETA’s crit...

In this episode, we sit down with Trevor from Shelterly, a mission-driven nonprofit using technology to transform how communities respond to animal crises. Trevor walks us through the vision behind Shelterly: how the platform streamlines tracking, coordination, and communication in the chaos of disasters. We discuss real-world impact — from wildfire evacuations and mutual aid between animal shelte...

In this episode of Keep it Humane: The Podcast, Daniel Ettinger and Ashley Bishop sit down with Mary Wakeham, founder of Refuge4Pets.org.uk , an organization dedicated to breaking down barriers for people escaping domestic abuse by providing foster care for their beloved animals. Mary shares the powerful story behind Refuge4Pets, the challenges survivors face when pets are used as tools of coerciv...

In this episode of Keep it Humane: The Podcast, we take a hard look at the viral Beaumont, California video showing an animal control officer roughly handling a dog. The incident didn’t just spark outrage online—it reinforced the very “dog catcher” stereotype that professionals have worked for decades to move beyond. Daniel, Ashley, and Ashlee unpack why this kind of behavior sets the entire field...

In this episode of Keep it Humane: The Podcast, Daniel and Ashley sit down with Temma Martin, a longtime animal welfare advocate and communications professional. Temma shares her journey from media to animal rescue, her work supporting shelters and communities, and her passion for collaboration across the industry. We talk about the challenges shelters face, the importance of spay/neuter, and how...

In this episode of Keep it Humane: The Podcast, we welcome reptile enthusiast and animal welfare professional Tabitha Blewitt to talk about one of the most overlooked populations in shelters—reptiles. From proper housing and nutrition to common mistakes shelters make when caring for snakes, lizards, and turtles, Tabitha brings her expertise and passion to the conversation. We explore how shelters...

In this episode of Keep it Humane: The Podcast, Daniel Ettinger and Ashley Bishop explore the challenges and responsibilities of leadership in animal welfare. From managing tough decisions to balancing compassion with community safety, they share lessons learned from the field. Along the way, they discuss Tallulah McGee’s thought-provoking article, “No Kill Isn’t So Simple — And It Is Costing Live...

In this episode, we sit down with John Peaveler, the founder and principal consultant of Humane Innovations LLC, a company driven by real-world experience in animal control, shelter systems, wildlife management, and disaster response. John brings over 20 years of global expertise to the table, having launched the first animal shelter and control program in Kuwait in 2004 and serving in leadership...

In this episode of Keep it Humane: The Podcast, Daniel and Ashley sit down with Adam Blankenship, an Animal Control Officer in Virginia Beach, to talk about one of the most important — and often overlooked — parts of the job: community engagement and education. Adam shares his passion for proactive outreach, building trust with the public, and empowering residents with the knowledge they need to b...

In this episode of Keep It Humane: The Podcast, we sit down with the passionate leaders of The Animal Alliance, an organization committed to advancing the welfare of animals through advocacy, education, and community action. We explore: How The Animal Alliance got started and what drives their mission today Their work in pushing for smarter legislation and policies that protect animals Strategies...

In this episode of Keep It Humane: The Podcast, we’re joined by the inspiring Dr. Alba Michelle Gonzalez—veterinarian, forensic expert, and founder of the Animal Welfare Junction podcast. Dr. G shares her journey from veterinary medicine to launching the Rascal Unit, a mobile clinic providing high-volume, low-cost spay/neuter and essential veterinary care in underserved Ohio communities. We dig in...

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Daphna Nachminovitch, Senior Vice President of Cruelty Investigations at PETA, to unpack the growing controversy surrounding the “no-kill” movement—specifically the bold promises made by Best Friends Animal Society. With a reported annual revenue of $173 million, Best Friends has pledged a "no-kill nation by 2025," a goal PETA says is not only unrealistic...

In this classic Animal Control Report episode, we tackled the annual chaos that hits shelters and animal control agencies around the Fourth of July. With fireworks booming, pets go missing in record numbers, kennels fill up overnight, and officers work overtime to reunite families. We break down why this holiday is one of the most intense for the field, what agencies do to prepare, and how the pub...

In this episode, we sit down with Audra Michael, the current Secretary of NACA and Director of Pinal County Animal Control in Arizona. With a career in animal welfare that began in 2007, Audra has served in nearly every field role imaginable—from training new officers to supervising field operations. Audra is a Certified Animal Welfare Administrator (CAWA), a Certified Public Manager through Arizo...