UNLEASHED (at work & home) with Colleen Pelar

151. Jeni Grant, CPDT-KA

 “It’s not about you!”

So often, we hear those words used as a rebuke or as something said sharply to snap us out of a fit of self-centeredness. Certainly, most of us don’t necessarily like being reminded that it’s not about us…but what if, instead of making us feel bad or ashamed of our selfishness, those words could be liberating? What if the realization that it is not about us actually made us freer to live our lives?

My guest today believes that it is not, in fact, about her. Jeni Grant has been training dogs for over two decades and in that time she has definitely learned that most things aren’t about her—and that’s a good thing! She joined me today to talk about what that means to her, the importance of self-care, what good support for pet professionals would look like, and the difficulties of being a beginner. 

https://colleenpelar.com/151

150. Kim Palermo, CPDT-KA, CCUI, ACE

Kim Palermo is a bit of an anomaly among the guests on this show—someone who is actually doing today what she hoped she would be doing when she was ten (more or less, anyway)! Almost twenty years ago, she took a leap of faith and left a good-paying job to open her own dog-walking business. Now, she runs an updated version of that business (she added training!) with her husband and gets to train dogs and play with puppies all day.

So how did she end up living the dream like this? She joined me today to talk about the journey to where she is now, how hard choices can actually make our lives easier, and the importance of not being afraid to go for what you want.

https://colleenpelar.com/150

149. Moani Makaiwi

Empathy is a common trait among those of us who work with animals—one could even argue that sometimes we have too much of it. My guest today knows full well the importance of empathy, as well as the emotional toll that empathy can take on a person. In her work as a humane enforcement resource officer (HERO), Moani Makaiwi sees both the best and the worst of human-animal interactions. Working in animal welfare, she walks the line between issuing citations and providing people with support to do better. Her work takes something from her even as she loves it, and she’s had to learn—as we all do—how to take care of herself as well as others. Join us today for a conversation about empathy, enrichment, and how it’s okay to not be okay.

 

https://colleenpelar.com/149

148. Bob Deeds, CSS

We’ve all heard and read about search and rescue dogs. Most of us doubtless have an image in our mind of intrepid canines locating people lost in the woods or rescuing individuals trapped under piles of rubble. But what actually goes into canine search and rescue work? What does it entail and what is it like going out with your dog, hoping to find the best, but knowing you might encounter the worst?

My guest today is retired canine search specialist Bob Deeds, who spent decades training and deploying with search and rescue dogs, beginning with his very first assignment—the ruins of the Twin Towers. He joined me on the show today to talk about his experiences in search and rescue work, the easiest and hardest parts of the job, and the importance and power of love.

https://colleenpelar.com/148

147. Tara Cojocaru, CATEP

Normally on this podcast, we talk to people who work with animals. Today, we’re talking to the person who works with the people who work with animals. Tara Cojocaru is the volunteer coordinator at the Humane Society of New Braunfels in New Braunfels, Texas. There she works to organize and support volunteers at the shelter, making sure that everyone knows where to go, what to do, how to do it, and has what they need to get it done. It’s one of those behind-the-scenes roles that nobody thinks about but that the shelter couldn’t work without.

Tara didn’t set out to be an animal shelter volunteer coordinator, though. She ended up there after first meandering through psychology, business, and photography. In our talk today, we discussed how each of those earlier areas of study helps in the work she does now, as well as what it means to be strong, and the joy of seeing both humans and animals thrive.

https://colleenpelar.com/147

146. Ines McNeil, CPDT-KA

We often see people who take big risks or try daring things and admire what we see as their fearlessness. But are they really fearless? Are they genuinely not afraid of things, or are they deep down just as nervous and scared as we are at the prospect of public speaking or starting a business or moving far away from family and friends, and they’ve just learned to hide it and do things anyway?

Dog trainer Ines McNeil has had people describe her as “fearless”...and she hates it. Why? Because (spoiler alert!) she’s just as scared as anyone else. She’s simply learned to push through the fear and do things anyway. She joined me today to talk about some of the anxiety-inducing things she’s done- from moving internationally to publishing her own dog training curriculum- and how pushing through fear can end up being immensely rewarding.

https://colleenpelar.com/146

145. Kellie Stevens, CDBC

What do New York City, Hunter S. Thompson, and Latin legal terms have in common? Not much, but they’re all related to my guest today, who moved to New York to pursue a Thompson-inspired writing career and found herself taking up dog training instead, while sporting a tattoo that only lawyers recognize.

Kellie Stevens is the owner of Gonzo Dog, where she specializes in helping anxious and fearful dogs—and their owners—find more joy in their lives. Tune in for a wonderfully philosophical conversation about diving into things, learning to communicate, and why her dog training business is not named after the Muppet.

https://colleenpelar.com/145

144. Kelly Bremken, MSSW, VSW, CSWA

Social work is hard. Shelter work is hard. Putting the two of them together seems like it would be almost impossible. But that’s what my guest today has done. Kelly Bremkin is a veterinary social worker who provides mental and emotional support for shelter workers, helping them to navigate the demands and emotional pressures of their job. Over the years, she’s learned a lot about what support really means and what it looks like to different individuals. Join us today for a conversation about recognizing burnout in yourself, personalizing help for others, and the importance of self-compassion.

https://colleenpelar.com/144

143. Yvonne Rosenberger

Yvonne Rosenberger hoped to be a flight attendant, ended up behind an insurance desk, and realized she didn’t want to die there, so she took her friend’s advice to open her own pet care business. In the process, she’s learned one very important lesson—never say never.

Yvonne joined me on the show today to discuss all the things she was never going to do—from getting married to owning her own business—but somehow ended up doing anyway. Join us for a conversation about self-acceptance, introspection, self-examination, and the bonds we forge with other people’s animals.

142. Jodi Smith, LCSW, RPT-S, CAAIS

Children, both animal and human, instinctively know how to play. The drive to have fun and engage in games is there right from the beginning. As we get older, though, we begin to shut down that instinct to play. We get distracted by the responsibilities of adult life and forget how to simply enjoy the moment. And when we lose access to play, we lose access to its amazing ability to help us heal and bring us joy.

My guest today believes strongly in the power of play- so strongly, in fact, that she named her business after it. Dog trainer and social worker Jodi Smith uses a combination of play therapy and therapy dogs to help both kids and adults who are struggling. She came on the show today to talk about the benefits of play, neurodivergent brains, and the importance of allowing ourselves to wander.