After a little break, The Rescue Dog Pod is back with a conversation I’ve been really looking forward to.

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Stacey Thomas, veterinarian, shelter-medicine professional, founder of Far Fetched Charities, and someone who is taking veterinary care far beyond the traditional clinic. Dr. Stacey travels to underserved and remote communities to provide veterinary care, education, wellness services, and practical support for animals and the people who care for them.

We talk about the realities of shelter medicine, the challenges facing communities with limited access to veterinary care, and why lasting change requires more than simply treating an animal and moving on. Dr. Stacey shares how education and community partnerships can empower people to better care for their animals, including her emergency first-aid programs teaching skills such as CPR.

We also talk about her work in Mexico with Stray Dog Support, her experiences working in different communities, and her vision for expanding Far Fetched Charities internationally.

We also talk about the importance of working collaboratively with local rescues that are already deeply embedded in their communities, including Yaqui Animal Rescue in Texas, KPAL, Handover Rover in Arizona and Paws of Nome in Alaska. These organizations know their communities, understand the challenges they face, and are already doing incredible work, and partnerships like these can help expand the reach and impact of veterinary care.

This is a conversation about veterinary medicine, shelter animals, community, education, prevention, compassion, and what it really means to meet animals and the people who love them where they are.

🎙️ From Shelters to Communities with Dr. Stacey Thomas — now on The Rescue Dog Pod.

Please follow Farfeteched at www.farfetchedcharities.org or on their instagram @farfetechedcharities

This week on The Rescue Dog Pod, host Helen Summerfield-Brown tackles some of the most challenging and important issues in animal welfare. The episode explores banning dogs and cats from research use in Ontario, ending the importation of endangered monkeys to Canada for research, and stopping the use of piglets in military trauma training.

Helen is joined by Bianca Del Bois, Director of Development and Communications at Animal Alliance of Canada. With a background in veterinary medicine, nonprofit leadership, and Indigenous community animal welfare initiatives, Bianca shares insight into Animal Alliance’s advocacy work, policy-driven change, and ongoing campaigns to protect animals across Canada.

Together, they discuss how Bianca became involved with Animal Alliance, what her role entails, the organization’s mission, current programs, successes, and how listeners can support their work through advocacy and donations.

It’s a powerful and thought-provoking conversation about standing up for animals and using our voices to create meaningful change.

The Rescue Dog Pod – Featuring Neil Laird

In this episode of The Rescue Dog Pod, host Helen Summerfield Brown, President of Stray Dog Support, welcomes Emmy-nominated producer and author Neil Laird for an in-depth conversation about storytelling, compassion, and rescue. The episode celebrates the power of second chances—both for animals and for the stories that bring their journeys to light.

Neil shares highlights from his extensive career creating documentaries for major networks such as National Geographic, Discovery, the BBC, PBS, and the History Channel, reflecting on what first inspired him to pursue documentary filmmaking and how working in more than 70 countries shaped him personally and professionally. He discusses balancing factual accuracy with creative storytelling and how industry recognition influenced his path.

A significant focus of the episode is Neil’s work in animal welfare media, including Dogtown, which documented the rehabilitation of abused and neglected dogs, and Puppy Bowl, which celebrates rescue dogs finding new homes. He talks about the emotional challenges and rewards of filming rescue stories, the role entertainment plays in shaping public attitudes toward animal welfare, and the importance of spotlighting rescue organizations and movements.

The conversation also explores Neil’s transition into fiction writing with his Prime-Time Travelers novel series. He explains how his real-life experiences in television production inspired the humor, chaos, and historical adventures in his books, and shares insights into blending history, fantasy, and queer storytelling. Neil offers a preview of upcoming projects in the series, including Prime Time Troy.

The episode concludes with personal reflections on identity, creative purpose, and the future of storytelling across podcasts, streaming platforms, and independent publishing. Neil leaves listeners with advice for aspiring filmmakers and authors who want to create meaningful work, while Helen wraps up by thanking listeners and encouraging continued support for rescue—both canine and creative.