Truth, Lies, and Puppy Mills

Ep59: Summer Break!

Join us this week for a short episode as we share our plans for the summer and announce a short break before season 3! We are working on some big things behind the scenes and we can't wait to unleash them on the world :)  Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or LinkedIn to stay up to date on all that is Bailing Out Benji!

Ep58: Canine Welfare Science Conference

On this week's episode, Kristen and Mindi sit down to recap the latest conference we attended! At the end of May, Mindi and Alexis hit the road to attend the Canine Welfare Science Conference at Purdue University, where they met up with a Bailing Out Benji volunteer attending in person while another joined virtually from home. What happens when animal welfare advocates pull up a chair at tables filled with commercial dog breeders? A lot of listening, a lot of learning, and some surprisingly productive conversations. We talked about rehoming retired breeding dogs, policy and regulation, veterinary care, housing, enrichment, and the future of welfare in commercial kennels. More importantly, we explore what it means to engage with people we don't always agree with in pursuit of a common goal: improving the lives of dogs. The experience challenged assumptions, opened doors to new conversations, and reminded us that meaningful change often starts by showing up, asking questions, and being willing to listen.

Ep57: Shots! Shots! Shots!

On this week's episode of "Truth, Lies, and Puppy Mills" we chat about the community vaccine clinic that our little nonprofit fully sponsored! We do this annually in partnership with our city shelter, and this year we had a record-breaking year. After the spots filled up within a day, the shelter asked us if we could sponsor twice the amount of animals! This isn't a cost they are able to front, and we know that the need is higher than ever... so of course we said yes!  Beyond that, we give updates on our birthday month and also talk about our upcoming Gala! Tune in for a lighthearted, but important episode and then click on the links below to SPONSOR and get your tickets for our Gala on September 19th!  RSVP here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1071800079357099 [https://www.facebook.com/events/1071800079357099] Sponsor information:  https://secure.everyaction.com/do2sZtCutUe4ZY898EgRhQ2? [https://secure.everyaction.com/do2sZtCutUe4ZY898EgRhQ2?emci=ca79f769-805b-f111-8fcb-000d3a18905c&emdi=7992979b-ca5d-f111-8fcb-000d3a18905c&ceid=518434] Gala tickets:  https://secure.everyaction.com/7-lBKZBK6kizrMDU1cHpBg2? [https://secure.everyaction.com/7-lBKZBK6kizrMDU1cHpBg2?emci=ca79f769-805b-f111-8fcb-000d3a18905c&emdi=7992979b-ca5d-f111-8fcb-000d3a18905c&ceid=518434]

Ep56: Shelters We Love: Marshalltown ARL

Through our work, we are blessed to be surrounded by amazing people who are doing amazing things for animals (and the humans that love them!)- like Austin and Jodi with the Animal Rescue League of Marshalltown. This dynamic duo has done incredible work in getting their rural shelter noticed by their community and by national organizations!  Tune in this week to hear more about the issues that shelters in Iowa are facing and how innovative solutions can open up the doors for even more community support!

Ep55: Fetching Attention

This week, Mindi and Kristen kick off the episode by chatting about our experience with a local company that spent time with us to create videos and PSAs for our social media channels. We've learned a lot about what gets picked up on different platforms the best, and we've also learned to let ourselves look a little silly online (if that means more people see our message!)  This episode evolves into a conversation regarding the latest breeder bust in Missouri and how weird exemptions to laws allow for loopholes to be taken advantage of. In this case, the 'hobby breeder' exemption in a law allowed for a kennel to grow to have more than 80 dogs on the property without having a single inspection. You can read more about that story here: https://www.ky3.com/2026/05/15/volunteers-supplies-needed-after-huge-dog-rescue-newton-county/ [https://www.ky3.com/2026/05/15/volunteers-supplies-needed-after-huge-dog-rescue-newton-county/] We also just announced a TWO THOUSAND DOLLAR match thanks to two incredible families! If you would like to help us reach our goal of raising $15k in the month of May, you can make a gift here: https://secure.everyaction.com/0dQVOHirMU-jZmPplXFC2g2 [https://secure.everyaction.com/0dQVOHirMU-jZmPplXFC2g2] And our new merch store is live as well: https://www.bonfire.com/store/bailingoutbenji/ [https://www.bonfire.com/store/bailingoutbenji/]