January 25, 2025 • 55 mins
Learn what went on over our year off- and how we're shaping things for the future!
Original music by Matt Setter and friend Sean!
Original content by Matt Setter and friend, Sean!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
jme (00:00):
Hi, I'm Jme.
Pate (00:00):
I'm Pate.
jme (00:02):
We are Motley Zoo Animal Rescue
Pate (00:04):
With our podcast Rescue Shit.
We still need, we really need toget that squeaker.
jme (00:10):
Yeah, we do.
We took a bit of a hiatus fromour last season.
Part of it was because I wasgoing away to Africa for a few
weeks, and then For me, I waskind of in a yucky headspace as
well.
I don't know, I wasn't feelingvery good.
Pate (00:28):
Lost your way.
jme (00:29):
I did! I lost my way.
And so we took a break, but,Patty was Pretty busy with, uh,
why don't you tell them?
Pate (00:37):
Well, I didn't go away on vacation.
Didn't you go to Costa Rica aswell?
Africa and Costa Rica last year?
jme (00:42):
You're right?
I did go to Costa Rica andThailand actually.
Pate (00:46):
Oh, yeah.
Okay.
So yeah, so she was busytraveling.
Meanwhile, I was stuck in bed.
Cancer came back.
So, my PSA to anyone, One thingthat you learn about breast
cancer is that there's so manydifferent types of breast
cancer.
It is out of control how manydifferent types of breast cancer
there are.
And I've learned that the hardway in another PSA.
(01:09):
Well, not another PSA.
The actual PSA is when you havebreast cancer, just get rid of
them.
Get rid of both of them.
just do it.
Because if your risk is one outof eight women.
Actually, I don't know what therate is for men, but men get it
too, but the rate for women isone out of eight women will get
(01:32):
breast cancer.
And Jme knows four people, that,and I know three, no, I know
four too.
My sister has a friend, butanyway, when your risk is one
out of eight, and then you getbreast cancer.
Then your risk is what one outof four by then or whatever your
(01:53):
risk is like super high for itto come back It doesn't always
come back.
But statistically you're gonnaget it.
So When the surgeons tell youoh, you only need a lumpectomy
Like they told me the first timeI had cancer.
I had triple negative breastcancer, which is the rare
(02:14):
aggressive form of cancer Andthe only treatment is
chemotherapy.
So I got high amounts, highamounts of chemotherapy.
And after that, you do radiationand you have surgery.
And, Instead of telling me hey,why don't we just get rid of
(02:35):
everything because you'restatistically high of getting it
back No, they're like, hey, youknow what?
It's just the tumors.
We'll take them out.
You just need a lumpectomy.
You're good You know in fiveyears if it doesn't come back in
five years, then you're goldenSo guess what you're number four
and a half it came back, but Ishouldn't say it came back
(02:58):
because it wasn't the samebreast cancer, but it was cancer
in the same breast.
And this time we did do abilateral mastectomy even though
my surgeon said, Oh yeah, youonly need one.
I was like, seriously,seriously.
So, I became one out of eight.
Then I came one out of four andthe surgeon was still.
(03:20):
Oh, you only need to remove one.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, justjust get rid of it all.
That's my PSA to everyone andThen I just I made the decision
I just didn't know right andwhen you have cancer And you
know, we love our insurancecompanies, right?
They kind of give you a timelimit You have to make a
(03:44):
decision quickly of what you'regoing to do.
You can't take the time to seehow you feel, how you heal,
anything like that.
You have a time limit of ifthey're going to cover
reconstructive surgery, youknow?
Actually, I don't even know ifthey do anything like for mental
health, uh,
jme (04:01):
I have no idea.
Pate (04:02):
Yeah, I, I, because I never really went that route,
but anyway, I had, Christi, oneof our board members, Her friend
had reconstructive surgery,loved it, did great.
My sister's friend hadreconstructive surgery, loved
it, was great.
And the thing about Christi, herfriend did get the bilateral
(04:22):
mastectomies.
But then She didn't like how shelooked, felt, I have no idea.
I, I didn't talk to Christi'sfriend.
But, she ended up gettingreconstructive surgery later.
However, the insurance companythat I had, you have a year to,
you know.
And then the thing is, is like,once you get bilateral, you have
(04:43):
to make that decision.
Do I get expanders now?
Otherwise, it's not going tohappen, and you're not going to
be able to do all that within ayear.
I can't even remember when I wasdiagnosed.
But then, we thought thatsurgery was going to be, later,
like in the summer.
jme (04:59):
Yeah,
Pate (05:00):
And they were like, nope, you're coming in.
You're coming in in April.
So I feel like it was only amonth and they're like, you're
coming in.
jme (05:05):
It was like February or March.
Yeah.
Pate (05:07):
Yeah, and then so
jme (05:09):
You had suspicions before then but it was February or
March.
Pate (05:13):
With the actual diagnosis because then you had to get the
MRI you had to get the All thatfun stuff, all the testing, you
know, before the officialdiagnosis.
And then when you got theofficial diagnosis, then it was
like, okay, then we're havingsurgery.
And then that recovery did notgo well at all.
My body hated the expanders, butI was like, you know what, you
(05:34):
know, it'll be fine because thenwhen I have reconstructive
surgery, it's my own tissue, allthat fun stuff.
It's not going to be fake.
Yeah, so lesson learned for me.
You know what?
You should have just been like,Yep, just do it.
Bilateral mastectomy.
I'm all good.
Not, not gonna deal with thisstuff.
But, you know, who knew how Iwas gonna feel.
(05:54):
Am I, am I superficial?
Like, am I going to missanything?
Am I?
Whatever.
And I should have just beenlike, you know what, Pate,
you're really not thatsuperficial.
And you know what?
They have fake bras that no onewould even be able to tell.
But anyway, um,
jme (06:08):
Well, I wouldn't say that you're superficial or anybody is
superficial for wanting to tryand, you know, preserve what you
have and, and, you know, feelingnormal or, or whatever.
I think the unfortunate part isthat they don't really tell
people how dangerous it is, howpainful it is.
And, and they make it seem likeit's not a big deal.
(06:30):
And it is.
And that's the part that I thinkis, it's too bad because
they're, they're not givingenough information and I think
if more women really did knowthe danger and how, how painful
it is and, and whether you haveto have multiple surgeries after
that or whatever, you know,because from my side, I've met
(06:54):
more people that regret doingthe reconstruction.
So, You made a choice and itdidn't work out because you had
to have four surgeries and, youknow,
Pate (07:07):
In a month,
jme (07:08):
It should have been one and it was four and your life was in
jeopardy, all of those timesand, and so I, I think that they
just, they minimize the severityof it.
And I don't really think that'sright.
It's understandable why you,chose what you did.
And it's just too bad that forall that you went through that
(07:29):
you're, you haven't ended upwith the result that you hoped
for.
Pate (07:32):
Right.
Yeah.
It's actually a worse result,but whatever.
I woke up the next morning afterthe first surgery, no, actually
after the second surgery and,Leo,.
The physician's assistant orwhoever.
He's a great guy.
And, he, he came up and he'slike, you know what Pate?
He's like, girl, these, heseriously said girl.
(07:53):
He's like, that's why he wasawesome.
And he's like, girl, most peoplewhen they have complications
it's within 24 hours.
He's like, you didn't even last24 minutes.
So that was awesome.
And then I had to be in thehospital for longer while they,
uh, checked up on me.
So, you know, and if, if youever in the hospital, you don't
(08:17):
ever sleep because they'reconstantly waking you up.
Good thing about me is that Ican sleep through anything.
so I guess I was a really goodpatient but then they sent me
home thinking, okay, I'm out ofthe woods or whatever.
And the first night I was fine.
I mean, as fine as you can beafter surgery.
And my sister and my mom came tovisit to help take care of me
(08:40):
for the week after surgery.
I didn't even get a week withthem because I was in the
hospital.
And then when I came out of thehospital, I have to say that
Airbnb had like a raised bed.
jme (08:51):
Oh, cool.
Pate (08:52):
That was, I don't know, that was like the best thing
ever, cause it, you know, it wasreally hard getting out of bed.
I got out of the hospitalThursday.
And then Saturday morning, Icalled up my husband Garry, and
I was like, You need to get thedogs ready, you need to, you
know, come down here now.
I am having complications, and Ihave to go back to the hospital.
(09:16):
And of course, you know, he'sfull of questions, and I was
like, I haven't even called thedoctor yet, because I know, That
I'm gonna go back in thehospital.
So you just need to get yourshit together and come pick my
ass up And then after I got offthe phone with him I called the
doctor and my sister that wasthere and The doctor wasn't on
(09:37):
call, but then the doctor calledthe doctor my doctor who then
called me and I got my doctor tocuss Cause she's like send me a
picture.
So I sent her the picture andshe's like, Oh shit.
And I was like, I know.
That's what I'm saying.
And sure enough, you know, Iwent back in the hospital.
And then I had to, get that sidetaken out.
(09:59):
And, And I don't know, because Idid talk a lot when I was under
anesthesia.
jme (10:06):
Yeah, you, you said take the other side, but they didn't
believe you.
Pate (10:11):
Yeah.
I don't think that they thoughtI was coherent enough to
actually mean it.
And I, I fricking meant it.
But then I had to wait.
for what, two more weeks?
To get the other side out.
Cause I was like, dude, I don'twant to be lopsided.
I can't deal with this.
I'm very, I don't know.
Is it my OCD?
I don't know.
But I was like, I can't, Ican't.
(10:32):
I was like, you gotta make meevenly flat, I guess.
And then I'll just go and wearthose fake bras where, you know,
if I feel like I need to look acertain way, right?
But.
Anyway, yeah, so, so that's whatI did this year instead of
podcast.
jme (10:53):
Yeah, it was quite a, quite a time.
And the mastectomy was more thanyou envisioned.
Also, I remember, you know, wewere telling Pate she had to
take a month off and that shewasn't allowed to really work.
Except a little bit on thecomputer.
For a month and she was like,no, no, I'll be fine in a week
(11:15):
And I was like, I hope so, but Idon't think so.
It unfortunately really that wasshockingly ass kicking, you know
for you and Everybody ralliedand we all supported you or
whatever.
But yeah, it took a toll likemore than you thought it would.
Pate (11:34):
Oh, yeah,
jme (11:34):
And then obviously this, Reconstruction, not going well
took a toll and so, you'vereally spent the whole year just
not feeling great and Yeah, soit's good to you know Start the
new year off.
Pate (11:52):
Yeah
jme (11:52):
fresh and I have a different mindset as well.
Things are still really rough inour industry, but, we like doing
the podcast.
It's really fun for us.
And, and so we just thoughtwe'll start it up again and see
where, where it can go thisyear.
Pate (12:11):
Right.
Share some stories, share someinformation.
jme (12:16):
And I guess we could then Maybe because we're like halfway
through one episode, so we couldprobably use the other half to
talk about the future the futureSo moving forward
Pate (12:29):
With a new mindset.
jme (12:30):
Yes one of the things that we're bumping into is the cost
of veterinary care has gone upso significantly That we're
paying like three times as muchfor everything that we ever had
done And it's really prettyunaffordable on the scale that
we were operating.
So we've recognized that, inorder to use our budget wisely
(12:55):
and, since donations also havedropped and not increased, we're
not able to grow the vet budgetat this point.
