The Top Dog Podcast

What happens when learning the truth about animal agriculture inspires you to completely change your life? In this episode of Top Dog Podcast, we sit down with Deborah Blum, Founder and Executive Director of Goatlandia Farm Animal Sanctuary, to talk about her unconventional journey from fashion and restaurants to aviation and ultimately farm animal rescue. Deborah shares how learning about the rea...

What happens when one person sees a gap in animal welfare and decides to build a solution from the ground up? In this episode of Top Dog Podcast, we sit down with Jessica Lopez, Executive Director of The PAW Mission, to talk about her journey through veterinary medicine and animal welfare and how that experience shaped her approach to building lifesaving programs in Southern California. Jessica sh...

What happens when a career in law unexpectedly leads to a life in animal welfare? For Kristen Davidson, that winding path helped shape a leadership approach grounded in compassion, adaptability, and a willingness to question the way things have always been done. In this episode of Top Dog Podcast, Kristen Davidson, Executive Director of BrightSide Animal Center in Redmond, Oregon, shares her journ...

What happens when animal welfare challenges are shaped by geography, limited resources, and an island community? For Anna Neubauer, the answer is creativity, collaboration, and listening closely to the people and animals her organization serves. In this episode of Top Dog Podcast, Chris Roy talks with Anna Neubauer, President and CEO of the Hawaiian Humane Society, about leading one of Hawaii's la...

What changes when animal control moves beyond enforcement and starts with empathy? In this episode of Top Dog Podcast, we sit down with Christina Avila, Animal Control Services Supervisor for the City of Perris, to talk about her unconventional journey into animal welfare and the experiences that shaped her approach to leadership, community engagement, and animal control. Christina shares how her...

What happens when a rapidly growing city brings new challenges for animal welfare? In Midland, Texas, population growth, a highly transient workforce, and pet abandonment are reshaping the work of animal services. In this episode of Top Dog Podcast, we sit down with Alexsey Dobberstine, Animal Services Manager for Midland Animal Services. Alexsey shares her journey from a 15-year career in dog gro...

What happens when an experienced animal control officer takes on the challenge of leading a new humane society? For Josh Klumpe, the answer is a combination of transparency, innovation, community engagement, and a commitment to making animal welfare services accessible. In this episode of Top Dog Podcast, Chris Roy speaks with Josh Klumpe, Executive Director of the Humane Society for Greater Lafay...

What does it take to build an animal shelter that can serve its community for the long haul? For Jess Townsend, it starts with understanding the bigger picture, supporting your people, and recognizing that animal welfare is a marathon, not a sprint. In this episode of Top Dog Podcast, Jess Townsend, Executive Director of Midcoast Humane, shares her 20-year journey in animal welfare and the unique...

This October, during Dog Adoption Month, PEDIGREE Foundation and its Foster 50 partners will announce grant recipients receiving a share of $240,000 in collective grant funding to help expand foster opportunities for dogs in need. In this episode of Top Dog Podcast, Deb Fair, Executive Director of PEDIGREE Foundation, shares how collaboration, data, and a willingness to ask “what if?” are helping...

What does it take to stay in animal welfare for nearly 30 years? For Britney Tennant, it means embracing change, building strong teams, and refusing to let a “no” be the end of the road. In this episode of Top Dog Podcast, Britney Tennant, CEO of Cheyenne Animal Shelter, shares her journey from rescuing kittens as a child to becoming a leader in Wyoming’s animal welfare community. She reflects on...

What happens when people are forced to choose between a safe place to live and the animal they love? In this episode of Top Dog Podcast, we sit down with Christine Kim, Founder and Executive Director of My Dog Is My Home, a national nonprofit working to increase access to shelter and housing for people experiencing homelessness with pets. What began as a storytelling exhibition grew into a nationa...

What do you do when a cat is smarter than every trap you've tried? In this episode of Top Dog Podcast, we sit down with Natascha Scott, President of 9 Lives Cat Rescue of Oxford in Mississippi. A plant molecular biologist by day, Natascha has spent nearly 20 years rescuing cats, developing creative solutions for difficult cases, and helping address cat overpopulation in her community. What started...

