Keep it Humane

In this episode, Ashley, Ashlee, and Daniel explore the resources available to animal welfare professionals—from training and professional organizations to research, grants, tools, and resources for some of the toughest challenges we face.

We’ve also created a Keep It Humane Resource Page to make it easier to find trusted organizations and resources all in one place.

👉 Visit: keepithumane.com/resources

And there’s a...

Holistic pet health has become one of the most talked-about—and debated—topics in animal welfare. In this episode of Keep It Humane, we sit down with Angela Ardolino, founder of CBD Dog Health and MycoDog, to explore the growing world of natural therapies for pets.

From CBD and medicinal mushrooms to fresh food diets and the endocannabinoid system, Angela shares how she became one of the leading voices in holistic pet we...

Join Daniel Ettinger, Ashley Bishop, and Ashlee Bishop as they welcome Julie Choi, founder of YongsanCats in Seoul, South Korea.

What happens to community cats when an entire neighborhood is demolished? Julie shares the story behind YongsanCats, the challenges of rescuing cats displaced by urban redevelopment, and how her team has helped hundreds of cats find safety through rescue, foster care, and adoption.

The conversation explores...

Elephants are intelligent, emotional, and deeply social animals—but many have endured years of abuse, neglect, and exploitation before finding safety. In this episode of Keep It Humane: The Podcast, hosts Daniel Ettinger, Ashlee Bishop, and Ashley Bishop sit down with Nikki Sharp, Executive Director of Wildlife SOS USA, to explore the incredible work being done to rescue and rehabilitate elephants, sloth bears, leopards, and ...

Wildlife rehabilitation is more than rescuing animals—it’s about understanding ecosystems, making difficult decisions, and giving animals the best possible chance to return home. In this episode of Keep It Humane: The Podcast, Daniel sits down with Erin Stacks, founder of Back 2 the Wild Rehab in Michigan.

Erin discusses her journey into wildlife rehabilitation, her work with injured and orphaned animals, the challenges ...

In Part Two of our interview with Kim Alboum, Director of Field Operations at BISSELL Pet Foundation, we pick up where we left off by answering the question Kim posed to us at the end of Part One. From there, we dive even deeper into bullying in animal welfare, respond to questions submitted by our listeners, and even ask AI for its perspective on one of the profession's toughest challenges.

If you work in animal welfare, this is a ...

Bullying. Toxic workplace culture. Silence.

These aren’t topics we often discuss in animal welfare—but they should be.

In Part One of this two-part interview, we’re joined by Kim Alboum, Director of Field Operations at BISSELL Pet Foundation, to discuss her powerful article, The Thing Nobody in Animal Welfare Wants to Talk About. Together, we explore why bullying continues to exist in our profession, the impact it h...

Actor, producer, and lifelong animal advocate Billy McNamara joins Keep it Humane for a candid conversation about his remarkable journey from Hollywood to hands-on animal rescue. Billy shares how his passion for animals evolved into a lifelong mission, the unforgettable rescues that have shaped his perspective, and why he believes compassion should always come before convenience.

We also discuss the current state of animal welfare, ...

The Fourth of July may be a day of celebration, but for animal control officers and animal shelters, it’s often one of the busiest—and most challenging—times of the year.

Join Ashlee and Daniel as they discuss the impact fireworks and holiday festivities have on pets, animal shelters, and the professionals working around the clock to reunite lost animals with their families. They also share practical tips to help k...

This week on Keep it Humane, we sit down with renowned dog trainer, behavior consultant, author, and speaker Melissa McCue-McGrath. Known for her wit, honesty, and practical approach to animal behavior, Melissa shares lessons learned from years of working with dogs and the people who love them.

We discuss the realities of dog training, common misconceptions about canine behavior, and the challenges facing pet owners, shelters, rescu...

This week on Keep it Humane: The Podcast, we sit down with former St. Clair County Animal Control Director Melissa Miller following her recent resignation after a controversial vote by county commissioners to rewrite the county’s animal control ordinance. The changes shifted criminal animal cruelty investigations away from Animal Control and placed those responsibilities with local law enforcement agencies, a move Miller publ...

In this episode of Keep it Humane: The Podcast, Daniel Ettinger and Ashley Bishop sit down with the team from Feral Fixers TNR Club to discuss the important role Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs play in managing community cat populations and improving the lives of cats and the neighborhoods they call home.

We explore the realities of community cat management, the challenges faced by volunteers and animal welfare organizations, and ...

In this episode of Keep it Humane: The Podcast, Daniel Ettinger, Ashlee Bishop and Ashley Bishop sit down with Dr. Sara Pizano, founder of Team Shelter USA, for a candid conversation about the current state of animal sheltering in America.

From intake diversion and community-based programs to public policy, field services, and shelter operations, Dr. Pizano shares lessons learned from working with shelters and communities across the...

Daniel and Ashley are joined by Nicole Navarro from Pawsitive Beginnings to talk animal rescue, advocacy, and the realities of working in animal welfare. From helping vulnerable animals to supporting the community, Nicole shares the passion and challenges behind the work being done every day to make a difference.

The conversation covers rescue efforts, public perception, collaboration in animal welfare, and the dedication it takes t...

Ashley Bishop takes over the mic solo for this episode of Keep it Humane: The Podcast as she sits down with the team from Anti-Cruelty, Chicago’s oldest and largest open-door animal welfare organization. Founded in 1899, Anti-Cruelty has spent more than a century evolving alongside the animal welfare profession while staying committed to the bond between people and pets.

Ashley and her guests dive into the realities of modern ...

What started as a classroom demonstration about how quickly cats can reproduce without spay and neuter somehow turned into the CATTOO challenge, 27 tattoos, and now a Forbes article.

In this episode of Keep it Humane: The Podcast, Daniel and Ashley break down the story behind the article, why the CATTOO challenge was created, and the bigger conversation around cat overpopulation, access to care, and responsible animal welfare.

They a...

In this episode, we sit down with the team behind Journey Home Animal Control, a community-driven organization redefining what animal control can look like. Built on compassion, education, and real-world problem solving, Journey Home is filling critical gaps in traditional services—helping keep pets with the families who love them while supporting communities in practical, humane ways.

We dive into their innovative approach to...

In this episode of Keep it Humane: The Podcast, we sit down with Deborah Felin McGaldi from Helen Sanders CatPAWS to talk all things cats, community, and compassion.

Deborah shares how CatPAWS is transforming feline welfare in California through their trap-neuter-return (TNR) programs, low-cost spay/neuter clinic, kitten fostering network, and community outreach efforts across Southern California. We dive into the ethics and realiti...

In this episode of Keep it Humane: The Podcast, we sit down with Genevieve Frederick, the founder of Feeding Pets of the Homeless, to talk about a mission that’s saving lives on both ends of the leash.

Genevieve shares how a simple moment of compassion sparked a nationwide movement dedicated to providing food, veterinary care, and essential resources for pets belonging to people experiencing homelessness. We dig into the real ...