So we have decided that while weare still rescuing animals we're
going to have to be morediscerning about the animals
that we rescue, which is reallyhard.
But we're going to focus oneducation, we're going to focus
(13:17):
on teaching, we're going tofocus on training, and
Pate (13:21):
Helping keep those animals in their homes.
jme (13:23):
Yes.
We have a training program thatis really robust and pretty
unique.
For not only just a rescue butfor how successful that we are
at rehabilitating animals.
So we want to share that withother people.
So we're gonna try expanding ourtraining and our board and train
and, that kind of stuff to otherorganizations so that the impact
(13:48):
we're making is amplified, forevery person and every dog we
can, help not just within ourown group.
Pate (13:55):
Right.
One of the things about therescue world, that I've seen, is
that sometimes rescueorganizations aren't friendly
with each other, you know?
Many organizations kind offorget that we have one goal,
one goal, and that's savinglives, right?
And it's not about our personalVendettas against each other or
(14:19):
prejudices against each other oranything like that or I'm gonna
try to one up you, It's not acompetition between the rescue
organizations.
Like, we should be helping eachother out, in different ways and
communicate and I have to saythat, Here in Washington, we, we
actually do a pretty good job ofthat with like, Some
organizations, we've got a goodrelationship with Saving Great
(14:41):
Animals.
Jacintha, if you say otherwise,I, you know, I don't know what
to say.
But, we've helped each other outand we, we talk.
And I think it's, it's greatthat, to have that kind of
communication, right?
jme (14:55):
Well, and especially between rescues and shelters
because, even if rescues can getalong, sometimes there's the
vilification of the sheltersbecause they might be
euthanizing and in Washington,we're really lucky that, while
they do need to euthanizeanimals in our state, it's not
as often as in some otherplaces, but that we also have a
very collaborative relationshipso that, No organization is
(15:19):
sitting empty while another iseuthanizing.
The problem right now is thatevery organization is full, and
there's still four or five timesas many people trying to
surrender animals.
So we're trying to rescue moreanimals with less money, with
less interest from the publicfor adoption, for fostering, for
(15:40):
volunteering, And there's avariety of reasons for that.
But, as you can imagine, justabout every single person is
overwhelmed, anxious, strugglingmaybe financially.
There's just a lot of humanproblems happening right now
that are making it, so that, youknow, the animals are just kind
(16:01):
of suffering the consequences ofall the human issues.
There are solutions, but noone's really looking at them
right now.
As we wish they would, likefunding, grantors, they're just
not looking at it as much asthey are the human issues.
Pate (16:16):
Right.
I mean, and there's nothingwrong with looking at human
issues, right?
Because everyone has passion.
And if we were all passionateabout one thing, there wouldn't
be a lot accomplished, you know?
That being said, however, whenyou have billionaires who are
only looking at humanitarianissues, you, you kind of have to
open your mind, to the animalissues.
(16:37):
Because if you are trying to dohousing, for battered women and
things like that, you shoulddefinitely open up that housing
to help battered women leave.
abusive homes Knowing that theycan take their dogs.
jme (16:53):
Yeah, a lot of women actually stay Because of the
pets because
Pate (16:57):
I shouldn't say just dogs.
I mean,
jme (16:59):
Yeah, but a lot of the women stay because of the pets
And you know when we're in acrisis in animal welfare and
animals are being euthanizedleft and right in general across
the country because there is noplace for them to go it's very
unfair and Kind of cruel, to sayI'll help you, but you have to
(17:23):
basically euthanize your animal,or I can't help you.
I can't help you find a place.
I can't help you find a job.
To try and ask them to sacrificesomeone from their family, it's
not really right.
And you can help both the petsand the people and you don't
have to make a choice betweenthem.
It shouldn't be a choice, but alot of people think it is.
(17:46):
You get to choose one or theother.
And I don't see it as that.
I think that there are options,but people aren't looking at
them because they just assume,of course, you can't deal with
your domestic violence situationif you have a pet.
And, you know, sometimes the petis the, the whole source of
comfort.
Pate (18:03):
That's your lifeline.
jme (18:04):
Yeah.
And their lifeline to stabilityand we have quite a few people
actually lately that have saidthat they're having mental
illness issues and they can'ttake care of their pets and I'm
like, well if we could help youwith training because they do
cite behavioral issues in theanimal if we could help you with
training, would you be able tokeep them because You know
(18:25):
sometimes when things are roughMentally, your animal is the
stability for you.
And obviously, you know, I don'tknow their situation.
I can't say, like, what's goingon in their life.
But, I think the general idea ofmental health issues is
broadening as well.
And a lot of it is anxiety.
And, if you can't handle yourpet because you have just
(18:49):
discovered you're schizophrenicand you have to go into the
hospital, that's one thing.
But if you are stressed out andhaving anxiety and panic
attacks, like that's a wholeother thing, right?
So there's a spectrum of things,but in general, it's almost
expected of you to give up yourpets.
to help yourself.
(19:10):
And we would like to changethat.
Pate (19:12):
Right.
It shouldn't be either or.
I mean, you're already stuck ina hard place, so it's going to
be a rock and a hard place.
Help myself.
And
jme (19:21):
At the expense of your pet.
Pate (19:22):
Yeah, exactly.
Um,
jme (19:24):
And.
Likely their life because thereis no one else to take them
right now.
Pate (19:27):
And you know, and that's the thing is like they shouldn't
have to have that kind ofdecision and then.
So that they may stay in thatsituation because of that,
jme (19:36):
Right?
And that's where we really wantto help and a lot of times it's
because the dog is behavingbadly Let's say so, you know,
they need help with training orwhatever I understand I'm not a
psychologist But you knowsomething that gives you a
source of stability when youhave a mental capacity breakdown
or mental illness breakdown.
Sometimes having that thing tothink about, that thing to get
(19:58):
up for, that thing to do isactually really helpful.
Sometimes like when they talkabout homeless people and maybe
they shouldn't have pets or, orwhatever, those people take care
of their pets often better thanthey do themselves, which isn't
good or right either, but they,are only here because they are
taking care of their pets.
And that, you know, that'ssomething that we should be able
(20:21):
to help with, not, just takeanimals from them.
Pate (20:24):
Right.
Cause if you want to behumanitarian, you have to help
that homeless person who's onthe street, maybe they can't
even get a job because who'sgonna watch their dog When they
go on a job interview.
jme (20:36):
Well, and do you remember we had a situation like that
where we were asked to watchSomebody's dog at daycare so
that they could go to some jobinterviews And they didn't have
to leave their dog in the carbecause it was summertime right
and we helped them with thatsometimes though the problem is
that the dog has behaviors thatare, you know, an obstacle for
(20:57):
daycare, and that's where wewant to help them.
In all, we feel like the mostimpact we can make is not taking
in more animals, because everyorganization could take in, you
know, three to five times asmany animals, if they really
could, if there was space.
And, and we're still going tohave a huge problem.
So, you know, from ourperspective, we're trying to
(21:19):
come at it from a differentangle and the shelters can try
to, you know, keep up with thevolume.
Whereas we're going to try and,
Pate (21:28):
keep them in their home.
jme (21:29):
Yeah.
Divert the flow of even gettingto the shelter so, we're
developing some trainingprograms.
We're developing, some ways thatwe can have other volunteers
Fosters come and work with us sothat we can teach them more
about how to help their dogs andin the foster homes that they're
in
Pate (21:48):
To make them more adoptable if they're having any
behavioral issues and thebehavioral issues are You know,
it's a gamut of things.
We're not talking likeaggression maybe there's a
little bit of reactivity.
They might pull on a leash, theymight, bark at another dog or
whatever.
jme (22:06):
We're talking about adoptable dogs.
Pate (22:08):
Yeah, yeah.
And then we're making them moreadoptable.
jme (22:12):
Right.
But there are people that wantto surrender and their dog isn't
adoptable.
And that's where we have toreally focus on, your dog isn't
gonna make it.
If that's the case, like youreally just need to take them to
the vet yourself and, and holdtheir paw and, you know, you
have to make that choice.
But the other option is we canhelp you with training and, yes,
(22:36):
you're going to have to becommitted to it, but nobody's
committed to your pet like youare.
And especially right now,there's no trainer that's going
to take on a dog without afamily behind it.
There's just too many animals inneed right now.
And, you know, this isn't eventalking medical cases, I feel
like we've been asked to take afew medical cases, but I feel
(22:56):
like we haven't been asked totake as many medical cases as
behavioral, or just, you know,like I got this dog, like a
German shepherd or a Husky, andit's not really a right fit for
me.
Yeah, unfortunately, thebreeder.
told you a lot of things and youwanted to believe it and
Pate (23:15):
you bought it.
Yeah, or you went on Craigslistor like, Oh, I feel like I want
a husky without researching thebreed and their needs.
And
jme (23:22):
there's a lot of that right now too.
But much, I feel like there's alot less of, I can't afford my
pet.
than I can't afford training formy pet.
And there's a difference.
And so when people say I can'tafford training, that's when
we're trying to step in and belike, well, here, you know, we
want to help you with that.
(23:43):
But I feel like in our area,it's a little bit more affluent
and you know, people tend tohave tech jobs and things like
that.
So they tend to have a littlebit more disposable income.
And I feel like the surrendersaround here seem to be more for,
convenience, like mismatch, likeunrealistic expectations than I
(24:07):
can't afford my pet and I'mhomeless.
There's a few of those, but youknow, it's kind of one extreme
or the other, right?
But I have heard a lot about whypeople aren't adopting right
now.
And most people are citing thecost of vet care, so that's a
significant reason why adoptionshave dropped so much.
(24:28):
We cannot afford to pay 800 perpet to get them spayed neutered
and ready for adoption,especially when our Adoption
donations cap at 600 or for adog or 150 for a cat.
Pate (24:42):
Right, especially You know, even if we go to Spay and
neuter places.
We still will automatically losemoney.
jme (24:55):
Cause it's 150 for the cat spay or neuter.
And then that's all we'regetting.
So
Pate (25:00):
That's just the cat spay or neuter.
That's not the vaccinations.
That's not the, if they have anyhealth issues, which, if you've
worked with kittens, they aresickly.
I mean you think, oh look atthis like huge feral cat colony.
It's like, you know, you knowwhat maybe one of That litter
will make it.
(25:21):
I mean the mortality rate ofkittens is extremely high And I
mean Even with us, we are verysuccessful.
But at the same time, we do, wecan, and we have lost an entire
litter of kittens, due toillness.
No matter what we've done, youknow.
(25:41):
But, but that aside, 150 justfor the spay and neuter, you're
not, And we could be spending 1,000 on a kitten, for example,
and only 150 is, is recuperatedbecause we're not for profit.
But if we could break even, thatwould be great.
jme (26:01):
Well, and before, donations used to make up the difference.
Pate (26:05):
Yeah.
jme (26:05):
It is no longer the case.
Donations are not making up thedifference.
Right.
So we're finding that we have adeficit, and it gets more and
more significant the moreanimals we rescue.
So, you know, in this regard,Shelters have vets on staff.
They should be the ones that arefocused more on the medical
side.
And then the rescues can givethem a discounted vetting price.
(26:29):
And then take the animals intotheir homes for re homing.
And then it's kind of using thebest of both systems.
The best of what, eachorganization is good at.
And it's compounding theireffect and their amplification
of their impact as opposed towe're all kind of doing a little
bit of the same thing and Yeah,but rescues just can't afford to
(26:53):
compete in the veterinaryindustry right now.
Pate (26:55):
Not in the u.
s.
jme (26:57):
No, and we've had to take a serious look at at how we're
going to proceed and we do feelthat because we have such a
strong training program, becausewe have such strong, systems
too, even how we train ourvolunteers that's stuff that we
can share with otherorganizations so that we can
help them strengthen theirinfrastructure and their
(27:18):
capacity to help animals.
And then through that, we willhave a greater impact together
in our animal welfare system.
Pate (27:26):
Right.
You know, what's funny is that Isaw one of the organizations
that we've worked with in MexicoSo a dog that was up for
adoption Flew to the US fromMexico and They found out there
was something wrong with thedog's hip or whatever and it was
(27:47):
actually cheaper For that dog tofly back to Mexico and get the
hip surgery and then fly back tothe U.
S.
than it was to just stay in theU.
S.
and get that hip surgery here.
jme (28:01):
That's ridiculous.
I was wondering about thatbecause I did hear about that
story and knowing that itactually is cheaper to do all of
that rigmarole instead of justtaking care of it here that that
just tells you what kind ofstate our veterinary systems are
in.
And, it's a crisis in theveterinary industry too.
And, you know, inflation and Imean,
Pate (28:25):
The corporate, buying out the mom and pops, and Yeah, it,
jme (28:29):
Everything is getting to be, un affordable, unacceptable,
and just plain prohibitive.
Mm hmm.
We'll see how this progresses,you know, throughout the year,
but I'm not imagining thatdonations are going to increase
anytime soon.
So we have our work cut out forus that we have to really work
(28:50):
on infrastructure and sharingour knowledge.
And, this is the year that we'regoing to try and, try and raise
some money to improve our, ourfacilities too.
which that's alone is going tobe a pretty big challenge.
We have some, functionalityissues where we, we are not
actually able to utilize ourproperty and our facilities as,
(29:11):
as we need to.
So we need to upgrade some ofthe utilities and we actually
need to build some things.
We don't really have a place totrain right now That's not our
party tent, which is hot whenit's hot and cold when it's cold
And so we you know in order
Pate (29:28):
a little bit more climate controlled
jme (29:29):
Yeah, and in order to really expand our training
opportunities too, we do need tohave a place that's more
comfortable to train.
Pate (29:39):
For the community, I mean we can do our board and train
here with those limitations, butwe want to open it up to the
community as well.
jme (29:48):
Yeah, well and you can only fit five dogs, and that's kind
of squishy with five dogs.
So, you know, a class with fivedogs isn't a lot.
Either, so you have to do moreclasses to accommodate everybody
but we're, we're looking at allthese logistics and we're coming
up with solutions and, and wehave, a lot of hope for this
year, but it's definitely goingto be the first year where
(30:13):
taking in animals isn't thefirst answer.
Pate (30:17):
Not that we're not taking in animals.
We are, but that is not, youknow, like last year.
Or the year before it's like,okay, we adopted out this many
dogs.
So and cats I do we do likecats.
I just in in the habit.
(30:38):
I'm surrounded by dogs So I'm inthe habit of saying dogs a lot.
Yeah, even though We actuallyadopt out more cats than we do
dogs because we take in morecats than dogs and we've got a
great cat team, but nonethelessbefore it's like, okay, we
adopted this many number ofanimals this year So next year,
let's you know, let's increasethat let's do that.
(31:00):
And that was our goal, right?
And now our goal is yes, we'restill rescuing but we want to
Keep those animals in theirhomes.
We want to help otherOrganizations make their, you
know, quote unquote behavioralDogs more adoptable and obedient
(31:21):
and and better able to live in ahuman society
jme (31:25):
Well in that same amount of time energy and effort and
funding we could help, like,let's say five animals, but if
we're working with a bunch ofdifferent rescues and shelters,
we could have, we could help 50.
Pate (31:38):
It just won't be on our number at the end of the year
when, when we have to, when welook at grants and they're like,
how many animals did you save?
Well, I'm like, okay, directlyor indirectly, right?
jme (31:51):
But this is something though that we do, we are going
to keep track of the numbers.
We are going to have.
A specific program and it isvery targeted and measured, so
we will have metrics to show ourimpact.
It just is very different thatit's not all about collecting
them and taking them in and, andus being the first line of
defense in their care.
(32:13):
The organizations that we'reworking with will be the first
line of defense and we're thesecondary support where we are
going to be, helping thembecause we have such a good
training program and such arobust system that not every
organization can do that.
Most organizations can't traintheir dogs at all.
Pate (32:31):
Or they don't, you know, like, I mean, I mean, for
example, like, we have all thesedogs that came from California
to Seattle Humane.
And I mean, are they trained?
Are they not trained?
I don't know.
I mean, a lot of them gotadopted out like right away.
jme (32:50):
Well, really though, training was never a focus of
rescue when it's probably theone of the most important
reasons that an animal willsucceed or fail in a home.
We are always focused on medicalcare, getting them all the
medical care that they need.
That is an obstacle, but a dogthat is well behaved is a dog
(33:11):
that will be tolerated for somemedical things more than others.
A dog that is not well behavedwill be given up for its medical
reasons, but it's really not themedical reasons that they gave
it up.
we realized, during the pandemicthat, wow, training is really
where it's at and training is asimportant as the veterinary care
(33:34):
and the food and the water and,and no one really sees it that
way or can address it the waythat we are and do.
And so that really, was an eyeopening time period for us, and
that's when we really startedfocusing on training.
And now we have such a goodsystem.
And really we don't have enoughdogs of our own to use it on,
(33:57):
because we can't take in moredogs without more fosters.
We can't take in more dogswithout more funding for
veterinary care.
But we have people, and we havetime, and we can train.
And so that's what we're focusedon now is sharing that capacity
without actually growing ouranimal numbers.
Pate (34:15):
There's a family that's coming to us for training.
Their dog,, is a little bitreactive, a little bit of a
resource guarder.
But they got her from a shelter.
She came from Texas?
I don't know.
She came from out of, out of thestate.
And one of our shelters in thearea took her.
(34:36):
and had her in the shelter for aweek.
So you don't even really knowtheir personality, anything like
that.
A lot of dogs are still kind oflike shell shocked and things
like that.
Um, that quickly, you know, thatsoon in the shelter, nothing
against that.
Um, nothing against the shelterin that regard, because you
know, the, the idea is, to havea kind of like a transitional
(35:01):
safe haven for dogs so they'rejust moving them out, moving
them out, making room for morebecause people won't spay and
neuter their pets.
But you know, I had to throwthat in.
After one week in the shelter,they brought her home.
You know, she was a littlenervous, bonded really strongly
with them.
And then.
You know, like we said, 333,this is summarizing, like short
(35:21):
summarizing, three days to getused to the people in place,
three weeks to get used to theschedule, three months to
actually feel at home.
So once she started feeling likeshe was at home, then she
started showing some behavioralaspects of this is my house,
this is my people, this is myspace, and she's great with her
(35:44):
people.
Not so great with other people.
But you know what?
They are committed to her.
They love her.
And, and we are helping themwith training.
They're wonderful people who arenot giving up on her.
They love her.
jme (35:59):
But they would if they didn't have the right resources
because, you know, a lot ofpeople also go to like five
different trainers and thennaturally give up and say, okay,
I need to surrender.
Pate (36:09):
But my trainer,
jme (36:11):
yeah, we just came to us.
You wouldn't go through thismusical chairs of different
trainers either.
Well, and I'm really pleasedthat someone that wanted, they
found a dog in their yard, andthey said he's really nice.
But they're like, you know, wehave cats.
We are not really sure aboutintroducing him to our dogs.
We're not in the place to keephim.
(36:33):
But, you know, he is reallygreat, he just needs some
training.
And I was like, well here, talkto this guy, and I said we can't
take him, but, you know, talk tothis guy and see if you can't
work past these issues because,you know, she did sound like she
really liked him and if thosethings weren't obstacles then
she would consider keeping him.
First of all, she came back andsaid, Wow, I'm really impressed
(36:55):
already after, you know, justone session.
And second, she said, you know,We are still questioning whether
or not we can keep this dog, butwhat if we fostered him?
So, here they are trying to fixthe problem, in their home with
this dog that they found.
And, and that's what we need.
(37:16):
We need other people to becomethose rescuers.
Other people to become thosepeople that are committed to
that dog, to helping that dogbecome adoptable, and finding a
place for it, right?
Once they realize they can'tjust, you know, turn around and
give it to the shelter becausethere's no one available, they
were like, Okay, well we'llstart working on what we can
(37:37):
work on and that is training.
So I think that's something thatwe could entertain is the idea
that they're going to befostering this dog and we can
help promote it and find it ahome.
But they're committed to thehousing and the training.
So, one of the issues that we'rehaving at, at our, property is
(37:58):
that we don't have any indoorspace for training.
So we really do need a spacethat's climate controlled where
we can gather and work togetherwith our dogs.
So it's one thing if our staffand volunteers agree to be out
in the cold, our foster dogs orwhatever, but it's a whole other
thing to have a class when it's,40 degrees out and rainy and
(38:23):
everybody in the class isfreezing and then they don't
want to pay attention orwhatever.
So
Pate (38:27):
hands get really cold.
jme (38:28):
Yes.
So we've made due, for the lastalmost three years with a
training tent.
And, it is showing its age.
And it is going to be a harderthing to replace because it's a
bigger area.
Right now it's a 20 by 40 andthat's actually too small.
So, so we need a bigger place,but what's even more, pressing
(38:49):
right now really is thewashroom.
And that's where we do laundryand dishes.
And
Pate (38:57):
the grooming for the dogs.
jme (38:58):
Yeah, dog grooming.
Yeah.
Baths.
Mm hmm.
The building is dilapidated andit is pretty much getting ready
to fall down any minute.
So we are kind of in a race tofigure out how to fix it, sorry,
how to replace it because therereally is no fix, no fixing it.
So, we're trying to do that.
(39:20):
We also have some Fence polesthat are really weak and we need
to replace the fence immediatelyAnd so everything is kind of
priority one and yet it's reallyexpensive So what we got quotes
from basically twenty to fortythousand dollars for the fencing
Pate (39:39):
which is crazy
jme (39:41):
That's a lot
Pate (39:41):
so crazy.
jme (39:42):
Yeah, and We're looking at some trailers, like office,
mobile offices.
We're looking at shippingcontainers.
We're looking at a few differentoptions, but we're still looking
at like a 30, 000 problem and weneed to raise some funds to be
able to fix that.
But the good thing is too, that,especially for the washroom is
(40:06):
that Fixing it and expanding toour grooming area.
We can actually increase ourrevenue.
Why don't you talk about that?
Pate (40:13):
We can offer the grooming.
Mm hmm.
Yes, our grooming has beenextremely limited to Baths,
right?
So baths, brush, brush blowout,nails once we get this building
we can actually have a devotedgrooming room that does include
the bath and actual, you know,get your dog's hair cut.
jme (40:37):
Well, and one of our skilled staff is a groomer and
that's her other job.
