Who Will Let the Dogs Out

Cara Achterberg
  • 5.0 (1)
  • 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

    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.

    1h 11m

  2. 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

    14 min

  3. May 11

    The Impossible List: Why Shelters are Set up to Fail

    What happens when our "save them all" slogans collide with the heartbreaking reality of underfunded, overwhelmed animal shelters? After visiting over 200 shelters and hearing from thousands of workers on the brink of collapse, Cara pulls back the curtain on the "Impossible Task" we’ve handed our shelter staff. In this episode, we dive deep into the two worlds of animal welfare: the public advocates demanding change and the exhausted workers just trying to survive the day. We’re moving past the "us vs. them" headlines to explore why public shaming is failing our animals, what shelter staff really need when they say they need "everything," and how a simple shift from judgment to involvement can actually solve the crisis. Whether you’re a frustrated advocate or a burnt-out rescuer, this is a raw, honest look at why we must start saving the people who save the animals. If you've ever felt like the system is failing, this conversation will show you exactly how to help fix it. To learn more, visit WhoWillLettheDogsOut.org

    10 min

  4. Apr 28

    Shelter Crisis: No-kill, Warehousing, and the Impact of the Pandemic

    The animal shelter world has shifted drastically since the pandemic, and we need to talk about the uncomfortable reality behind the headlines. In this episode, we share what we witnessed during our recent shelter tour—from the unintended consequences of the "No-Kill" label to the heartbreaking rise of animal warehousing. We dive deep into why the animal crisis is worsening, exploring the ripple effects of veterinary shortages, housing instability, and the explosion of backyard breeding. We also tackle the controversial policies of "managed intake" and "community sheltering," questioning if these national trends are truly saving lives or simply pushing the problem out of sight. Is keeping a dog in a kennel for years actually "sheltering," or is it something else? Join us for a candid conversation about the difficult choices shelters face and why transparency is the only way forward. Key Topics Discussed: The reality of "warehousing" and shelter stress.How the pandemic broke the spay/neuter system.The truth about the 90% No-Kill metric.The risks of community sheltering and managed intake.Why we can’t "adopt our way out" of this crisis anymore.We want to hear your thoughts and ideas on how we solve this. Reach out to us on social media or email Cara directly at Cara@WWLDO.org. Learn more about the work we do at WhoWillLettheDogsOut.org

    16 min

  5. Mar 20

    New Idea for Shelters and Rescues: Post Adoption Programs

    The animal crisis in our country is growing every day. The solutions we've used for decades are helping us tread water but make no real progress. We need new solutions. Here's one! Cara shares four ways to have a Post Adoption Program that helps adopters, dogs, and shelters/rescues. Plus 7 ways why you need to start doing post adoption programs on some level NOW. Visit WhoWillLettheDogsOut.org to learn more about the work we do. To reach care, email Cara@WWLDO.org

    16 min

  6. Feb 9

    5 Ways Local Businesses Can Help Animal Shelters Save Lives

    Utilizing local businesses and organizations can be a shelter's superpower when it comes to engaging its community. Here are five ways to invite them to help you, not only find the supplies and resources you need, but to get dogs (and cats) into homes faster, and create strong advocates who will make the shelter a beloved resource. To learn more about our work, visit WhoWillLettheDogsOut.org Have thoughts about shelter or rescue work or the animal crisis in the US? Reach out. Cara@WWLDO.org

    17 min

  7. Jan 28

    7 Secrets to Successful Animal Shelters

    We just got back from our latest shelter tour. We've now made more than 200 visits to shelters in 16 states, yet I learn more with every tour. We were able to visit some remarkably successful shelters on this tour and I'm going to share 7 key takeaways from the places that are succeeding in not just saving lives but serving their communities. To learn more about our work, visit WhoWillLettheDogsOut.org.

    24 min

  8. 12/04/2025

    Setting Shelters Up For Success

    Explanation of the difference between different types of shelters (municipal, nonprofit, regional), examples of some exemplary ones, and how they function, plus ideas for funding any kind of shelter. This is Chapter Six of Who Will Let the Dogs Out: Stories and Solutions for Shelters and Rescues. This book is available on Amazon or through our website. Book sales enable us to give the book out for free to shelters and rescues. If you have an idea for an episode or a guest, email Cara@wwldo.org. For more information about our organization and the work we do, visit our website: WhoWillLettheDogsOut.org Our mission is to raise awareness and resources for homeless dogs and the heroes who fight for them.

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

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