Lessons Learned From My Reactive Dog

On this episode of The Foster Files, Kelly talks with Danae Davis, executive director of Project Street Vet. The nonprofit has volunteer veterinary teams in 12 cities. They provide free vet care to pets of people experiencing homelessness or housing vulnerability.Danae tells the founding story. In about 2008, shelter veterinarian Dr. Kwane Stewart stopped to help an unhoused man's dog that had a severe flea infestation. He did this work quietly for years. In 2020 he and his brother Ian formalized it as Project Street Vet. Danae also describes how the organization works todayProject Street VetProject Street Vet | Official Merchandise | BonfireAmazon.com : my dog always eats firstSubscribe to my Newsletter: https://the-foster-files-podcast.kit.com/220e069679https://linktr.ee/thefosterfilespodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/thefosterfilepodcastEmail Me: [email protected] on YouTube: The Foster Files - YouTubeMeet Kelly Motter – CanvasRebel Magazine

Kelly talks with Jennifer Skiff, director of international programs for the Center for Humane Economy and Animal Wellness Action and author of The Divinity of Dogs. They cover grief, books and advocacy, and the idea that human and animal welfare are intertwined. Animal Wellness Action drafts legislation, including the FDA Modernization Act. The Center for Humane Economy runs campaigns, including Kangaroos Are Not Shoes, a recent kangaroo meat investigation, and the Great Elephant Corridor project.Home - RainCoast Dog RescueAnimal Wellness ActionCenter For A Humane EconomyHome - Jennifer SkiffJennifer SkiffSubscribe to my Newsletter: https://the-foster-files-podcast.kit.com/220e069679https://linktr.ee/thefosterfilespodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/thefosterfilepodcastEmail Me: [email protected] on YouTube: The Foster Files - YouTubeMeet Kelly Motter – CanvasRebel Magazine

Bat myths are costing wildlife far more than their bad reputation suggests. Stephanie Stronsick of Pennsylvania Bat Conservation and Rehabilitation reveals why these misunderstood “sky puppies” are essential to healthy ecosystems, how to safely handle a bat encounter, and what every homeowner should know before putting up a bat house.PA Bat RescueFeed a Fruit Bat for 2 Weeks – PA Bat RescueSubscribe to my Newsletter: https://the-foster-files-podcast.kit.com/220e069679https://linktr.ee/thefosterfilespodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/thefosterfilepodcastEmail Me: [email protected] on YouTube: The Foster Files - YouTubeMeet Kelly Motter – CanvasRebel Magazine

What if the best way to stop puppy mills is to stop pretending every breeder is the same? Kenny Shuck of Clancy’s Dream has rescued more than 2,000 border collies, and he shares the hard-earned lessons that changed his mind about breeding, adoption, and what responsible care actually looks like.Kelly sits down with Kenny, the founder and director of the Indiana-based border collie rescue, to unpack the realities behind high-demand breeds, the red flags that expose bad breeders, and the rescue process that turns “project dogs” into adoptable companions. If you’ve ever been tempted by a cute puppy online, assumed all breeders operate ethically, or wondered why some dogs end up in shelters despite being beloved breeds, this conversation will challenge what you think you know.Clancy’s Dream Border Collie RescueFoster Spotlight: Alex - Adoptable Pet | PetfinderSubscribe to my Newsletter: https://the-foster-files-podcast.kit.com/220e069679https://linktr.ee/thefosterfilespodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/thefosterfilepodcastEmail Me: [email protected] on YouTube: The Foster Files - YouTubeMeet Kelly Motter – CanvasRebel Magazine

