UNLEASHED (at work & home) with Colleen Pelar

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.

141. Rachael Magee, CPDT-KA

Choice can be empowering. We all want to be in control of our lives and feel like we have some say in what happens to us. But how often do we apply that to the animals in our life? How often do we–perhaps without even meaning to–limit the ability of our animal companions to exercise agency? How often do we limit our own agency?

Today I’m joined by dog trainer Rachael Magee, who believes in a training approach that empowers both people and dogs to make choices and expand their world. Tune in as we discuss her circuitous path to dog training (including a stint working for Middle Eastern royalty!), helping blind dogs, and learning to trust that we are enough.

https://colleenpelar.com/141

140. Karen Deeds, CDBC

There’s a huge world of dog training out there. Family dogs, competition dogs, working dogs, therapy dogs, search and rescue dogs, scent dogs…they all have unique training needs and Karen Deed has worked with almost all of them! Along the way, she installed computers, trained horses, and discovered positive reinforcement training before it was cool. She joined me today to share the story of the winding and varied road that brought her to where she is now. Tune in as we discuss knowing better and doing better, the importance of kindness (including to yourself), and how dog-training is really about people.

Links worth clicking:

• Canine Connection
• SniffSpot
• Fenzi Dog Sports Academy
• Feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, or stressed? Take the burnout assessment to find your level of risk and start your recovery journey.

https://colleenpelar.com/140