And so this is the first timetoo that we've actually had
that, built in capacity.
We've tried it with some othergroomers, but it didn't really
work for various reasons.
But we still need the placewhere we bathe them and where we
dry them and whether or notwe're actually, you know, adding
(40:59):
another service to ourrepertoire, we still need, build
it and they will come.
We still need the place for thatto happen.
Pate (41:08):
And then, finding grooming for your dog in a timely
fashion, is, you know, somethingthat is in high demand,
especially with all these doodleowners.
Nothing against the doodleowners, but I just had to throw
that in there.
jme (41:21):
Well, but we had a problem too where the dog like pawed
somebody and because itscratched the groomer, the rules
of their business, which is acorporate business said they can
no longer accept that dog.
So it's like to find groomersthat can help us with rescue
(41:42):
dogs.
Especially for, a dog like Niallthat had such high needs for
grooming such frequent groomingneeds.
It was almost impossible.
And, when you have that groomingopportunity, it's really
important.
The other thing is that, we can,teach other people to become
groomers just like we'reteaching other people to become
(42:02):
trainers and and our our programis set up to expand and provide
opportunities for people in thecommunity to change their
careers or you know for
Pate (42:13):
Or give them just knowledge for themselves.
Like what if you have your owndog that you know that requires
a lot of maintenance, like coatmaintenance, then then you get
this knowledge and you can help.
jme (42:27):
Well, and so we're not only giving our volunteers a path of
growth and opportunity, we'recreating revenue through it, and
we are also, you know, givingpeople potential new career
paths.
And, the opportunity for ourvolunteers to eventually become
staff, to do the training, to dothe grooming, that's our goal
(42:48):
is, if all our volunteers wantedto go on this learning path.
They don't have to though, likethey don't have to.
You can, we've had plenty ofpeople go through the dog
apprenticeship training programbut they do use their skills out
in the world.
And sometimes they are, takingon their friends, dogs as
clients and things like that.
That's what we need.
We need more of what we'redoing.
(43:08):
And so everything we're focusedon this year is to create more
of what we're good at and moreof what we're doing.
The other idea that we have foroffices like we really don't
have an office.
We're in this little log cabin,which is really cute but it's a
I mean, it's also where thestaff is supposed to be able to
eat lunch.
Pate (43:27):
And, but, but I mean, also it's really cute, but look at
us.
I've got two sweatshirts on whatwe've got, like our, like,
jme (43:35):
yeah, it's not warm in here.
Pate (43:38):
We have a heater, but it's not.
jme (43:39):
No.
And yeah.
And so the staff is supposed tobe able to come in here and eat
lunch, but not when we're, And,you know, so we don't even have
a place to gather the two of usjust to, to do this podcast, but
that's, you know, easy enough todo.
And then, for our t shirt press,that takes up a lot of room at
(44:00):
my house and so does theinventory for our shirts.
And that's something that weneed to straighten out and, and
have a place for and have accessso volunteers can actually learn
how to print.
And stuff like that.
So losing Redmond, was verydifficult for us, losing that,
that space and the opportunitiesthat that provided.
(44:20):
And we're not trying to, youknow, replicate it per se
because the environment is verydifferent.
We are out in the woods here.
It's not right in the middle oftown and, you know, so we can't
do the same things.
Pate (44:30):
We can't do daycare.
jme (44:32):
No, but, but we can do a modified version of that, where
we'll take care of your dogduring the day.
We're not going to be, in a.
Indoor room and playgroups, butwe can still take care of your
dog during the day while you'reat work during the week So we're
you know, we're creating newprograms and we're getting out
into the community of Monroe Andwe are you know, we are about to
(44:57):
join the Chamber of Commerce andin that way We can really
connect with our community.
We were not Redmond basedanymore we're really Monroe
based and
Pate (45:06):
Our cats are still Redmen.
jme (45:08):
Yeah, that's true.
And we don't have anywhere forcats to be, and it would be kind
of cool if we could have a placefor cats and people could come
and visit some of the adoptablecats, especially because when
the cat fosters go away onvacation, it's really hard to
find people to help themsometimes.
So, it would be great, if we hada, A little room where we could
(45:32):
use that as some, temporary catfostering and stuff like that.
And then we have the barn,which, we need to work on and,
organize.
Is that right now?
Pate (45:41):
Yeah.
And right now we can't, I mean,it's not suitable for us to have
any livestock.
jme (45:46):
No, not at the moment.
Pate (45:47):
So no goats?
No, no.
Little.
jme (45:51):
No, and that's a different entirely different fencing
problem to like not included inthe aforementioned fence issue
But yeah, the facilities areshowing their age they were
built 12 years ago and we onlytook over a couple years ago and
they are showing their age theirwear and the infrastructure of
(46:14):
the utilities and stuff needs tobe upgraded as well.
So, right.
Yeah.
That's a bunch of stuff youcan't see, but you know, right
now we don't even have a realbathroom that works.
Pate (46:26):
Yeah, that's true.
Because the barn bathroomdecided to, yeah.
jme (46:32):
So we have a porta potty and
Pate (46:35):
That's why we need the washroom.
jme (46:36):
Yeah, so it it will be our bathroom I did forget to mention
that though that it'll also havea bathroom So, having our staff
and volunteers having to go to aporta potty all the time or our
clients It's really not idealand it's actually pretty
expensive.
I'm a little surprised at howexpensive it is so we need to
(46:57):
move forward from Making do toactually being fully functional,
and we can do that in phases,but we need the support of the
community.
And, I think still a lot ofpeople don't know we're here.
Pate (47:10):
Right.
Yeah.
jme (47:11):
They don't know all the things that we do.
It's funny because I find when Itell people what we do, I'm
always telling them like aboutthe training and the boarding
and, and all these things.
And they're like, but don't youadopt animals?
I'm like, Oh yeah, we do thattoo.
Like that, that to me seems likethe obvious thing.
So sometimes that's at the endof my list of all the things
that we do.
Pate (47:31):
Right.
Right.
Cause yeah, cause it says MotleyZoo animal rescue.
So do we really need to talkabout the adoptions?
We thought that was a given, youknow,
jme (47:40):
but that's really part of the draw for most people is that
they want to find a pet, but wewant to be that place where we
can help you find the right petand we can help you take care of
that pet throughout their life,especially for dogs and dog
training and dog boarding.
And we can be a resource and arelationship that you rely on
for the lifetime of that pet.
Pate (48:02):
Right, and then I just want to say also with the
training that I know there's amisconception that rescue dogs
are damaged dogs And yeah, we dohave some damaged dogs.
I mean Ryan got attacked by hismother Ryan Reynolds is not
going to be a Quote unquotenormal dog because he does have
(48:25):
neurological issues, but I meanwe've got Jason Momoa.
I mean, he is a sexy littleAkita and there's nothing wrong
with him.
jme (48:34):
No, he's a great dog.
Pate (48:35):
I mean, he's healthy.
He's trained, you know, we'veactually had other Akita owners
come look at him to get a secondAkita and realize that their
Akita is just not up to par.
But, um
jme (48:48):
I know, they're always like, can we trade you?
And we're like, no.
But we recognize too that theirdog does need work and does need
help and it wouldn't be a goodfit if their dog is gonna, teach
Jason some bad behaviors.
Pate (49:01):
Right.
jme (49:02):
And that's how it works.
They don't, the good behaviorsdon't rub off.
It's always the bad behaviorsthat do.
Pate (49:08):
Right.
But this is not a, Damaged dog.
So when people go say, and I seethis all the time, they're like,
well, you know, You shouldn'tget a rescue because they're
damaged and you really need togo to a breeder So, you know who
their parents are and it's likeyou you realize that your
ethical breeders They're notthat easy, and they're going to
(49:28):
be very expensive.
And, instead of spending allthat money on a breed of dog
that you're not going to show,that you're not going to work,
you just want a family pet, thenyou take that money, the
thousands of dollars that youwould spend on a purebred dog,
you can get a shelter puppy andraise it with the right training
(49:51):
and socialization.
jme (49:53):
Well, I hear that a lot.
You know, they, people will say,oh, he's a rescuer.
She's a rescue.
No, that's a stupid excuse.
That doesn't mean anything.
And I understand that people aretrying to show their compassion
and, in some ways tolerance fortheir dog and their love for
their dog, but it reallyperpetuates a terrible idea that
(50:13):
if you buy, you will get whatyou want and if you rescue,
you're getting a gamble.
It's the other way around.
Right now, especially.
Pate (50:21):
Yeah, where do you, I mean, where do you think these
rescue dogs came from?
I mean, obviously they're notfrom, you know, ethical breeders
because they wouldn't be in theshelter, but the fact that
people are breeding, that peopleare willing to spend thousands
of dollars to get a certain lookor whatever, but not invest to
(50:44):
have their purebred dog trained.
jme (50:46):
Well, it's like being house poor, right?
You can have a million dollarhouse, but you're not able to
tackle the upkeep, or getting asports car and not being able to
buy gas.
Like, this is what it is formost people that spend all the
money to get the dog, and thenthey have nothing left over to
actually live with the dog.
The lesson is don't bankruptyourself buying a dog When you
(51:10):
can get a rescue dog for muchless where the organization has
invested in their well being,their health, and you can then
afford to actually invest intheir care and training as you
are going to need to do nomatter what kind of dog you get.
Pate (51:26):
Right.
Exactly.
Because I mean the thing is, isthat people who purchase dogs to
show them, are investing inthem.
Because you have to pay to getthem into the shows.
If you are working them, you'redoing competitions.
You are working with your dog.
You are training them.
So those dogs are going to havedifferent behaviors because they
(51:51):
are being worked with indifferent ways to either get
used to handling for shows or,getting trained to do a specific
task, right?
jme (52:03):
Well, and a lot of those, um, a lot of those dogs have
breed traits that arecontradictory to having a
harmonious life with a pet, afamily pet, a family pet.
And that doesn't seem to deterpeople.
And yet that is one of the topreasons why animals are
(52:26):
overflowing the animal welfaresystem right now is because they
can't live with the dog thatthey bought.
Pate (52:34):
Huskies.
jme (52:35):
Yes.
Pate (52:36):
German Shepherds.
jme (52:38):
The, you look like you're in a spotlight.
Pate (52:41):
And you are gone.
jme (52:42):
I'm dark.
What is going on?
Pate (52:48):
The sun.
jme (52:49):
Well, I guess we can't rely on this kind of lighting either.
All right.
Pate (52:54):
Yep.
That's what we're learning.
jme (52:55):
There's always something.
Always something.
Podcasting can never be simple.
Pate (53:00):
That's hysterical.
Mm hmm.
I'm like, ooh.
jme (53:03):
Yeah, you're on stage.
Pate (53:04):
I know.
And it's not good lighting.
jme (53:07):
No.
Okay.
All right.
All right.
All right.
Well, we're wrapping this up.
I'm Jme.
Pate (53:14):
I'm Pate.
Remember, if you have any topicthat you would like us to
discuss to, you know, just likebanter about, or you want to
find more information about,then drop us a line
jme (53:31):
at rescueshit at motleyzoo.Org.
Pate (53:35):
This is Pate.
jme (53:36):
I'm Jme.
Pate (53:37):
And this is our podcast Rescue Shit.
jme (53:40):
Rock on.
