Ep. 166 - Nicole Navarro with Reef the Fox Finds His Purpose

This week I talk with Meredith Blanchard, Director of Policy and Advocacy at the National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS), to explore the realities of animal testing and the growing movement toward cruelty-free science. Meredith shares insights into the NAVS mission to replace animal experiments with humane, human-relevant alternatives such as cell-based research methods. We discuss the recent beagle rescue from Ridglan Farms, the challenges of rehabilitating former lab animals, and the ethical complexities faced by researchers and caretakers. Meredith also shares how federal agencies like the FDA and NIH are taking steps to reduce animal use and how individuals can get involved in advocacy to help end animal testing once and for all. To learn more about the work of the National Anti-Vivisection Society check out www.navs.org. Sponsor:LIX - check out www.lixpetwellness.com to learn more about CBD for pets. Use code Rescuepod20 for 20% off your first order! Thanks for listening! If you liked what you heard, please rate, review, and subscribe. If you have ideas for future guests please email me at [email protected] or follow me @theanimalrescuepod on Instagram. You can also learn more about the organizations I interview and how to listen/watch at www.theanimalrescuepodcast.my.canva.site

This week Rachel Martinez is back! As one of my first guests ever, Rachel comes back on to talk about growth and energy. We discuss the evolution of her work and her new program Dog Psychology for Embodied Leaders. We also get into the energy side of life with practices that can help you feel more in flow and alignment with yourself. If you have been curious about how internal work can help you with external relationships, this is the episode for you. You can learn more about Rachel and her work on social media @thehealingpack and online at www.thehealingpack.com.Sponsor:LIX - check out www.lixpetwellness.com to learn more about CBD for pets. Use code Rescuepod20 for 20% off your first order! Thanks for listening! If you liked what you heard, please rate, review, and subscribe. If you have ideas for future guests please email me at [email protected] or follow me @theanimalrescuepod on Instagram. You can also learn more about the organizations I interview and how to listen/watch at www.theanimalrescuepodcast.my.canva.site

This week  Nicole Navarro, founder of Pawsitive Beginnings Fox Sanctuary, joins us again to celebrate the sanctuary's 6-year anniversary. Nicole shares exciting milestones including publishing her children's book "Reef the Fox" and hosting a yoga fundraiser, while currently caring for 7 foxes rescued from fur farms. She discusses valuable lessons about trusting her instincts, her meaningful work with children from Florida Keys Children's Shelter, and her commitment to self-care. Looking ahead, Nicole remains open to future rescues and hopes to write more children's books addressing important topics like grief and the fur trade. To learn more about Pawsitive Beginnings you can find them online at www.pawsitivebeginnings.org and on social media @pawsitive_beginnings_inc.Sponsor:LIX - check out www.lixpetwellness.com to learn more about CBD for pets. Use code Rescuepod20 for 20% off your first order! Thanks for listening! If you liked what you heard, please rate, review, and subscribe. If you have ideas for future guests please email me at [email protected] or follow me @theanimalrescuepod on Instagram. You can also learn more about the organizations I interview and how to listen/watch at www.theanimalrescuepodcast.my.canva.site

This week I talk with Stephanie Stephan, a lifelong animal lover who transformed her childhood dream of veterinary medicine into a unique practice of Reiki energy healing for animals. In this episode, Stephanie explores the profound spiritual connection between humans and their animal companions, explaining how pets mirror our emotional states, teach us essential life lessons, and even physically manifest our health issues. Discover how animals naturally operate at healing frequencies, why your dog might have chosen you based on lessons you need to learn, and practical ways to raise your emotional frequency through music, nature, and presence. This fascinating discussion bridges ancient healing wisdom with modern science, revealing that our furry friends are far more than companions—they're our greatest teachers and healers. To learn more about Stephanie's work you can find her online at  www.unconditional-love-frequency-with-stephanie-stephan.com/  and to sign up for one of her classes you can visit www.kumaraacademy.com/courses-classes.Sponsor:LIX - check out www.lixpetwellness.com to learn more about CBD for pets. Use code Rescuepod20 for 20% off your first order! Thanks for listening! If you liked what you heard, please rate, review, and subscribe. If you have ideas for future guests please email me at [email protected] or follow me @theanimalrescuepod on Instagram. You can also learn more about the organizations I interview and how to listen/watch at www.theanimalrescuepodcast.my.canva.site

This week I talk with Patti Eddington, author of "Don't Look in the Freezer: The Very Strange Life of a Veterinarian's Wife," who shares her experiences as the spouse of veterinarian Jim, including the challenges of frequent moves, financial struggles, unexpected client home visits, and memorable incidents like confrontations with irate clients and poor hiring decisions. The book addresses misconceptions about veterinary costs while highlighting the compassion and emotional demands of veterinary work, including performing euthanasias while dealing with personal grief. This book is a must read! "Don't Look in the Freezer" is available April 28 everywhere books are sold. But you should definitely support your local indie bookstore! You can also learn more about Patti's work at www.pattieddington.com and on social media @pattieddingtonauthor.Sponsor:LIX - check out www.lixpetwellness.com to learn more about CBD for pets. Use code Rescuepod20 for 20% off your first order! Thanks for listening! If you liked what you heard, please rate, review, and subscribe. If you have ideas for future guests please email me at [email protected] or follow me @theanimalrescuepod on Instagram. You can also learn more about the organizations I interview and how to listen/watch at www.theanimalrescuepodcast.my.canva.site

