Top Dog Podcast with Christy Schilling | Prevention Is the Future of Animal Welfare Leadership

Top Dog Podcast with Christy Schilling | Prevention Is the Future of Animal Welfare Leadership

The best way to save shelter animals is to keep families together before a surrender ever happens. In this episode of Top Dog Podcast, we sit down with Christy Schilling, Executive Director and Co-Founder of BetterTogether Forever. Drawing on her background in social work, Christy has dedicated her career to helping pet owners overcome housing, financial, and medical challenges so they can keep the pets they love. In this conversation, we discuss: ✔ Preventing pet surrenders before they happen ✔ The growing housing crisis facing pet owners ✔ Keeping people and pets together through community resources ✔ Building partnerships that multiply impact ✔ Leading with empathy in animal welfare ✔ Why prevention is the future of sheltering Christy shares how BetterTogether Forever is helping families navigate difficult circumstances through pet food assistance, veterinary support, emotional support animal resources, and community collaboration, creating better outcomes for both people and animals. 👉 Learn more about tools supporting animal welfare organizations at https://doobert.com/ Subscribe for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of animal welfare.

Top Dog Podcast with Megan Winters | Supporting People to Save More Animals

What happens when shelters stop judging and start supporting? In this episode of Top Dog Podcast, we sit down with Megan Winters, Director of Shelter Operations at Harbor Humane Society in West Michigan. From starting her animal welfare journey as a dog groomer to helping lead a progressive, community-focused shelter, Megan shares how modern animal welfare is evolving beyond traditional sheltering. In this conversation, we discuss: • Building a socially conscious animal shelter • Why supporting pet owners helps save more animals • Return-to-Field programs for community cats • Reducing barriers to pet ownership • Preventing burnout and compassion fatigue • Creating a culture that supports both animals and staff Megan explains why meeting people where they are, rather than judging them, creates stronger communities and better outcomes for pets and their families. 👉 Learn more about tools supporting animal welfare organizations at https://doobert.com/ Subscribe for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of animal welfare.

Top Dog Podcast with Caryn Fugatt | Leading with Empathy in Animal Welfare

What does it take to go from volunteer dog walker to leading an entire humane society? In this episode of Top Dog Podcast, we sit down with Caryn Fugatt, Executive Director of Pope Memorial Humane Society – Cocheco Valley. After starting as a volunteer dog walker, Caryn worked her way through nearly every role in the organization before becoming Executive Director, giving her a unique perspective on leadership, shelter operations, and community impact. In this conversation, we discuss: • Growing from volunteer to executive leadership • Why animal welfare is really about helping people and pets • Preserving the human-animal bond • Building a healthy shelter culture and team • Leading through compassion fatigue and difficult days • Creating judgment-free support for pet owners Caryn shares how empathy, collaboration, and community partnerships help create better outcomes for both animals and the people who love them. 👉 Learn more about tools supporting animal welfare organizations at https://doobert.com/ Subscribe for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of animal welfare.

Top Dog Podcast with Danielle Hanosh | Why the Future of Animal Welfare Starts with Education

What if the most powerful way to help animals isn't rescue — it's education? In this episode of Top Dog Podcast, we sit down with Danielle Hanosh, Co-Founder and Executive Director of LEAP (Leaders for Ethics, Animals, and the Planet). A former middle school teacher and founder of Blackberry Creek Farm Animal Sanctuary, Danielle is helping sanctuaries across North America inspire the next generation of compassionate leaders through hands-on education. In this conversation, we discuss: • Why education is critical to the future of animal welfare • How LEAP partners with sanctuaries to develop young leaders • Teaching ethics, advocacy, and environmental responsibility • The connection between compassion and leadership • Preparing students for careers in animal welfare and veterinary medicine • The emotional realities of sanctuary work Danielle shares how meaningful experiences with animals can shape empathy, responsibility, and action—and why investing in young people may be the most effective way to create lasting change for animals and our planet. 👉 Learn more about tools supporting animal welfare organizations at https://doobert.com/ Subscribe for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of animal welfare.

Top Dog Podcast with Dara Worthington | Building a Lifesaving Culture That Lasts 50 Years

What does it take to transform a small animal shelter into a community lifesaving organization? In this episode of Top Dog Podcast, we sit down with Dara Worthington, CEO of Friends of Strays Animal Shelter in St. Petersburg, Florida. Under Dara's leadership, the organization has grown from approximately 500 adoptions per year to more than 2,000 annually while expanding services, facilities, and community impact. In this conversation, we discuss: • Growing a nonprofit animal shelter through visionary leadership • Creating innovative shelter spaces for cats and dogs • Supporting pet retention through community programs • Building strong teams and positive workplace culture • Why mentorship matters in animal welfare leadership • Planning for the future while staying mission-focused Dara shares lessons from nearly a decade of leadership, the importance of finding the right people, and her vision for creating a lasting legacy that will continue serving animals and families for generations to come. 👉 Learn more about tools supporting animal welfare organizations at https://doobert.com/ Subscribe for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of animal welfare.