Pate (53:41):
Rescue on.
jme (53:42):
Yay!
Hi, I'm Jme.
Pate (00:00):
I'm Pate.
jme (00:02):
We are Motley Zoo Animal Rescue
Pate (00:04):
With our podcast Rescue Shit.
We still need, we really need toget that squeaker.
jme (00:10):
Yeah, we do.
We took a bit of a hiatus fromour last season.
Part of it was because I wasgoing away to Africa for a few
weeks, and then For me, I waskind of in a yucky headspace as
well.
I don't know, I wasn't feelingvery good.
Pate (00:28):
Lost your way.
jme (00:29):
I did! I lost my way.
And so we took a break, but,Patty was Pretty busy with, uh,
why don't you tell them?
Pate (00:37):
Well, I didn't go away on vacation.
Didn't you go to Costa Rica aswell?
Africa and Costa Rica last year?
jme (00:42):
You're right?
I did go to Costa Rica andThailand actually.
Pate (00:46):
Oh, yeah.
Okay.
So yeah, so she was busytraveling.
Meanwhile, I was stuck in bed.
Cancer came back.
So, my PSA to anyone, One thingthat you learn about breast
cancer is that there's so manydifferent types of breast
cancer.
It is out of control how manydifferent types of breast cancer
there are.
And I've learned that the hardway in another PSA.
(01:09):
Well, not another PSA.
The actual PSA is when you havebreast cancer, just get rid of
them.
Get rid of both of them.
just do it.
Because if your risk is one outof eight women.
Actually, I don't know what therate is for men, but men get it
too, but the rate for women isone out of eight women will get
(01:32):
breast cancer.
And Jme knows four people, that,and I know three, no, I know
four too.
My sister has a friend, butanyway, when your risk is one
out of eight, and then you getbreast cancer.
Then your risk is what one outof four by then or whatever your
(01:53):
risk is like super high for itto come back It doesn't always
come back.
But statistically you're gonnaget it.
So When the surgeons tell youoh, you only need a lumpectomy
Like they told me the first timeI had cancer.
I had triple negative breastcancer, which is the rare
(02:14):
aggressive form of cancer Andthe only treatment is
chemotherapy.
So I got high amounts, highamounts of chemotherapy.
And after that, you do radiationand you have surgery.
And, Instead of telling me hey,why don't we just get rid of
(02:35):
everything because you'restatistically high of getting it
back No, they're like, hey, youknow what?
It's just the tumors.
We'll take them out.
You just need a lumpectomy.
You're good You know in fiveyears if it doesn't come back in
five years, then you're goldenSo guess what you're number four
and a half it came back, but Ishouldn't say it came back
(02:58):
because it wasn't the samebreast cancer, but it was cancer
in the same breast.
And this time we did do abilateral mastectomy even though
my surgeon said, Oh yeah, youonly need one.
I was like, seriously,seriously.
So, I became one out of eight.
Then I came one out of four andthe surgeon was still.
(03:20):
Oh, you only need to remove one.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, justjust get rid of it all.
That's my PSA to everyone andThen I just I made the decision
I just didn't know right andwhen you have cancer And you
know, we love our insurancecompanies, right?
They kind of give you a timelimit You have to make a
(03:44):
decision quickly of what you'regoing to do.
You can't take the time to seehow you feel, how you heal,
anything like that.
You have a time limit of ifthey're going to cover
reconstructive surgery, youknow?
Actually, I don't even know ifthey do anything like for mental
health, uh,
jme (04:01):
I have no idea.
Pate (04:02):
Yeah, I, I, because I never really went that route,
but anyway, I had, Christi, oneof our board members, Her friend
had reconstructive surgery,loved it, did great.
My sister's friend hadreconstructive surgery, loved
it, was great.
And the thing about Christi, herfriend did get the bilateral
(04:22):
mastectomies.
But then She didn't like how shelooked, felt, I have no idea.
I, I didn't talk to Christi'sfriend.
But, she ended up gettingreconstructive surgery later.
However, the insurance companythat I had, you have a year to,
you know.
And then the thing is, is like,once you get bilateral, you have
(04:43):
to make that decision.
Do I get expanders now?
Otherwise, it's not going tohappen, and you're not going to
be able to do all that within ayear.
I can't even remember when I wasdiagnosed.
But then, we thought thatsurgery was going to be, later,
like in the summer.
jme (04:59):
Yeah,
Pate (05:00):
And they were like, nope, you're coming in.
You're coming in in April.
So I feel like it was only amonth and they're like, you're
coming in.
jme (05:05):
It was like February or March.
Yeah.
Pate (05:07):
Yeah, and then so
jme (05:09):
You had suspicions before then but it was February or
March.
Pate (05:13):
With the actual diagnosis because then you had to get the
MRI you had to get the All thatfun stuff, all the testing, you
know, before the officialdiagnosis.
And then when you got theofficial diagnosis, then it was
like, okay, then we're havingsurgery.
And then that recovery did notgo well at all.
My body hated the expanders, butI was like, you know what, you
(05:34):
know, it'll be fine because thenwhen I have reconstructive
surgery, it's my own tissue, allthat fun stuff.
It's not going to be fake.
Yeah, so lesson learned for me.
You know what?
You should have just been like,Yep, just do it.
Bilateral mastectomy.
I'm all good.
Not, not gonna deal with thisstuff.
But, you know, who knew how Iwas gonna feel.
(05:54):
Am I, am I superficial?
Like, am I going to missanything?
Am I?
Whatever.
And I should have just beenlike, you know what, Pate,
you're really not thatsuperficial.
And you know what?
They have fake bras that no onewould even be able to tell.
But anyway, um,
jme (06:08):
Well, I wouldn't say that you're superficial or anybody is
superficial for wanting to tryand, you know, preserve what you
have and, and, you know, feelingnormal or, or whatever.
I think the unfortunate part isthat they don't really tell
people how dangerous it is, howpainful it is.
And, and they make it seem likeit's not a big deal.
(06:30):
And it is.
And that's the part that I thinkis, it's too bad because
they're, they're not givingenough information and I think
if more women really did knowthe danger and how, how painful
it is and, and whether you haveto have multiple surgeries after
that or whatever, you know,because from my side, I've met
(06:54):
more people that regret doingthe reconstruction.
So, You made a choice and itdidn't work out because you had
to have four surgeries and, youknow,
Pate (07:07):
In a month,
jme (07:08):
It should have been one and it was four and your life was in
jeopardy, all of those timesand, and so I, I think that they
just, they minimize the severityof it.
And I don't really think that'sright.
It's understandable why you,chose what you did.
And it's just too bad that forall that you went through that
(07:29):
you're, you haven't ended upwith the result that you hoped
for.
Pate (07:32):
Right.
Yeah.
It's actually a worse result,but whatever.
I woke up the next morning afterthe first surgery, no, actually
after the second surgery and,Leo,.
The physician's assistant orwhoever.
He's a great guy.
And, he, he came up and he'slike, you know what Pate?
He's like, girl, these, heseriously said girl.
(07:53):
He's like, that's why he wasawesome.
And he's like, girl, most peoplewhen they have complications
it's within 24 hours.
He's like, you didn't even last24 minutes.
So that was awesome.
And then I had to be in thehospital for longer while they,
uh, checked up on me.
So, you know, and if, if youever in the hospital, you don't
(08:17):
ever sleep because they'reconstantly waking you up.
Good thing about me is that Ican sleep through anything.
so I guess I was a really goodpatient but then they sent me
home thinking, okay, I'm out ofthe woods or whatever.
And the first night I was fine.
I mean, as fine as you can beafter surgery.
And my sister and my mom came tovisit to help take care of me
(08:40):
for the week after surgery.
I didn't even get a week withthem because I was in the
hospital.
And then when I came out of thehospital, I have to say that
Airbnb had like a raised bed.
jme (08:51):
Oh, cool.
Pate (08:52):
That was, I don't know, that was like the best thing
ever, cause it, you know, it wasreally hard getting out of bed.
I got out of the hospitalThursday.
And then Saturday morning, Icalled up my husband Garry, and
I was like, You need to get thedogs ready, you need to, you
know, come down here now.
I am having complications, and Ihave to go back to the hospital.
(09:16):
And of course, you know, he'sfull of questions, and I was
like, I haven't even called thedoctor yet, because I know, That
I'm gonna go back in thehospital.
So you just need to get yourshit together and come pick my
ass up And then after I got offthe phone with him I called the
doctor and my sister that wasthere and The doctor wasn't on
(09:37):
call, but then the doctor calledthe doctor my doctor who then
called me and I got my doctor tocuss Cause she's like send me a
picture.
So I sent her the picture andshe's like, Oh shit.
And I was like, I know.
That's what I'm saying.
And sure enough, you know, Iwent back in the hospital.
And then I had to, get that sidetaken out.
(09:59):
And, And I don't know, because Idid talk a lot when I was under
anesthesia.
jme (10:06):
Yeah, you, you said take the other side, but they didn't
believe you.
Pate (10:11):
Yeah.
I don't think that they thoughtI was coherent enough to
actually mean it.
And I, I fricking meant it.
But then I had to wait.
for what, two more weeks?
To get the other side out.
Cause I was like, dude, I don'twant to be lopsided.
I can't deal with this.
I'm very, I don't know.
Is it my OCD?
I don't know.
But I was like, I can't, Ican't.
(10:32):
I was like, you gotta make meevenly flat, I guess.
And then I'll just go and wearthose fake bras where, you know,
if I feel like I need to look acertain way, right?
But.
Anyway, yeah, so, so that's whatI did this year instead of
podcast.
jme (10:53):
Yeah, it was quite a, quite a time.
And the mastectomy was more thanyou envisioned.
Also, I remember, you know, wewere telling Pate she had to
take a month off and that shewasn't allowed to really work.
Except a little bit on thecomputer.
For a month and she was like,no, no, I'll be fine in a week
(11:15):
And I was like, I hope so, but Idon't think so.
It unfortunately really that wasshockingly ass kicking, you know
for you and Everybody ralliedand we all supported you or
whatever.
But yeah, it took a toll likemore than you thought it would.
Pate (11:34):
Oh, yeah,
jme (11:34):
And then obviously this, Reconstruction, not going well
took a toll and so, you'vereally spent the whole year just
not feeling great and Yeah, soit's good to you know Start the
new year off.
Pate (11:52):
Yeah
jme (11:52):
fresh and I have a different mindset as well.
Things are still really rough inour industry, but, we like doing
the podcast.
It's really fun for us.
And, and so we just thoughtwe'll start it up again and see
where, where it can go thisyear.
Pate (12:11):
Right.
Share some stories, share someinformation.
jme (12:16):
And I guess we could then Maybe because we're like halfway
through one episode, so we couldprobably use the other half to
talk about the future the futureSo moving forward
Pate (12:29):
With a new mindset.
jme (12:30):
Yes one of the things that we're bumping into is the cost
of veterinary care has gone upso significantly That we're
paying like three times as muchfor everything that we ever had
done And it's really prettyunaffordable on the scale that
we were operating.
So we've recognized that, inorder to use our budget wisely
(12:55):
and, since donations also havedropped and not increased, we're
not able to grow the vet budgetat this point.
