Tag: #animalwelfare

Episode 146: Kindness Is Creating Frankie’s World–Advocating for one of society’s most misrepresented beings, rats.

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Mariah Madigan, the founder of Frankie’s World joins Anitha to talk about her journey to creating a sanctuary for rats.

Mariah first fell in love with rats when an adorable rat named Frankie came into her life. Frankie was such a great companion for Mariah and when Frankie passed, Mariah decided to create a sanctuary to honour her soulmate.

Mariah realizes that most folks have negative preconceptions about rats but she also knows that once folks meet a rat their opinions quickly change. Folks realize how smart and clean and affectionate rats truly are. Sadly, rats have been treated very badly in society. From being subjected to cruel experiments and medical testing, to being depicted as dirty and basically maligned. But once you actually learn the truth about rats, you realize they are clean, smart, very affectionate and make great companions.

This is such heartwarming episode to get us into the holiday spirit of love and compassion for all beings.

To find out more about Mariah and the incredible sanctuary she has created, check out these sites:

Frankie’s World Website

Frankie’s World on Instagram

As a thank you to Mariah for sharing her story, Anitha donated to Frankie’s World.

To hear the full episode, click here:

Episode 143: Kindness Is Being Anonymous for the Voiceless—Speaking out against history’s largest and longest-standing injustice.

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Oliver Loos joins Anitha to talk about his journey into animal activism, veganism and being a part of a group called Anonymous for the Voiceless. This not-for-profit animal rights organization does all they can to make our world a kinder place for all beings. They specialize in using conversation and standard practice footage of animals in captive situations to enlighten and educate the public about animal exploitation.

For Oliver, it’s very simple, if you were the one suffering, wouldn’t you want someone speaking out for you? Wouldn’t you want the suffering to stop right now?

That’s the goal—to end the pain and torture of innocent beings.

To learn more about Oliver and Anonymous for the Voiceless, check out the following links:

Oliver’s Linktree

Anonymous for the Voiceless Website

Cube Of Truth

As a thank you to Oliver for sharing his story, Anitha donated to Anonymous for the Voiceless.

To hear the full episode, click here:

Episode 141: Kindness Is Being We Animals—Advocating For Animals Through Photojournalism.

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Anitha talks with Jo-Anne McArthur, the founder of We Animals. Jo-Anne and the team of photographers at We Animals bravely go into places where animals and the cruelty these sentient beings are forced to endure, is often hidden from the public.

Through their photos, the folks at We Animals show us the suffering but also the “humanity” of the animals we eat and wear, the animals who are used in entertainment or research.

An incredible episode of compassion and discovering the importance of ‘seeing’ versus ‘looking’ at another being.

To learn more about We Animals and the incredible work they do, check out these links.

Website We Animals

Instagram We Animals

Facebook We Animals

As a thank you to Jo-Anne, for sharing her story, Anitha donated to We Animals.–

To hear the full episode, click here:

Episode 140: Kindness Is Elevating Access—Ensuring folks have access to life-saving healthcare, even if it comes at self-risk.

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Kindness Is Elevating Access—Ensuring folks have access to life-saving healthcare, even if it comes at self-risk.

Launched in 2022, Elevated Access is a non-profit that provides pilots and planes at no cost to those seeking access to life-saving healthcare.

Kira from Elevated Access joins Anitha to talk about the devastating healthcare bans in many States throughout the USA which affects those seeking gender affirming and abortion care. Elevated Access was created with the sole purpose of helping folks receive the healthcare they need.

Elevate Access saves lives! But providing this service comes at a risk for those who want to help, yet folks like Kira do it anyway.

Kira and Anitha then pivot their conversation to the many cats and dogs in Kira’s life. It should come as no surprise that someone as kind as Kira, extends this kindness to all beings. She has fostered over 130 cats and dogs, and currently has many fur-babies of her own.

An episode overflowing with kindness and compassion for others.

To learn more about Elevated Access, check out the following links:

Website- Elevated Access

Instagram – Elevated Access

As a thank you to Kira for sharing his story, Anitha donated to Elevated Access.

You can hear the full episode here:

Episode 138: Kindness Is Being Like Josh—How fostering one dog with special needs turned into an entire foundation helping dogs with disabilities.

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Kimberly Elliott, the founder of the Be Like Josh Foundation, joins Anitha to talk about how falling in love with Josh, a 10-month-old Golden Doodle with a brainstem disorder, inspired her to create a foundation that now helps so many dogs with disabilities live their best lives.

The Be Like Josh Foundation is a non-profit organization, dedicated to the care and advocacy of dogs with neurological disabilities. Josh, who is now nine-years old, has a brainstem disorder which Kimberly describes as a ‘disconnect between the way his brain talks to his body.’ She says his movements are similar to a person with Cerebral Palsy.

In addition to talking about how Josh came into her life and transformed it for the better, Kimberly also talks about the misconception folks have about dogs with disabilities. She says dogs with disabilities aren’t sad. If the dog looks happy, they are happy. Disabled bodies can experience joy.

For this reason, it’s really important to Kimberly that potential adopters of a special needs dog see themselves as a “Service Human” to that dog, similar to a Service Dog who helps a human with a disability. Kimberly wants these dogs to live with people who will of course, love them but also enhance their lives.

An episode full of all the feels and one that is sure to make you want to hug a dog.

To learn more about the Be Like Josh Foundation and the incredible work they do, check out the following links:

Be Like Josh- Website

Be Like Josh -Instagram

Josh The Doodle – Instagram

As a thank you to Kimberly and Josh for sharing their story, Anitha donated to the Be Like Josh Foundation.

To hear the full episode, click here:

Episode 136:Kindness Is Helping Primates Together—How a group of sanctuaries work together to help primates.

