Who Will Let the Dogs Out

Cara Achterberg
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Pets & Animals
  • Updated Weekly

Telling the stories of shelter dogs, the heroes who fight for them, and what you can do to help.

  1. 2d ago

    Frontline to Shelter Director: Confronting the Memphis Stray Crisis

    In this episode, host Cara Achterberg sits down with Suzy Hollenbach, Director of Memphis Animal Services (MAS), for a candid discussion on the animal welfare crisis in Memphis and across the nation. Suzy shares her journey from founding All Fours Rescue League—a grass-roots outreach program delivering free spay/neuter services, vaccines, and support directly to underserved neighborhoods—to taking the helm at MAS during one of its most challenging periods. Together, they dive into: The Reality of Community Outreach: How building trust and meeting pet owners where they are transforms neighborhoods and saves lives. The Stray Overpopulation Boom: The catastrophic impact of long-term limited intake policies, nationwide shelter capacity issues, and the critical need for open-intake accountability. Inside Memphis Animal Services: The heavy emotional toll on frontline staff and animal control officers dealing with dangerous pack sizes, parvo outbreaks, and an overwhelming daily call queue. Real Solutions: Why expanding spay/neuter access, building regional veterinary networks, and establishing true shelter stability are the only ways to break the cycle. Learn more about Who Will Let the Dogs out.

  2. Aug 10

    The Open Intake Dilemma: Rethinking Managed Admissions & Creating a Truly Humane Community

    What actually happens when animal shelters turn away immediate surrenders? In this episode, we take an honest, unvarnished look at the reality of open intake versus managed intake shelters, and explore why the national shift toward restricted admissions may be doing more harm than good. In this episode, we cover: Defining Intake Models: Clear breakdowns of open intake, managed intake, and limited intake—and why the terms are often misused. The Post-2020 Pivot: How pandemic-era appointment systems became permanent policy and changed the landscape of municipal animal welfare. The Hidden Costs of Managed Intake: How waitlists and appointments lead to surges in roaming strays, abandoned litters, public safety risks, and human housing heartbreak. The Safe Harbor Approach: Why offering immediate, judgment-free surrender options protects vulnerable animals and families better than forced "pet owner accountability." Euthanasia vs. Warehousing: Facing the hard choices between overcrowding, abandonment, and humane open-door policies with complete public transparency. Actionable Steps for Advocates: How volunteers and citizens can gather community data—from reclaim rates to stray pickups—to advocate for real shelter reform. Whether you are a shelter worker, volunteer, or passionate animal lover, this conversation offers a candid roadmap for building a realistic, safe, and truly humane community for pets and people alike. Resources mentioned: https://www.youtube.com/@UGALawPAWS/videos WhoWillLettheDogsOut.org

  3. Jul 30

    Has "No-Kill" Gone Off Track? 32 Years in Animal Welfare with Tammy Fox

    In this episode, Cara sits down with Tammy Fox, Executive Director of the Florida Keys SPCA, to unpack how animal welfare has dramatically shifted over the last three decades. With a career spanning back to 1994—including leadership roles in Austin, Texas, and Lancaster, Pennsylvania—Tammy brings a wealth of frontline experience to a tough but necessary conversation. Together, Cara and Tammy tackle: The Reality of Open Intake: What it truly means to be an open-admission shelter in today's climate.The Evolution of "No-Kill": How the language surrounding animal rescue has changed, and where it may have gone off track.Euthanasia vs. Warehousing: The heavy ethical questions rescue workers face when shelters stay overcrowded. Whether you are a seasoned rescue volunteer or simply love dogs, Tammy’s deep insights offer a powerful, honest look at the state of animal sheltering today. Connect with us: Contact Cara: Cara@WWLDO.orgLearn more about our mission at ⁠WhoWillLetTheDogsOut.org⁠

