Keep it Humane

Keep it Humane

Welcome to Keep it Humane: The Podcast! Hosts Daniel Ettinger, Ashley Bishop, and Ashlee Bishop (yes, there are two Bishops) explore the full spectrum of animal welfare—from animal control and shelters to rescue, advocacy, policy, and community care. Through real stories, expert insights, and honest conversations, we challenge misconceptions and reshape how we think about helping animals. Whether you're in the field or simply care about animals, this podcast is about building understanding, strengthening communities, and doing better for both people and pets. Help People. Help Animals

  1. 3 DAYS AGO

    The Cost of Caring (Episode 306)

    Daniel is out this week… which means Ashley Bishop and Ashlee Bishop have taken over the podcast. That’s right—no supervision. In this episode of Keep it Humane: The Podcast, the Ashleys talk about something that isn’t always easy to discuss in animal welfare: compassion fatigue. They dive into the emotional weight of the job, the stress that comes with working in animal control and shelters, and why even the most dedicated professionals sometimes feel completely drained. Along the way they share real experiences from the field, talk about how this work affects people behind the scenes, and discuss resources and strategies that can help professionals take care of themselves while continuing to care for animals. It’s honest, it’s real… and with Daniel gone, it might even be a little less controlled than usual.

    25 min

  2. 24 MAR

    Large Scale Impounds (Episode 305)

    A recent large-scale animal seizure in Los Angeles County—where more than 300 animals were removed from a single property—serves as the backdrop for this episode. But this isn’t a breakdown of that case. Because the truth is… we don’t have all the facts. And neither does anyone else—yet. Instead, we use this moment to talk about what really happens when a large-scale impound hits an agency. From the outside, these cases look like heroic rescues. And they are. But behind the scenes, they’re also complex, messy, resource-draining operations that can push even the best-run organizations to their limits. In this episode, we dig into: What it actually takes to mobilize for a seizure involving hundreds of animalsThe immediate strain on staffing, space, and decision-makingWhy these cases are rarely as clear-cut as the headlines suggestThe ripple effect across shelters, rescues, and communitiesHow agencies balance enforcement, animal welfare, and public perception in real timeWe also talk about the uncomfortable reality: sometimes these cases involve people who believed they were helping animals—and situations that evolved beyond their capacity to manage. With shelters across the region scrambling to create space, transfer animals, and call on the public for help, this case highlights something bigger: large-scale impounds are not just enforcement actions—they are system-wide events. Whether you’re in animal control, sheltering, rescue, or just care about animal welfare, this episode gives you a real-world look at what happens when “too many animals” becomes everyone’s problem overnight. Because when 300 animals walk through your doors… everything changes.

    56 min

  3. 17 MAR

    Five Domains of Animal Welfare (Episode 304)

    In this episode, Ashley, Ashlee, and Daniel take a deep dive into the evolution of animal welfare by breaking down the Five Domains of Animal Welfare and how they differ from the traditional Five Freedoms. The team explores how the Five Freedoms laid the foundation for humane care—focusing on preventing suffering—while the Five Domains push the conversation further by emphasizing an animal’s overall experience, including positive mental states. Through real-world examples from animal control and sheltering, they unpack what this shift means for decision-making, enforcement, and daily care. From nutrition and environment to behavior and mental well-being, this episode challenges listeners to rethink what “good welfare” really looks like in modern animal services. Whether you’re in the field or just passionate about animals, this conversation highlights why moving beyond simply avoiding harm—and toward creating positive outcomes—is the future of animal welfare. Because it’s not just about surviving—it’s about thriving.

    47 min

  4. 11 MAR

    The $5 Million Dog Bite: When Shelter Transparency Fails (Episode 303)

    In this episode of Keep it Humane: The Podcast, Daniel Ettinger and Ashley Bishop unpack a controversial and costly case out of Los Angeles that has many in the animal welfare field asking hard questions. A Los Angeles County jury recently awarded $5.4 million to a woman who was severely injured by a dog while picking it up from a city animal shelter for transport to a rescue group. The dog — a Belgian Malinois named Maximus — reportedly had a documented history of biting multiple people, including incidents that sent a teenager and a shelter employee to the hospital. The transporter alleged she was never warned about the dog’s dangerous history before the attack. Daniel and Ashley break down what happened, what the jury decided, and why the City of Los Angeles was found 62.5% liable, with additional responsibility assigned to the rescue organization and the transporter. But beyond the headlines, this episode explores the deeper issues the case raises for animal shelters and the professionals who work in them every day: What are the legal and ethical obligations when a dog has a serious bite history? How should shelters communicate risk to adopters, transporters, and rescue partners? When does advocacy for saving animals collide with public safety and staff safety? And what lessons should animal control agencies and shelter leaders take from multimillion-dollar verdicts like this one? Drawing on their experience in animal control and shelter operations, Daniel and Ashley discuss how cases like this shape policy, liability, and the public perception of animal shelters — and why transparency and professional judgment are more important than ever in modern animal welfare. If you work in animal control, sheltering, rescue, or law enforcement, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