A dirty, matted shelter pet is not just uncomfortable—it can be harder to adopt. Kelly and Preston Douglas of Bigfoot Pet Grooming discuss how grooming can change an animal’s mood, behavior, and chances of finding a forever home.Preston, owner of Bigfoot Pet Grooming in North Texas, shares how he went from seven years as a truck driver to launching a mobile grooming business with his wife—and why he now uses his skills to help shelter dogs and cats feel calmer, healthier, and more adoptable. From a poodle covered in mats and ticks to signs that help distinguish fear from aggression, this conversation offers practical insight for rescuers, fosters, and pet owners.Bigfoot Pet Mobile Grooming – Sachse TXFoster Spotlight: Buddy - Adoptable Pet | PetfinderSubscribe to my Newsletter: https://the-foster-files-podcast.kit.com/220e069679https://linktr.ee/thefosterfilespodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/thefosterfilepodcastEmail Me: [email protected] on YouTube: The Foster Files - YouTubeMeet Kelly Motter – CanvasRebel Magazine

Ever wonder what the secret to peace with a dog is? It's probably simpler than you think and in this repeat episode, Kelly breaks down her tried and true recipe for Utopia with dogs, long and frequent walkies. Subscribe to my Newsletter: https://the-foster-files-podcast.kit.com/220e069679https://linktr.ee/thefosterfilespodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/thefosterfilepodcastEmail Me: [email protected] on YouTube: The Foster Files - YouTubeMeet Kelly Motter – CanvasRebel Magazine

The fastest way to create a bad rescue outcome is to hide the truth. Kelly sits down with certified behavioral trainer Cheryl Corbett and longtime foster Heather Wahlert for a blunt conversation about why transparency in animal rescue can mean the difference between a successful adoption and a dog being returned, injured, or worse.Foster Spotlight: Poor Babies : Tammy - Adoptable Pet | PetfinderCustom Canine ObedienceHome | strayhavenpets.orgSubscribe to my Newsletter: https://the-foster-files-podcast.kit.com/220e069679https://linktr.ee/thefosterfilespodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/thefosterfilepodcastEmail Me: [email protected] on YouTube: The Foster Files - YouTubeMeet Kelly Motter – CanvasRebel Magazine

Fostering is one of the most misunderstood parts of animal rescue, and this conversation gets straight to the heart of why it matters. Kelly shares her perspective on fostering from inside the rescue world, while Penny Ellison, host of The Animal Advocate and founder of the Animal Advocacy Academy, guides a thoughtful conversation for anyone curious about helping animals in a more meaningful way.https://animaladvocacyacademy.com/is-fostering-a-dog-right-for-me-a-fosters-honest-answer/Subscribe to my Newsletter: https://the-foster-files-podcast.kit.com/220e069679https://linktr.ee/thefosterfilespodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/thefosterfilepodcastEmail Me: [email protected] on YouTube: The Foster Files - YouTubeMeet Kelly Motter – CanvasRebel Magazine

A reactive dog can change the way you think about training, safety, and what "good behavior" really means. Kelly shares the three biggest lessons Max has taught her, including why crate training is a management tool, not a punishment, why some behaviors are not meant to be "fixed," and why off-leash access is a privilege that depends on real recall.Subscribe to my Newsletter: https://the-foster-files-podcast.kit.com/220e069679https://linktr.ee/thefosterfilespodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/thefosterfilepodcastEmail Me: [email protected] on YouTube: The Foster Files - YouTubeMeet Kelly Motter – CanvasRebel Magazine

The animal welfare laws you think are "common sense" are often stalled by funding, enforcement gaps, and legislation most people never see. Penny Ellison breaks down where the system breaks - and the surprisingly practical ways advocates can actually change it.Kelly talks with Penny Ellison, attorney, professor, and founder of Animal Advocacy Academy, about the real mechanics of animal advocacy - from local ordinances to statewide reform. Penny explains why animal law is uniquely difficult, why the biggest wins often start in cities and townships, and how advocates can make progress even when state politics move slowly.Animal Advocacy Academy | Practical Training for Effective Animal AdvocacyPodcast - Animal Advocacy AcademyFoster Spotlight: Other Animals | Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to AnimalsSubscribe to my Newsletter: https://the-foster-files-podcast.kit.com/220e069679https://linktr.ee/thefosterfilespodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/thefosterfilepodcastEmail Me: [email protected] on YouTube: The Foster Files - YouTubeMeet Kelly Motter – CanvasRebel Magazine