So we have decided that while weare still rescuing animals we're
going to have to be morediscerning about the animals
that we rescue, which is reallyhard.
But we're going to focus oneducation, we're going to focus
(13:17):
on teaching, we're going tofocus on training, and
Pate (13:21):
Helping keep those animals in their homes.
jme (13:23):
Yes.
We have a training program thatis really robust and pretty
unique.
For not only just a rescue butfor how successful that we are
at rehabilitating animals.
So we want to share that withother people.
So we're gonna try expanding ourtraining and our board and train
and, that kind of stuff to otherorganizations so that the impact
(13:48):
we're making is amplified, forevery person and every dog we
can, help not just within ourown group.
Pate (13:55):
Right.
One of the things about therescue world, that I've seen, is
that sometimes rescueorganizations aren't friendly
with each other, you know?
Many organizations kind offorget that we have one goal,
one goal, and that's savinglives, right?
And it's not about our personalVendettas against each other or
(14:19):
prejudices against each other oranything like that or I'm gonna
try to one up you, It's not acompetition between the rescue
organizations.
Like, we should be helping eachother out, in different ways and
communicate and I have to saythat, Here in Washington, we, we
actually do a pretty good job ofthat with like, Some
organizations, we've got a goodrelationship with Saving Great
(14:41):
Animals.
Jacintha, if you say otherwise,I, you know, I don't know what
to say.
But, we've helped each other outand we, we talk.
And I think it's, it's greatthat, to have that kind of
communication, right?
jme (14:55):
Well, and especially between rescues and shelters
because, even if rescues can getalong, sometimes there's the
vilification of the sheltersbecause they might be
euthanizing and in Washington,we're really lucky that, while
they do need to euthanizeanimals in our state, it's not
as often as in some otherplaces, but that we also have a
very collaborative relationshipso that, No organization is
(15:19):
sitting empty while another iseuthanizing.
The problem right now is thatevery organization is full, and
there's still four or five timesas many people trying to
surrender animals.
So we're trying to rescue moreanimals with less money, with
less interest from the publicfor adoption, for fostering, for
(15:40):
volunteering, And there's avariety of reasons for that.
But, as you can imagine, justabout every single person is
overwhelmed, anxious, strugglingmaybe financially.
There's just a lot of humanproblems happening right now
that are making it, so that, youknow, the animals are just kind
(16:01):
of suffering the consequences ofall the human issues.
There are solutions, but noone's really looking at them
right now.
As we wish they would, likefunding, grantors, they're just
not looking at it as much asthey are the human issues.
Pate (16:16):
Right.
I mean, and there's nothingwrong with looking at human
issues, right?
Because everyone has passion.
And if we were all passionateabout one thing, there wouldn't
be a lot accomplished, you know?
That being said, however, whenyou have billionaires who are
only looking at humanitarianissues, you, you kind of have to
open your mind, to the animalissues.
(16:37):
Because if you are trying to dohousing, for battered women and
things like that, you shoulddefinitely open up that housing
to help battered women leave.
abusive homes Knowing that theycan take their dogs.
jme (16:53):
Yeah, a lot of women actually stay Because of the
pets because
Pate (16:57):
I shouldn't say just dogs.
I mean,
jme (16:59):
Yeah, but a lot of the women stay because of the pets
And you know when we're in acrisis in animal welfare and
animals are being euthanizedleft and right in general across
the country because there is noplace for them to go it's very
unfair and Kind of cruel, to sayI'll help you, but you have to
(17:23):
basically euthanize your animal,or I can't help you.
I can't help you find a place.
I can't help you find a job.
To try and ask them to sacrificesomeone from their family, it's
not really right.
And you can help both the petsand the people and you don't
have to make a choice betweenthem.
It shouldn't be a choice, but alot of people think it is.
(17:46):
You get to choose one or theother.
And I don't see it as that.
I think that there are options,but people aren't looking at
them because they just assume,of course, you can't deal with
your domestic violence situationif you have a pet.
And, you know, sometimes the petis the, the whole source of
comfort.
Pate (18:03):
That's your lifeline.
jme (18:04):
Yeah.
And their lifeline to stabilityand we have quite a few people
actually lately that have saidthat they're having mental
illness issues and they can'ttake care of their pets and I'm
like, well if we could help youwith training because they do
cite behavioral issues in theanimal if we could help you with
training, would you be able tokeep them because You know
(18:25):
sometimes when things are roughMentally, your animal is the
stability for you.
And obviously, you know, I don'tknow their situation.
I can't say, like, what's goingon in their life.
But, I think the general idea ofmental health issues is
broadening as well.
And a lot of it is anxiety.
And, if you can't handle yourpet because you have just
(18:49):
discovered you're schizophrenicand you have to go into the
hospital, that's one thing.
But if you are stressed out andhaving anxiety and panic
attacks, like that's a wholeother thing, right?
So there's a spectrum of things,but in general, it's almost
expected of you to give up yourpets.
to help yourself.
(19:10):
And we would like to changethat.
Pate (19:12):
Right.
It shouldn't be either or.
I mean, you're already stuck ina hard place, so it's going to
be a rock and a hard place.
Help myself.
And
jme (19:21):
At the expense of your pet.
Pate (19:22):
Yeah, exactly.
Um,
jme (19:24):
And.
Likely their life because thereis no one else to take them
right now.
Pate (19:27):
And you know, and that's the thing is like they shouldn't
have to have that kind ofdecision and then.
So that they may stay in thatsituation because of that,
jme (19:36):
Right?
And that's where we really wantto help and a lot of times it's
because the dog is behavingbadly Let's say so, you know,
they need help with training orwhatever I understand I'm not a
psychologist But you knowsomething that gives you a
source of stability when youhave a mental capacity breakdown
or mental illness breakdown.
Sometimes having that thing tothink about, that thing to get
(19:58):
up for, that thing to do isactually really helpful.
Sometimes like when they talkabout homeless people and maybe
they shouldn't have pets or, orwhatever, those people take care
of their pets often better thanthey do themselves, which isn't
good or right either, but they,are only here because they are
taking care of their pets.
And that, you know, that'ssomething that we should be able
(20:21):
to help with, not, just takeanimals from them.
Pate (20:24):
Right.
Cause if you want to behumanitarian, you have to help
that homeless person who's onthe street, maybe they can't
even get a job because who'sgonna watch their dog When they
go on a job interview.
jme (20:36):
Well, and do you remember we had a situation like that
where we were asked to watchSomebody's dog at daycare so
that they could go to some jobinterviews And they didn't have
to leave their dog in the carbecause it was summertime right
and we helped them with thatsometimes though the problem is
that the dog has behaviors thatare, you know, an obstacle for
(20:57):
daycare, and that's where wewant to help them.
In all, we feel like the mostimpact we can make is not taking
in more animals, because everyorganization could take in, you
know, three to five times asmany animals, if they really
could, if there was space.
And, and we're still going tohave a huge problem.
So, you know, from ourperspective, we're trying to
(21:19):
come at it from a differentangle and the shelters can try
to, you know, keep up with thevolume.
Whereas we're going to try and,
Pate (21:28):
keep them in their home.
jme (21:29):
Yeah.
Divert the flow of even gettingto the shelter so, we're
developing some trainingprograms.
We're developing, some ways thatwe can have other volunteers
Fosters come and work with us sothat we can teach them more
about how to help their dogs andin the foster homes that they're
in
Pate (21:48):
To make them more adoptable if they're having any
behavioral issues and thebehavioral issues are You know,
it's a gamut of things.
We're not talking likeaggression maybe there's a
little bit of reactivity.
They might pull on a leash, theymight, bark at another dog or
whatever.
jme (22:06):
We're talking about adoptable dogs.
Pate (22:08):
Yeah, yeah.
And then we're making them moreadoptable.
jme (22:12):
Right.
But there are people that wantto surrender and their dog isn't
adoptable.
And that's where we have toreally focus on, your dog isn't
gonna make it.
If that's the case, like youreally just need to take them to
the vet yourself and, and holdtheir paw and, you know, you
have to make that choice.
But the other option is we canhelp you with training and, yes,
(22:36):
you're going to have to becommitted to it, but nobody's
committed to your pet like youare.
And especially right now,there's no trainer that's going
to take on a dog without afamily behind it.
There's just too many animals inneed right now.
And, you know, this isn't eventalking medical cases, I feel
like we've been asked to take afew medical cases, but I feel
(22:56):
like we haven't been asked totake as many medical cases as
behavioral, or just, you know,like I got this dog, like a
German shepherd or a Husky, andit's not really a right fit for
me.
Yeah, unfortunately, thebreeder.
told you a lot of things and youwanted to believe it and
Pate (23:15):
you bought it.
Yeah, or you went on Craigslistor like, Oh, I feel like I want
a husky without researching thebreed and their needs.
And
jme (23:22):
there's a lot of that right now too.
But much, I feel like there's alot less of, I can't afford my
pet.
than I can't afford training formy pet.
And there's a difference.
And so when people say I can'tafford training, that's when
we're trying to step in and belike, well, here, you know, we
want to help you with that.
(23:43):
But I feel like in our area,it's a little bit more affluent
and you know, people tend tohave tech jobs and things like
that.
So they tend to have a littlebit more disposable income.
And I feel like the surrendersaround here seem to be more for,
convenience, like mismatch, likeunrealistic expectations than I
(24:07):
can't afford my pet and I'mhomeless.
There's a few of those, but youknow, it's kind of one extreme
or the other, right?
But I have heard a lot about whypeople aren't adopting right
now.
And most people are citing thecost of vet care, so that's a
significant reason why adoptionshave dropped so much.
(24:28):
We cannot afford to pay 800 perpet to get them spayed neutered
and ready for adoption,especially when our Adoption
donations cap at 600 or for adog or 150 for a cat.
Pate (24:42):
Right, especially You know, even if we go to Spay and
neuter places.
We still will automatically losemoney.
jme (24:55):
Cause it's 150 for the cat spay or neuter.
And then that's all we'regetting.
So
Pate (25:00):
That's just the cat spay or neuter.
That's not the vaccinations.
That's not the, if they have anyhealth issues, which, if you've
worked with kittens, they aresickly.
I mean you think, oh look atthis like huge feral cat colony.
It's like, you know, you knowwhat maybe one of That litter
will make it.
(25:21):
I mean the mortality rate ofkittens is extremely high And I
mean Even with us, we are verysuccessful.
But at the same time, we do, wecan, and we have lost an entire
litter of kittens, due toillness.
No matter what we've done, youknow.
(25:41):
But, but that aside, 150 justfor the spay and neuter, you're
not, And we could be spending 1,000 on a kitten, for example,
and only 150 is, is recuperatedbecause we're not for profit.
But if we could break even, thatwould be great.
jme (26:01):
Well, and before, donations used to make up the difference.
Pate (26:05):
Yeah.
jme (26:05):
It is no longer the case.
Donations are not making up thedifference.
Right.
So we're finding that we have adeficit, and it gets more and
more significant the moreanimals we rescue.
So, you know, in this regard,Shelters have vets on staff.
They should be the ones that arefocused more on the medical
side.
And then the rescues can givethem a discounted vetting price.
(26:29):
And then take the animals intotheir homes for re homing.
And then it's kind of using thebest of both systems.
The best of what, eachorganization is good at.