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Amanda (Andy) Gray joins Anitha to talk about NAPSA (North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance) an incredible organization dedicated to uniting the primate sanctuary community.

Of course, Andy and Anitha talk about the wonderful work NAPSA sanctuaries are doing to provide enrichment and professional lifetime care to primates. But they also talk about the reasons primates, who are not native to North America, end up in sanctuaries in this part of the world. From bio-medical research to entertainment to the exotic pet trade, all of these industries use and cause primates immense harm and suffering.

Fortunately, sanctuaries such as those who are part of NAPSA work tirelessly to end the exploitation of primates.

A compelling conversation about caring for our closest relatives and how we can all advocate on their behalf.

To learn more about NAPSA, their member sanctuaries and how you can support their work, check out the following links:

 NAPSA’s website

NAPSA on Facebook

NAPSA on Instagram

As a thank you to Andy for sharing her story, Anitha donated to GIVING DAY FOR APES. In its 12th year, Giving Day for Apes is a worldwide event bringing together thousands of donors to rescue and protect apes across Africa, Asia, and North America. The live event takes place on Tuesday, October 7th, but you don’t have to wait – Early Giving is open now!

To learn more about GIVING DAY FOR APES, click here:

Giving Day For Apes

To hear the full episode, click here:

Episode 135: Kindness Is Ethical Wildlife Tourism—How to enjoy your trip while respecting wildlife

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Travelling to faraway places can create lovely memories but does it come at the expense of wildlife?

Connie Needham joins Anitha to talk about ways to enjoy your holiday without causing harm to animals.

The two chat about experiences such as elephant rides and photo-ops with wildlife and the harm these activities inflict on the animal and most likely their family and habitat.

Connie shares things we can all do to have fun on our holiday while increasing the likelihood that our actions don’t cause harm to another being.

A great episode for those who love to travel and love animals.

To learn more about ethical wildlife tourism you can follow Connie here:

Instagram

YouTube 

Website Project Wild

LinkedIn

TikTok

As a thank you to Connie for sharing her story, Anitha donated to Wild Futures Monkey Sanctuary, a registered charity founded in 1964. This charity is committed to protecting primates and habitats all over the world. To learn more about the work they do, check out their website:

Wild Futures

To hear the full episode, click here:

Episode 134: Kindness Is Zoocheck— Advocating to end the abuse, neglect & exploitation of wild animals.

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Rob Laidlaw, the founder of Zoocheck joins Anitha to talk about his journey into animal activism. For over 40 years, Rob has been speaking up for wildlife. From his initial efforts to close down horrific roadside zoos to helping three elephants, who spent their lives in captivity, find a sanctuary, there is no limit to the kind and compassionate actions Rob has taken for the benefit of wildlife.

Despite witnessing the many atrocities animals are subjected to at the hands of humans, Rob shares why he is still optimistic for the future of wildlife.

An episode full of hope and kindness, and one you don’t want to miss.

To learn more about the amazing work Zoocheck is doing, check out the following links:

Zoocheck – website

Zoocheck on Facebook

Zoocheck on Bluesky             

Zoocheck on Twitter/X                               

As a thank you to Rob for sharing his story, Anitha donated to the New Cat City Rescue & Sanctuary. This small animal rescue located in Toronto, Ontario is a permanent home for animals with special needs and requirements. To learn more about their work, check out their website:

New Cat City Website

To hear the full episode, click here:

Episode 131:Kindness Is Oscar’s Place—A sanctuary for donkeys.

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For the inaugural audio and video episode of the podcast, Ron King joins Anitha to talk about Oscar’s Place, a sanctuary for donkeys to heal and live happy donkey lives.

Ron talks about the many individuals at the sanctuary and how people don’t realize that donkeys are incredibly affectionate, smart and love to hug!

Ron also shares his journey of healing and how the sanctuary and the donkeys helped him.

An incredible conversation about the power of love.

To learn more about Oscar’s Place check out their website. It’s full of information about donkeys, how to sponsor or adopt a donkey, and of course photos of adorable donkeys to fall in love with.

Oscar’s Place Website

As a thank you to Ron for sharing his story, Anitha donated to Jarjeer Mules. Anitha and Ron have both visited this donkey and mule rescue located in Marrakech, Morocco. Anitha also had the pleasure of chatting with the founder of Jarjeer Mules on episode 119.

To learn more about Jarjeer Mules and listen to their podcast episode, click the following links:

Jarjeer Mules Website

Kindness Is Jarjeer Mules

To hear the full episode, click here:

Episode 130: Kindness Is Fauna Foundation—Canada’s only chimpanzee sanctuary offers refuge for those who suffered from medical research.

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Mary Lee Jensvold joins Anitha to talk about Fauna Foundation, a place of healing for chimpanzees used and abused in the medical research industry.

Mary Lee shares stories of the many primates rescued by Fauna Foundation. She speaks about the incredible capacity of these individuals to heal from years of painful and invasive experiments. And most remarkable of all—their willingness to forgive the very species who caused them so much harm.

Sue Ellen
Mary Lee with Tatu & Louis

Though these chimpanzees can never return to their rightful home in Africa, Mary Lee talks about the ways Fauna provides residents with as much comfort and enrichment as possible.

Mary Lee and Anitha also talk about the many cruelty-free alternatives to animal testing and hope listeners will support companies who opt for these kinder alternatives.

To learn more about Fauna Foundation and fall in love with the chimpanzees, check out their website and YouTube channel.

Fauna Foundation Website

Fauna Foundation YouTube Channel

As a thank you to Mary Lee for sharing her story, Anitha donated to Fauna Foundation.

To hear the full episode, click here: