The Rescue State

Prelude to Season 4 | Finding Apollo Before we begin Season 4, I wanted to revisit one story that forever changed me. One year ago today, I said goodbye to my foster dog, Apollo, believing he had found his forever home. Just hours later, I received the phone call every rescuer dreads. Apollo had slipped out of his harness in Downtown San Diego and disappeared. For four unforgettable days, we searc...

What does it actually take to create a no-kill future in California? In this powerful Season 3 finale of The Rescue State , we move beyond awareness and into action. After exploring how shelters operate, what good standards look like and how to recognize when those standards begin to slip, this episode brings it all together with one simple truth: real change starts with people who are willing to...

What is it really like to be on a rescue transport?   In this special episode of The Rescue State , I take you behind the scenes on a journey I’ll never forget—traveling up the Pacific Northwest on the Promise 4 Paws rescue bus to meet our Canadian rescue partners in Bellingham, Washington. This isn’t just a road trip—it’s a mission. From long hours on the road to the quiet, emotional moments in b...

Some conversations are worth coming back to and this is one of them. In this special replay episode of The Rescue State , I’m revisiting my conversation with Kevin and Sue Walshe two deeply committed voices in the rescue community who are doing the hard, often unseen work behind the scenes. As we move through Season 3 and take a closer look at how shelter systems function, where they fall short an...

In this powerful episode of The Rescue State , I sit down with Lucy Fernandez, a key force behind the ongoing reform efforts at the Riverside County Department of Animal Services. Lucy brings a rare, behind-the-scenes perspective on what’s really happening within our shelter systems through her work and life saving advocacy with Outcomes For Pets. Lucy shares her insights and expertise on breaking...

In this episode of The Rescue State , we’re diving into one of the most critical and often overlooked parts of animal welfare: recognizing when shelter standards begin to slip and understanding what you can do about it. Not all issues are obvious. Sometimes, the signs show up quietly such as: Longer kennel stays Lack of medical care Reduced transparency Animals becoming increasingly overlooked. Jo...

In this episode of The Rescue State , we move beyond what’s broken in animal welfare and focus on what good actually looks like inside a shelter. From transparency and humane care to leadership structure and accountability, this episode breaks down the real, observable standards that well-functioning shelters uphold and what the public should expect from systems funded by our tax dollars. We explo...

Before we can talk about accountability, we have to understand the system.  In this episode of The Rescue State, we breaks down how municipal animal shelters actually operate beyond the kennels and adoption events.  You’ll learn: • What “intake” really means • How outcomes are categorized • How Live Release Rate is calculated • What the term “No-Kill” actually means (and what it doesn’t) • The dif...

Welcome to Season 3 of The Rescue State. This season, we’re doing something different.  Instead of focusing on individual stories alone, we’re zooming out and taking a hard look at the entire California shelter system.  What should a well-run, ethical, transparent shelter actually look like? What are the standard practices that protect animals and serve communities responsibly? And how do we, as a...

In our season finale of The Rescue State , I’m taking a moment to pause, reflect and speak from the heart. As we close out 2025, I share my final thoughts on where we’ve been, where we are, and, most importantly, where we can go next. This episode is about choosing compassion over complacency, responsibility over convenience and community over division.  It’s about how small, intentional actions c...

In this week’s episode with The Rescue State , I have the honor of sitting down with Lauren McCarron, founder of Joyful Pets and Rehome With Love service, for one of the most important and heartfelt conversations we can have as responsible pet owners. Together, we explore the incredibly difficult reality that sometimes, despite our best intentions, rehoming a beloved pet becomes the most responsib...

In this episode of The Rescue State , I respond to John Stossel’s video “Puppy Prohibition: Ban on Pet Store Sales Kills Pet Stores, But Hasn’t Stopped Puppy Mills.” I encourage listeners to watch the video and join me as I share what stood out and what was noticeably left out.  We talk about the realities of puppy mills that often go unmentioned: large-scale breeding operations, puppy importation...

This week on The Rescue State , we’re leaning into the spirit of giving and exploring real ways you can make a difference for animals this holiday season.  From donating to your favorite local rescues, to supporting shelters with Amazon wishlists, to dropping off cozy blankets for pups in cold kennels, small acts of kindness open the door to big change. We have an exciting sweet, new foster named...

Join us for one of our most important conversations yet as The Rescue State sits down with Lauren and Anthony from the Animal Welfare Data Center .  Together, we explore a side of animal welfare that doesn’t get talked about enough: data.  The answers needed for change are hidden in numbers and trends that reveal why dogs are entering shelters, where resources are falling short and how we can fina...

In our first interview for The Rescue State podcast Season 2, I sit down with longtime animal advocate Tessa Behr to talk about everything fostering — the real, the emotional, the messy and the life-changing. Tessa shares her step-by-step fostering roadmap to help anyone know exactly what to expect when opening their home to a shelter dog: from the first car ride, decompression and training and th...

In this emotional second part journey of our first foster Bergy, I open up about what it’s really like to love a dog you’re expected to let go.  The joy, the heartbreak and the exact moment Bergy made it clear that rescue work would become my purpose. This episode isn’t just about her journey; it’s about love, loss and the calling some dogs are placed in our lives to reveal.  If you’ve ever wanted...

In this emotional Season 2 opener for The Rescue State , Kim shares how her first foster dog, Bergy, changed her life and opened her eyes to the realities of animal shelters, the fostering experience and California’s homeless pet crisis. Join us for the first part of this powerful two-part story.  You won’t want to miss it!

In the season’s finale of The Rescue State podcast, I dive into one of the biggest loopholes backyard breeders use to sell puppies: Craigslist.  Even though Craigslist bans the sale of animals, many people try to get around the rules with misleading ads.  In this episode, I walk you through how to spot these posts and show you how to turn “flagging” them into a game.  Together, we can push back ag...

In this episode of The Rescue State , we dive into one of the most powerful and often overlooked ways you can save a life...Fostering!  Rescues cannot do what they do without fosters opening their homes and hearts to dogs in need.  I share why fostering is so essential, bust a few common myths that might be holding people back and offer practical pointers for anyone on the fence.  Whether you’ve b...

In this second part of our brachycephalic breed series, we take a hard look at how backyard breeders are fueling the crisis inside high-kill shelters.  By overbreeding bulldogs, Frenchies, pugs and other short-snout dogs often with severe health issues, these breeders prioritize profit over animal welfare.  This leaves thousands of dogs to suffer and end up in shelters at alarming rates. Together,...

In this week’s episode of  The Rescue State , I dive into the hidden costs of owning brachycephalic breeds; think pugs, English bulldogs, French bulldogs and other flat nosed breeds.  These sweet, little companions often require extensive and expensive medical care from breathing difficulties to chronic skin and eye conditions. Sadly, many end up in shelters when families can no longer afford thei...

In this episode of  The Rescue State , I sit down with Kevin and Sue Walshe, the incredible founders of Promise 4 Paws . Together, we dive into the tough but necessary conversations about the realities of animal rescue and the immense joy that comes from saving lives. Promise 4 Paws isn’t just a rescue—it’s a powerhouse team of fosters and volunteers who have built something truly extraordinary. T...

In this listener Q&A episode of The Rescue State, Kim tackles your most pressing questions about California’s homeless dog crisis. Packed with eye-opening facts and insight into shelter realities, this episode sheds light on the complex reasons behind the state’s overwhelming homeless dog population. From unenforced laws to gaps in resources, Kim breaks down the “why” behind the crisis—empower...

In this episode, I sit down with Kristi Young, a rescue coordinator with Loved At Last Dog Rescue . Together, we share our firsthand experiences rescuing dogs from California shelters and transporting them to Vancouver, Canada, where they find loving foster homes and forever families. Kristi opens up about the unique challenges rescues face in California, from overwhelming shelter numbers to restr...

In this first episode of The Rescue State, host Kim Moodey shares the heart behind the mission: turning California into a No Kill state by supporting high kill shelters. Kim opens up about her personal journey into animal rescue and introduces the story that started it all—the emotional, unforgettable rescue of a foster dog named Apollo. It’s a story of heartbreak, hope, and a call to action for e...