And it's compounding theireffect and their amplification
of their impact as opposed towe're all kind of doing a little
bit of the same thing and Yeah,but rescues just can't afford to
(26:53):
compete in the veterinaryindustry right now.
Pate (26:55):
Not in the u.
s.
jme (26:57):
No, and we've had to take a serious look at at how we're
going to proceed and we do feelthat because we have such a
strong training program, becausewe have such strong, systems
too, even how we train ourvolunteers that's stuff that we
can share with otherorganizations so that we can
help them strengthen theirinfrastructure and their
(27:18):
capacity to help animals.
And then through that, we willhave a greater impact together
in our animal welfare system.
Pate (27:26):
Right.
You know, what's funny is that Isaw one of the organizations
that we've worked with in MexicoSo a dog that was up for
adoption Flew to the US fromMexico and They found out there
was something wrong with thedog's hip or whatever and it was
(27:47):
actually cheaper For that dog tofly back to Mexico and get the
hip surgery and then fly back tothe U.
S.
than it was to just stay in theU.
S.
and get that hip surgery here.
jme (28:01):
That's ridiculous.
I was wondering about thatbecause I did hear about that
story and knowing that itactually is cheaper to do all of
that rigmarole instead of justtaking care of it here that that
just tells you what kind ofstate our veterinary systems are
in.
And, it's a crisis in theveterinary industry too.
And, you know, inflation and Imean,
Pate (28:25):
The corporate, buying out the mom and pops, and Yeah, it,
jme (28:29):
Everything is getting to be, un affordable, unacceptable,
and just plain prohibitive.
Mm hmm.
We'll see how this progresses,you know, throughout the year,
but I'm not imagining thatdonations are going to increase
anytime soon.
So we have our work cut out forus that we have to really work
(28:50):
on infrastructure and sharingour knowledge.
And, this is the year that we'regoing to try and, try and raise
some money to improve our, ourfacilities too.
which that's alone is going tobe a pretty big challenge.
We have some, functionalityissues where we, we are not
actually able to utilize ourproperty and our facilities as,
(29:11):
as we need to.
So we need to upgrade some ofthe utilities and we actually
need to build some things.
We don't really have a place totrain right now That's not our
party tent, which is hot whenit's hot and cold when it's cold
And so we you know in order
Pate (29:28):
a little bit more climate controlled
jme (29:29):
Yeah, and in order to really expand our training
opportunities too, we do need tohave a place that's more
comfortable to train.
Pate (29:39):
For the community, I mean we can do our board and train
here with those limitations, butwe want to open it up to the
community as well.
jme (29:48):
Yeah, well and you can only fit five dogs, and that's kind
of squishy with five dogs.
So, you know, a class with fivedogs isn't a lot.
Either, so you have to do moreclasses to accommodate everybody
but we're, we're looking at allthese logistics and we're coming
up with solutions and, and wehave, a lot of hope for this
year, but it's definitely goingto be the first year where
(30:13):
taking in animals isn't thefirst answer.
Pate (30:17):
Not that we're not taking in animals.
We are, but that is not, youknow, like last year.
Or the year before it's like,okay, we adopted out this many
dogs.
So and cats I do we do likecats.
I just in in the habit.
(30:38):
I'm surrounded by dogs So I'm inthe habit of saying dogs a lot.
Yeah, even though We actuallyadopt out more cats than we do
dogs because we take in morecats than dogs and we've got a
great cat team, but nonethelessbefore it's like, okay, we
adopted this many number ofanimals this year So next year,
let's you know, let's increasethat let's do that.
(31:00):
And that was our goal, right?
And now our goal is yes, we'restill rescuing but we want to
Keep those animals in theirhomes.
We want to help otherOrganizations make their, you
know, quote unquote behavioralDogs more adoptable and obedient
(31:21):
and and better able to live in ahuman society
jme (31:25):
Well in that same amount of time energy and effort and
funding we could help, like,let's say five animals, but if
we're working with a bunch ofdifferent rescues and shelters,
we could have, we could help 50.
Pate (31:38):
It just won't be on our number at the end of the year
when, when we have to, when welook at grants and they're like,
how many animals did you save?
Well, I'm like, okay, directlyor indirectly, right?
jme (31:51):
But this is something though that we do, we are going
to keep track of the numbers.
We are going to have.
A specific program and it isvery targeted and measured, so
we will have metrics to show ourimpact.
It just is very different thatit's not all about collecting
them and taking them in and, andus being the first line of
defense in their care.
(32:13):
The organizations that we'reworking with will be the first
line of defense and we're thesecondary support where we are
going to be, helping thembecause we have such a good
training program and such arobust system that not every
organization can do that.
Most organizations can't traintheir dogs at all.
Pate (32:31):
Or they don't, you know, like, I mean, I mean, for
example, like, we have all thesedogs that came from California
to Seattle Humane.
And I mean, are they trained?
Are they not trained?
I don't know.
I mean, a lot of them gotadopted out like right away.
jme (32:50):
Well, really though, training was never a focus of
rescue when it's probably theone of the most important
reasons that an animal willsucceed or fail in a home.
We are always focused on medicalcare, getting them all the
medical care that they need.
That is an obstacle, but a dogthat is well behaved is a dog
(33:11):
that will be tolerated for somemedical things more than others.
A dog that is not well behavedwill be given up for its medical
reasons, but it's really not themedical reasons that they gave
it up.
we realized, during the pandemicthat, wow, training is really
where it's at and training is asimportant as the veterinary care
(33:34):
and the food and the water and,and no one really sees it that
way or can address it the waythat we are and do.
And so that really, was an eyeopening time period for us, and
that's when we really startedfocusing on training.
And now we have such a goodsystem.
And really we don't have enoughdogs of our own to use it on,
(33:57):
because we can't take in moredogs without more fosters.
We can't take in more dogswithout more funding for
veterinary care.
But we have people, and we havetime, and we can train.
And so that's what we're focusedon now is sharing that capacity
without actually growing ouranimal numbers.
Pate (34:15):
There's a family that's coming to us for training.
Their dog,, is a little bitreactive, a little bit of a
resource guarder.
But they got her from a shelter.
She came from Texas?
I don't know.
She came from out of, out of thestate.
And one of our shelters in thearea took her.
(34:36):
and had her in the shelter for aweek.
So you don't even really knowtheir personality, anything like
that.
A lot of dogs are still kind oflike shell shocked and things
like that.
Um, that quickly, you know, thatsoon in the shelter, nothing
against that.
Um, nothing against the shelterin that regard, because you
know, the, the idea is, to havea kind of like a transitional
(35:01):
safe haven for dogs so they'rejust moving them out, moving
them out, making room for morebecause people won't spay and
neuter their pets.
But you know, I had to throwthat in.
After one week in the shelter,they brought her home.
You know, she was a littlenervous, bonded really strongly
with them.
And then.
You know, like we said, 333,this is summarizing, like short
(35:21):
summarizing, three days to getused to the people in place,
three weeks to get used to theschedule, three months to
actually feel at home.
So once she started feeling likeshe was at home, then she
started showing some behavioralaspects of this is my house,
this is my people, this is myspace, and she's great with her
(35:44):
people.
Not so great with other people.
But you know what?
They are committed to her.
They love her.
And, and we are helping themwith training.
They're wonderful people who arenot giving up on her.
They love her.
jme (35:59):
But they would if they didn't have the right resources
because, you know, a lot ofpeople also go to like five
different trainers and thennaturally give up and say, okay,
I need to surrender.
Pate (36:09):
But my trainer,
jme (36:11):
yeah, we just came to us.
You wouldn't go through thismusical chairs of different
trainers either.
Well, and I'm really pleasedthat someone that wanted, they
found a dog in their yard, andthey said he's really nice.
But they're like, you know, wehave cats.
We are not really sure aboutintroducing him to our dogs.
We're not in the place to keephim.
(36:33):
But, you know, he is reallygreat, he just needs some
training.
And I was like, well here, talkto this guy, and I said we can't
take him, but, you know, talk tothis guy and see if you can't
work past these issues because,you know, she did sound like she
really liked him and if thosethings weren't obstacles then
she would consider keeping him.
First of all, she came back andsaid, Wow, I'm really impressed
(36:55):
already after, you know, justone session.
And second, she said, you know,We are still questioning whether
or not we can keep this dog, butwhat if we fostered him?
So, here they are trying to fixthe problem, in their home with
this dog that they found.
And, and that's what we need.
(37:16):
We need other people to becomethose rescuers.
Other people to become thosepeople that are committed to
that dog, to helping that dogbecome adoptable, and finding a
place for it, right?
Once they realize they can'tjust, you know, turn around and
give it to the shelter becausethere's no one available, they
were like, Okay, well we'llstart working on what we can
(37:37):
work on and that is training.
So I think that's something thatwe could entertain is the idea
that they're going to befostering this dog and we can
help promote it and find it ahome.
But they're committed to thehousing and the training.
So, one of the issues that we'rehaving at, at our, property is
(37:58):
that we don't have any indoorspace for training.
So we really do need a spacethat's climate controlled where
we can gather and work togetherwith our dogs.
So it's one thing if our staffand volunteers agree to be out
in the cold, our foster dogs orwhatever, but it's a whole other
thing to have a class when it's,40 degrees out and rainy and
(38:23):
everybody in the class isfreezing and then they don't
want to pay attention orwhatever.
So
Pate (38:27):
hands get really cold.
jme (38:28):
Yes.
So we've made due, for the lastalmost three years with a
training tent.
And, it is showing its age.
And it is going to be a harderthing to replace because it's a
bigger area.
Right now it's a 20 by 40 andthat's actually too small.
So, so we need a bigger place,but what's even more, pressing
(38:49):
right now really is thewashroom.
And that's where we do laundryand dishes.
And
Pate (38:57):
the grooming for the dogs.
jme (38:58):
Yeah, dog grooming.
Yeah.
Baths.
Mm hmm.
The building is dilapidated andit is pretty much getting ready
to fall down any minute.
So we are kind of in a race tofigure out how to fix it, sorry,
how to replace it because therereally is no fix, no fixing it.
So, we're trying to do that.
(39:20):
We also have some Fence polesthat are really weak and we need
to replace the fence immediatelyAnd so everything is kind of
priority one and yet it's reallyexpensive So what we got quotes
from basically twenty to fortythousand dollars for the fencing
Pate (39:39):
which is crazy
jme (39:41):
That's a lot
Pate (39:41):
so crazy.
jme (39:42):
Yeah, and We're looking at some trailers, like office,
mobile offices.
We're looking at shippingcontainers.
We're looking at a few differentoptions, but we're still looking
at like a 30, 000 problem and weneed to raise some funds to be
able to fix that.
But the good thing is too, that,especially for the washroom is
(40:06):
that Fixing it and expanding toour grooming area.
We can actually increase ourrevenue.
Why don't you talk about that?
Pate (40:13):
We can offer the grooming.
Mm hmm.
Yes, our grooming has beenextremely limited to Baths,
right?
So baths, brush, brush blowout,nails once we get this building
we can actually have a devotedgrooming room that does include
the bath and actual, you know,get your dog's hair cut.
jme (40:37):
Well, and one of our skilled staff is a groomer and
that's her other job.
And so this is the first timetoo that we've actually had
that, built in capacity.