What happens when a communications professional turns a passion for community cats into a career in animal welfare leadership? In this episode of Top Dog Podcast, we sit down with Daniel Roselle, Executive Director of the Humane Society of Ventura County. Daniel shares his unconventional path into animal welfare, from trapping cats in a Honolulu office park to leading major changes in animal welfa...

What happens to exotic animals when their owners can no longer care for them? In this episode of Top Dog Podcast, we sit down with Brittany Vanderstine, Director of Wild Exotics Animal Refuge, a New Jersey nonprofit dedicated to rescuing and providing lifelong care for exotic animals. Brittany shares how her experience in animal welfare led her to recognize a major gap in rescue: while large exoti...

What happens when foster homes become the heart of a rescue organization? In this episode of Top Dog Podcast, we sit down with Melanie Hallas Kirsch, Foster Home Coordinator, Pre-Adoption Supplies Coordinator, and Board Member at Doberman Assistance, Rescue & Education (DAR&E). Melanie shares her journey from adopting her first Doberman to becoming deeply involved in rescue, fostering, and helping...

What if the best way to save more animals is to prevent them from ever entering a shelter? In this episode of Top Dog Podcast, we sit down with Aldwin Roman, Senior VP and COO of the Charleston Animal Society, South Carolina's largest animal organization and shelter. Aldwin shares his unexpected journey from studying political science and wanting to advocate for people to starting as a kennel tech...

What happens when an animal shelter stops thinking like a shelter and starts becoming a community resource? In this episode of Top Dog Podcast, we sit down with Carrie Ridgway, Executive Director of the Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center in Riverside, California. After joining the organization in 2008 to help with a capital campaign, Carrie worked her way through the organization before becoming...

What if animal welfare organizations could create more impact by supporting the shelters already doing the work? In this episode of Top Dog Podcast, we sit down with Bill Crowe, Executive Director of the Pet Care Foundation, an animal advocacy organization supporting shelters and communities across Los Angeles. For more than two decades, Bill has developed programs that help animals become more ad...

What happens when you leave your career behind to build a better future for animals? In this episode of Top Dog Podcast, we sit down with Katie Dwight, Co-Founder of Herd and Flock Animal Sanctuary, to explore her remarkable journey from immigration attorney to leading a farm animal sanctuary dedicated to compassion, education, and advocacy. Together with her wife, Katie built a sanctuary that has...

What if the biggest opportunity in animal welfare isn't saving more animals—but engaging more people? In this episode of Top Dog Podcast, we sit down with Finnegan Dowling, Senior Manager of Shelter Programs at Mutual Rescue. With more than 30 years of experience in animal welfare, Finnegan shares how today's shelters are evolving into community-centered organizations powered by collaboration, acc...

What if the future of animal shelters isn't about housing more animals—but helping fewer animals need shelter at all? In this episode of Top Dog Podcast, we sit down with Melissa Shupak, Director of Animal Sheltering at the Toronto Humane Society. Drawing from her background in social services and nearly two decades in animal welfare, Melissa shares how shelters are evolving from reactive organiza...

What happens when one act of kindness becomes a lifelong mission? In this episode of Top Dog Podcast, we sit down with Denise Bynum, Director of the Homeless Animals Relief Project (HARP). After retiring from a distinguished 45-year nursing career, Denise found a new calling helping low-income families and community cats through affordable spay/neuter programs across North Mississippi. From coordi...

What if the future of animal welfare starts by helping people first? In this episode of Top Dog Podcast, we sit down with Cheryl McCormick, CEO of the Athens Area Humane Society, to explore how modern shelters are evolving into community resource centers that strengthen the bond between people and their pets. Drawing from her background in wildlife ecology and nonprofit leadership, Cheryl shares w...

Can one bold decision change the future of animal welfare? In this episode of Top Dog Podcast, we sit down with Sarah Swanty, Executive Director of Animal Friends Alliance. What started with two friends, $1,200, and 17 homeless cats has grown into one of Colorado's leading animal welfare organizations, helping more than 18,000 animals every year. Sarah shares the leadership lessons she's learned o...

What if the best way to save more animals is to keep them out of shelters in the first place? In this episode of Top Dog Podcast, we sit down with Ashley Armstrong, Executive Director of We Care Animal Rescue, to discuss how modern animal welfare is evolving beyond adoptions. Ashley shares how her team transformed a cat sanctuary into a thriving community resource center by focusing on prevention,...