This week I talk with Genevieve Frederick, founder of Feeding Pets of the Homeless, a national nonprofit founded in 2008 that operates in all 50 states to help homeless individuals care for their beloved pets. Through five key programs - pet food collection, emergency veterinary care, wellness clinics, shelter crates, and veteran support - the organization has collected over 2.7 million pounds of pet food and spent over $1.1 million in 2025 alone providing medical treatment to more than 1,600 pets. Partnering with over 2,000 veterinary hospitals nationwide and operating entirely on donations and grants, Feeding Pets of the Homeless recognizes that for the 33% of homeless individuals who have pets, these animals provide irreplaceable companionship, protection, and purpose, making the human-animal bond essential to their wellbeing. To learn more about Feeding Pets of the Homeless you can find them at www.petsofthehomeless.org and on social media @feedingpetsofthehomeless.Sponsor:LIX - check out www.lixpetwellness.com to learn more about CBD for pets. Use code Rescuepod20 for 20% off your first order! Thanks for listening! If you liked what you heard, please rate, review, and subscribe. If you have ideas for future guests please email me at [email protected] or follow me @theanimalrescuepod on Instagram. You can also learn more about the organizations I interview and how to listen/watch at www.theanimalrescuepodcast.my.canva.site

This week I talk with Josh from Red Barn Rescue and the Rescueality Podcast. Josh has been rescuing animals since age 5 and founded Red Barn Rescue in Mexico in 2018 with his mom, successfully adopting over 1,500 dogs primarily to the U.S. Currently caring for about 70 dogs—including 25-30 permanent sanctuary residents—Josh and his mom run operations that have included massive adoption events, like placing 84 out of 85 dogs in Washington. Beyond rescue work, Josh launched the Rescueality Podcast to tackle the controversial and difficult topics the rescue community often avoids, from border crossing challenges and cultural differences to corruption, fake rescues, and the realities of managing pack dynamics, disease, and dog fights. His mission is simple: prioritize dogs' welfare and bring transparency to what rescue truly involves beyond the social media highlights. To learn more about Josh's work you can find him on YouTube and social media @rescuealitypodcast and @redbarnrescueranch. You can also go towww.redbarnrescue.org to learn more about the rescue.Sponsor:LIX - check out www.lixpetwellness.com to learn more about CBD for pets. Use code Rescuepod20 for 20% off your first order! Thanks for listening! If you liked what you heard, please rate, review, and subscribe. If you have ideas for future guests please email me at [email protected] or follow me @theanimalrescuepod on Instagram. You can also learn more about the organizations I interview and how to listen/watch at www.theanimalrescuepodcast.my.canva.site

This week I talk with Roger Devine of SchoolAuction.net. For many animal rescue organizations, fundraising is one of the hardest parts of running the organization. What type of fundraiser should you host? How will you get community support? Are you even ready to host a large event? Roger talks us through many of these points breaking things down into manageable steps. If fundraising leaves you freeze mode, this may be the episode for you! To learn more about SchoolAuction.net you can find them online or on social media @SchoolAuction. You can also reach out to Roger to talk through some of your thoughts and pick his brain on what may be the best fit for your group!Sponsor:LIX - check out www.lixpetwellness.com to learn more about CBD for pets. Use code Rescuepod20 for 20% off your first order! Thanks for listening! If you liked what you heard, please rate, review, and subscribe. If you have ideas for future guests please email me at [email protected] or follow me @theanimalrescuepod on Instagram. You can also learn more about the organizations I interview and how to listen/watch at www.theanimalrescuepodcast.my.canva.site

Wildlife SOS, founded in 1995 by Kartick Satyanarayan and Geeta Seshamani, is an Indian animal welfare organization that has made remarkable impact through compassionate, community-focused conservation. Their groundbreaking Dancing Bears Project rescued 628 sloth bears from brutal exploitation while providing alternative livelihoods and education to 3,000 families in the Kalandar community, successfully ending this cruel practice. Building on this success, they established India's first elephant hospital and ambulance service, currently caring for 40 elephants and operating mobile clinics that have helped 142 elephants in 2025 alone. Through their five pillars—rescue and rehabilitation, outreach, education, training, and prevention—Wildlife SOS continues to protect India's wildlife while empowering local communities to become partners in conservation. To learn more about the work of Wildlife SOS you can find them online at www.wildlifesos.org or on social media @wildlifesos.Sponsor:LIX - check out www.lixpetwellness.com to learn more about CBD for pets. Use code Rescuepod20 for 20% off your first order! Thanks for listening! If you liked what you heard, please rate, review, and subscribe. If you have ideas for future guests please email me at [email protected] or follow me @theanimalrescuepod on Instagram. You can also learn more about the organizations I interview and how to listen/watch at www.theanimalrescuepodcast.my.canva.site

This week I talk with Sara Deen Kimball, a dedicated volunteer with the Louisiana State Animal Response Team (LSART) who stumbled into animal rescue through a technical large animal emergency course and never looked back. After volunteering during the 2010 BP oil spill, Sara became deeply involved in disaster response work, helping overwhelmed animal control departments during hurricanes and other emergencies by setting up temporary shelters, performing technical large animal rescues, and decontaminating animals exposed to hazardous floodwaters. She's also the creator of the innovative "Ralph Responders Go Bag" and author of the children's book series starting with "Rowan and the Animal Shelter," which teaches kids about the important work of animal control officers. In this episode, Sara shares her inspiring journey, the critical work LSART does to protect animals during disasters, and how she's educating the next generation about animal welfare through her engaging books and free resources available at LSART.org.Sponsor:LIX - check out www.lixpetwellness.com to learn more about CBD for pets. Use code Rescuepod20 for 20% off your first order! Thanks for listening! If you liked what you heard, please rate, review, and subscribe. If you have ideas for future guests please email me at [email protected] or follow me @theanimalrescuepod on Instagram. You can also learn more about the organizations I interview and how to listen/watch at www.theanimalrescuepodcast.my.canva.site