  4. Jul 13

    The Missing Safety Net for Our Pets

    After our last episode on the critical differences between public shelters and private rescues, we received a lot of... let’s call it reactive feedback. In this episode, we are backing up, slowing down, and clearing up the confusion because this misunderstanding is at the very heart of the animal welfare crisis we are facing today. Too many people are placing the expectations of a private rescue onto publicly funded municipal shelters. When we demand that open-intake public shelters act like "no-kill" rescues, they are forced to close their doors, turn away citizens, and warehouse animals. We dive deep into why every single community absolutely needs a publicly funded, open-intake safety net, including 5 undeniable reasons you might not have considered: Unplanned Owner Passing: What happens to pets when someone dies unexpectedly without a backup plan?Accidents: Who steps in for a dog when their owner is hospitalized in a car crash?Arrests: The tragic reality for animals when an owner is suddenly detained.Hoarding Situations: Why public services are vital when large groups of sick or unsocialized animals are discovered.Rescue Vulnerability: Why relying solely on private rescues—which can go bankrupt, fill up, or close down—is dangerous.We also tackle the reality of "hybrid" nonprofit shelters that take taxpayer dollars but still turn animals away by using waiting lists. Are they actually serving the community, or just the lucky few who make it through the door? It’s time to look closely at your own community. Is your local shelter truly acting as a public safety net, or is it operating as a rescue? Join the Conversation:Visit WhoWillLetTheDogsOut.org to read our blog stories from over 220 shelter visits, download our free Animal Crisis FAQ, and learn how you can help create practical solutions. Connect with us and add your voice on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube!

  5. Jul 6

    Shelter vs. Rescue: The Misunderstanding Breaking the System

    Why are our animal shelters broken? It starts with a massive misunderstanding. Too many people judge a tax-funded municipal shelter by the exact same yardstick they use for a private rescue. But their core missions are completely different. In this episode, we break down why a shelter is not a rescue, how this confusion leads to finger-pointing, and how working together—instead of competing—is the only way out of the current animal crisis. Learn more, read our stories, and get involved at: whowillletthedogsout.org

  6. Jun 24

    Is it time to retire the phrase 'no-kill'?

    Words matter. Decades ago, the term "no-kill" revolutionized animal welfare and ignited a movement. But today, has that very vocabulary become weaponized?In this powerful episode, we dive deep into how our language is fueling the current animal shelter crisis—leading to packed facilities, public confusion, and severe burnout for shelter workers. We are challenging the status quo and proposing a shift toward a new vocabulary: Responsible Sheltering.Tune in as we break down: Why the "no-kill" label creates false assumptions and divides the rescue community.The critical role of absolute transparency in building public trust.A raw, honest conversation about humane euthanasia, and why there are fates far worse for a dog than a peaceful end.It’s time to stop making humane euthanasia the enemy and start focusing on true community resources, education, and compassion. Listen now and join the conversation. What does responsible sheltering mean to you? Visit WhoWillLettheDogsOut.org for resources and tools.

  7. Jun 18

    Tackling Warehousing, making the hard decisions and turning a shelter around

    A conversation with Meridith Perry, who inherited a Mississippi animal shelter on the brink of collapse. When she took over, the facility was broke, dangerously underequipped, bound by strict city intake contracts, and trapped in a legacy of long-term warehousing. Worse, the local community had no idea how dire the situation really was. In just two and a half years, Meridith completely turned the tide, transforming it into a high-functioning, community-first shelter. In this episode, she opens up about navigating those grueling structural shifts, learning to trust her gut, and leveraging her marketing background to save the shelter and its animals. To learn more about the animal crisis in the US and find resources and solutions for shelters and rescues, visit WhoWillLettheDogsOut.org. Subscribe to this podcast and to the blog found on our website for more stories and solutions. We believe that together we CAN let the dogs out.

  8. Jun 5

    A Larger Lens on this Animal Crisis

    In this eye-opening episode of Who Will Let the Dogs Out?, co-founder Cara Achterberg tackles the escalating animal crisis with raw honesty and a glimmer of hope. While shelters innovate with new foster models, pet retention programs, and spay/neuter funding, a deeper issue is dragging true animal welfare backward. Cara boldly exposes how the standard "90% live-release rate" for no-kill status has been misinterpreted. This single metric has accidentally incentivized dangerous shelter practices, leaving countless dogs stranded on the streets or trapped in endless kennel confinement. It is time to look past the numbers and rebuild a system that offers real, responsible lifesaving care. Cara shares her own questions about what is happening in our shelters now, plus practical ideas to bring real change that fixes our crisis for good. Episode on Post Adoption programs referenced on this episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5nxGFnRFix9rgcZjqEL23G?si=UgebR67eT3OQiW105x8eng For more information visit WhoWillLettheDogsOut.org

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5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Telling the stories of shelter dogs, the heroes who fight for them, and what you can do to help.

Information

  • Creator
    Cara Achterberg
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    41
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Cara Achterberg
  • Show Website
    Who Will Let the Dogs Out

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