    48 min

  5. 3 MAR

    Mumbai to Montreal: A Different Way to Understand Dogs (Episode 302)

    In this episode of Keep it Humane: The Podcast, Daniel Ettinger and Ashley Bishop sit down with Sam Amalsadwala, a Montreal-based dog behavior expert whose path into animal behavior is anything but traditional. Originally from India and trained as a chef, Sam shares how a career transition — and a deep curiosity about dogs — led him to build a unique approach to canine behavior grounded in observation, relationship-building, and real-world socialization. Drawing from his cultural background, including the role dogs play within Zoroastrian traditions, Sam offers a perspective on human–animal relationships that challenges many Western assumptions about dog ownership and training. Sam discusses his now well-known work walking large groups of dogs — sometimes up to 35 at a time — off-leash in a private forest environment, and how that experience shaped his philosophy that early socialization and environmental exposure often matter more than traditional obedience training. The conversation explores: Cultural differences in how societies view and live with dogs The evolution from training-focused models to relationship-based behavior work The realities and ethics of off-leash freedom Understanding both human and canine behavior The difficult conversations around behavioral euthanasia and public safety This episode challenges listeners to think beyond labels like “good dog” or “bad dog” and instead consider the balance between animal welfare, community safety, and responsible ownership. Whether you work in animal control, shelters, training, or simply love dogs, this conversation offers thoughtful insight into how culture, environment, and expectations shape the animals we live alongside. Learn more about Sam and his work at: samaysam.com

    39 min

  6. 25 FEB

    Taking Care of Families by Taking Care of Their Pets (Episode 301)

    In this episode of Keep it Humane: The Podcast, Daniel Ettinger and Ashley Bishop sit down with Dr. Doonerstag, DVM, for an insightful conversation exploring the critical role veterinarians play in animal welfare, shelter medicine, and community-based care. Dr. Doonerstag shares perspectives from the veterinary field on some of the most complex challenges facing animal control agencies and shelters today — from medical decision-making and capacity for care to collaboration between veterinarians, animal control officers, and shelter professionals. The discussion dives into how veterinary expertise supports humane outcomes, improves field response, and helps agencies balance compassion with practical realities. Together, we explore the evolving relationship between animal control and veterinary medicine, the importance of communication across disciplines, and how partnerships can better serve both animals and the communities we protect. Whether you’re an animal control officer, shelter professional, veterinarian, or advocate, this episode offers thoughtful insight into how working together — across roles and perspectives — helps us truly keep it humane.

    58 min

  7. 17 FEB

    The Humane Roundup (Episode 300)

    Before Keep it Humane, there was The Humane Roundup — the show that started it all. In this special episode, we bring back two of the original hosts of The Humane Roundup — the voices who helped lay the foundation for the conversations we’re still having today. We revisit where it all began, why the show was created, what was happening in animal welfare at the time, and how those early discussions shaped what the podcast has become. We talk about: The original mission behind The Humane Roundup How the profession has evolved since those early episodes The hard lessons, the proud moments, and the behind-the-scenes stories Why the rebrand to Keep it Humane mattered And what still needs to change in animal control and sheltering This isn’t just a reunion. It’s a reflection on growth — personal, professional, and as a field. If you’ve been with us since the beginning, this one’s for you.If you’re new here, this is your origin story. Because the conversations that shaped this profession didn’t start yesterday.They started with people willing to press record and speak honestly about the work. And that’s exactly what we’re doing again.

    55 min

  8. 10 FEB ·  BONUS

    Neuter Your Ex (Episode 299.5)

    In this fun and heartfelt episode, Ashley and I dive into one of the most creative shelter fundraisers we’ve seen yet — the “Neuter Your Ex” campaign from Check out the “Neuter Your Ex” promotion and how it helps community cats. We break down how this playful idea raises funds for spay/neuter programs that reduce feral cat overpopulation, support Trap-Neuter-Return efforts, and ultimately save lives. Plus, we share other practical and impactful things shelters can do right now — from low-cost spay/neuter clinics and community TNR efforts to engaging events and creative donor opportunities that help animals find better lives. Whether you’re a shelter team member, volunteer, or animal lover, you’ll come away with fresh inspiration for making a difference!

    32 min
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About

Welcome to Keep it Humane: The Podcast! Hosts Daniel Ettinger, Ashley Bishop, and Ashlee Bishop (yes, there are two Bishops) explore the full spectrum of animal welfare—from animal control and shelters to rescue, advocacy, policy, and community care. Through real stories, expert insights, and honest conversations, we challenge misconceptions and reshape how we think about helping animals. Whether you're in the field or simply care about animals, this podcast is about building understanding, strengthening communities, and doing better for both people and pets. Help People. Help Animals

Information

  • Creator
    Keep it Humane
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    278
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Keep it Humane
  • Show Website
    Keep it Humane

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