We've tried it with some othergroomers, but it didn't really
work for various reasons.
But we still need the placewhere we bathe them and where we
dry them and whether or notwe're actually, you know, adding
(40:59):
another service to ourrepertoire, we still need, build
it and they will come.
We still need the place for thatto happen.
Pate (41:08):
And then, finding grooming for your dog in a timely
fashion, is, you know, somethingthat is in high demand,
especially with all these doodleowners.
Nothing against the doodleowners, but I just had to throw
that in there.
jme (41:21):
Well, but we had a problem too where the dog like pawed
somebody and because itscratched the groomer, the rules
of their business, which is acorporate business said they can
no longer accept that dog.
So it's like to find groomersthat can help us with rescue
(41:42):
dogs.
Especially for, a dog like Niallthat had such high needs for
grooming such frequent groomingneeds.
It was almost impossible.
And, when you have that groomingopportunity, it's really
important.
The other thing is that, we can,teach other people to become
groomers just like we'reteaching other people to become
(42:02):
trainers and and our our programis set up to expand and provide
opportunities for people in thecommunity to change their
careers or you know for
Pate (42:13):
Or give them just knowledge for themselves.
Like what if you have your owndog that you know that requires
a lot of maintenance, like coatmaintenance, then then you get
this knowledge and you can help.
jme (42:27):
Well, and so we're not only giving our volunteers a path of
growth and opportunity, we'recreating revenue through it, and
we are also, you know, givingpeople potential new career
paths.
And, the opportunity for ourvolunteers to eventually become
staff, to do the training, to dothe grooming, that's our goal
(42:48):
is, if all our volunteers wantedto go on this learning path.
They don't have to though, likethey don't have to.
You can, we've had plenty ofpeople go through the dog
apprenticeship training programbut they do use their skills out
in the world.
And sometimes they are, takingon their friends, dogs as
clients and things like that.
That's what we need.
We need more of what we'redoing.
(43:08):
And so everything we're focusedon this year is to create more
of what we're good at and moreof what we're doing.
The other idea that we have foroffices like we really don't
have an office.
We're in this little log cabin,which is really cute but it's a
I mean, it's also where thestaff is supposed to be able to
eat lunch.
Pate (43:27):
And, but, but I mean, also it's really cute, but look at
us.
I've got two sweatshirts on whatwe've got, like our, like,
jme (43:35):
yeah, it's not warm in here.
Pate (43:38):
We have a heater, but it's not.
jme (43:39):
No.
And yeah.
And so the staff is supposed tobe able to come in here and eat
lunch, but not when we're, And,you know, so we don't even have
a place to gather the two of usjust to, to do this podcast, but
that's, you know, easy enough todo.
And then, for our t shirt press,that takes up a lot of room at
(44:00):
my house and so does theinventory for our shirts.
And that's something that weneed to straighten out and, and
have a place for and have accessso volunteers can actually learn
how to print.
And stuff like that.
So losing Redmond, was verydifficult for us, losing that,
that space and the opportunitiesthat that provided.
(44:20):
And we're not trying to, youknow, replicate it per se
because the environment is verydifferent.
We are out in the woods here.
It's not right in the middle oftown and, you know, so we can't
do the same things.
Pate (44:30):
We can't do daycare.
jme (44:32):
No, but, but we can do a modified version of that, where
we'll take care of your dogduring the day.
We're not going to be, in a.
Indoor room and playgroups, butwe can still take care of your
dog during the day while you'reat work during the week So we're
you know, we're creating newprograms and we're getting out
into the community of Monroe Andwe are you know, we are about to
(44:57):
join the Chamber of Commerce andin that way We can really
connect with our community.
We were not Redmond basedanymore we're really Monroe
based and
Pate (45:06):
Our cats are still Redmen.
jme (45:08):
Yeah, that's true.
And we don't have anywhere forcats to be, and it would be kind
of cool if we could have a placefor cats and people could come
and visit some of the adoptablecats, especially because when
the cat fosters go away onvacation, it's really hard to
find people to help themsometimes.
So, it would be great, if we hada, A little room where we could
(45:32):
use that as some, temporary catfostering and stuff like that.
And then we have the barn,which, we need to work on and,
organize.
Is that right now?
Pate (45:41):
Yeah.
And right now we can't, I mean,it's not suitable for us to have
any livestock.
jme (45:46):
No, not at the moment.
Pate (45:47):
So no goats?
No, no.
Little.
jme (45:51):
No, and that's a different entirely different fencing
problem to like not included inthe aforementioned fence issue
But yeah, the facilities areshowing their age they were
built 12 years ago and we onlytook over a couple years ago and
they are showing their age theirwear and the infrastructure of
(46:14):
the utilities and stuff needs tobe upgraded as well.
So, right.
Yeah.
That's a bunch of stuff youcan't see, but you know, right
now we don't even have a realbathroom that works.
Pate (46:26):
Yeah, that's true.
Because the barn bathroomdecided to, yeah.
jme (46:32):
So we have a porta potty and
Pate (46:35):
That's why we need the washroom.
jme (46:36):
Yeah, so it it will be our bathroom I did forget to mention
that though that it'll also havea bathroom So, having our staff
and volunteers having to go to aporta potty all the time or our
clients It's really not idealand it's actually pretty
expensive.
I'm a little surprised at howexpensive it is so we need to
(46:57):
move forward from Making do toactually being fully functional,
and we can do that in phases,but we need the support of the
community.
And, I think still a lot ofpeople don't know we're here.
Pate (47:10):
Right.
Yeah.
jme (47:11):
They don't know all the things that we do.
It's funny because I find when Itell people what we do, I'm
always telling them like aboutthe training and the boarding
and, and all these things.
And they're like, but don't youadopt animals?
I'm like, Oh yeah, we do thattoo.
Like that, that to me seems likethe obvious thing.
So sometimes that's at the endof my list of all the things
that we do.
Pate (47:31):
Right.
Right.
Cause yeah, cause it says MotleyZoo animal rescue.
So do we really need to talkabout the adoptions?
We thought that was a given, youknow,
jme (47:40):
but that's really part of the draw for most people is that
they want to find a pet, but wewant to be that place where we
can help you find the right petand we can help you take care of
that pet throughout their life,especially for dogs and dog
training and dog boarding.
And we can be a resource and arelationship that you rely on
for the lifetime of that pet.
Pate (48:02):
Right, and then I just want to say also with the
training that I know there's amisconception that rescue dogs
are damaged dogs And yeah, we dohave some damaged dogs.
I mean Ryan got attacked by hismother Ryan Reynolds is not
going to be a Quote unquotenormal dog because he does have
(48:25):
neurological issues, but I meanwe've got Jason Momoa.
I mean, he is a sexy littleAkita and there's nothing wrong
with him.
jme (48:34):
No, he's a great dog.
Pate (48:35):
I mean, he's healthy.
He's trained, you know, we'veactually had other Akita owners
come look at him to get a secondAkita and realize that their
Akita is just not up to par.
But, um
jme (48:48):
I know, they're always like, can we trade you?
And we're like, no.
But we recognize too that theirdog does need work and does need
help and it wouldn't be a goodfit if their dog is gonna, teach
Jason some bad behaviors.
Pate (49:01):
Right.
jme (49:02):
And that's how it works.
They don't, the good behaviorsdon't rub off.
It's always the bad behaviorsthat do.
Pate (49:08):
Right.
But this is not a, Damaged dog.
So when people go say, and I seethis all the time, they're like,
well, you know, You shouldn'tget a rescue because they're
damaged and you really need togo to a breeder So, you know who
their parents are and it's likeyou you realize that your
ethical breeders They're notthat easy, and they're going to
(49:28):
be very expensive.
And, instead of spending allthat money on a breed of dog
that you're not going to show,that you're not going to work,
you just want a family pet, thenyou take that money, the
thousands of dollars that youwould spend on a purebred dog,
you can get a shelter puppy andraise it with the right training
(49:51):
and socialization.
jme (49:53):
Well, I hear that a lot.
You know, they, people will say,oh, he's a rescuer.
She's a rescue.
No, that's a stupid excuse.
That doesn't mean anything.
And I understand that people aretrying to show their compassion
and, in some ways tolerance fortheir dog and their love for
their dog, but it reallyperpetuates a terrible idea that
(50:13):
if you buy, you will get whatyou want and if you rescue,
you're getting a gamble.
It's the other way around.
Right now, especially.
Pate (50:21):
Yeah, where do you, I mean, where do you think these
rescue dogs came from?
I mean, obviously they're notfrom, you know, ethical breeders
because they wouldn't be in theshelter, but the fact that
people are breeding, that peopleare willing to spend thousands
of dollars to get a certain lookor whatever, but not invest to
(50:44):
have their purebred dog trained.
jme (50:46):
Well, it's like being house poor, right?
You can have a million dollarhouse, but you're not able to
tackle the upkeep, or getting asports car and not being able to
buy gas.
Like, this is what it is formost people that spend all the
money to get the dog, and thenthey have nothing left over to
actually live with the dog.
The lesson is don't bankruptyourself buying a dog When you
(51:10):
can get a rescue dog for muchless where the organization has
invested in their well being,their health, and you can then
afford to actually invest intheir care and training as you
are going to need to do nomatter what kind of dog you get.
Pate (51:26):
Right.
Exactly.
Because I mean the thing is, isthat people who purchase dogs to
show them, are investing inthem.
Because you have to pay to getthem into the shows.
If you are working them, you'redoing competitions.
You are working with your dog.
You are training them.
So those dogs are going to havedifferent behaviors because they
(51:51):
are being worked with indifferent ways to either get
used to handling for shows or,getting trained to do a specific
task, right?
jme (52:03):
Well, and a lot of those, um, a lot of those dogs have
breed traits that arecontradictory to having a
harmonious life with a pet, afamily pet, a family pet.
And that doesn't seem to deterpeople.
And yet that is one of the topreasons why animals are
(52:26):
overflowing the animal welfaresystem right now is because they
can't live with the dog thatthey bought.
Pate (52:34):
Huskies.
jme (52:35):
Yes.
Pate (52:36):
German Shepherds.
jme (52:38):
The, you look like you're in a spotlight.
Pate (52:41):
And you are gone.
jme (52:42):
I'm dark.
What is going on?
Pate (52:48):
The sun.
jme (52:49):
Well, I guess we can't rely on this kind of lighting either.
All right.
Pate (52:54):
Yep.
That's what we're learning.
jme (52:55):
There's always something.
Always something.
Podcasting can never be simple.
Pate (53:00):
That's hysterical.
Mm hmm.
I'm like, ooh.
jme (53:03):
Yeah, you're on stage.
Pate (53:04):
I know.
And it's not good lighting.
jme (53:07):
No.
Okay.
All right.
All right.
All right.
Well, we're wrapping this up.
I'm Jme.
Pate (53:14):
I'm Pate.
Remember, if you have any topicthat you would like us to
discuss to, you know, just likebanter about, or you want to
find more information about,then drop us a line
jme (53:31):
at rescueshit at motleyzoo.Org.
Pate (53:35):
This is Pate.
jme (53:36):
I'm Jme.
Pate (53:37):
And this is our podcast Rescue Shit.
jme (53:40):
Rock on.
Pate (53:41):
Rescue on.
jme (53:42):
Yay!
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