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This week we sat down with Hilary Hager of the Humane Society of the United States and got real about compassion fatigue! Compassion fatigue effects us all. After all, there is only so much we can endure, especially when we take on the suffering of others time and time again.  Eventually, we all need a break to recharge in order to be more effective for the animals who "would never ask us to suffer on their behalf."  Tune in to learn more about compassion fatigue and how you can avoid it and be your best self for the animals who need you most!To learn more about Hilary's work to help animal advocates cope with stress and engage their volunteers, go here: https://humanepro.org/authors/hilary-hagerYou can email Hilary at hhager@humanesociety.orgTo learn more about volunteering for Bailing Out Benji, go here: https://bailingoutbenji.com/how-you-can-help/form/Our podcast  has been sponsored by the East Village Spa . Use the code 'Benji' at checkout and 10% of your sale will be donated back to us. https://shopeastvillagespa.comSupport the show (https://bailingoutbenji.com/support-us/)

Advocates across the country have been so successful at preventing pet stores from selling puppy mill puppies that the puppy mill industry is starting to fight back in big ways.  Preemption bills ban cities from passing their own laws to stop pet stores from selling puppy mill dogs.  They take away local control and create statewide safe-havens that allow the pet store/puppy mill pipeline to operate freely.  Tune in to this week's episode to learn how YOU can fight against these bad preemption bills and become a voice for the puppy mill dogs in your city or state.  Also, find out what you can do if you live in a state that preemptions local ordinances.  To sign up for our action alerts so you can be ready to stop bad legislation,  go here: https://secure.everyaction.com/nJH9y8dAW0ilG7-xltxBQQ2To sign up for action alerts from HSUS, go here: https://www.humanesociety.org/all-our-fights/stopping-puppy-millsIf you learned something new today and you want to support our efforts at Bailing Out Benji, you can make a tax-deductible donation here: https://bailingoutbenji.com/support-us/Support the show (https://bailingoutbenji.com/support-us/)

Launder: to conceal the origins through transfers of legitimate businesses Bailing Out Benji is the leading organization for exposing sham rescues across the country and our California lawsuit coined the term “puppy laundering”. With at least 7 sham rescues operating in numerous states, this has become a nationwide scheme to deceive the public into buying commercially bred puppies that have been labeled as ‘rescues’. But what does all of that mean? What is ‘puppy laundering’ and why does it matter? In episode 16 of “Truth, Lies and Puppy Mills” we talk about this very shady scheme and how it might be coming to a city near you. To learn more about some of the sham rescues discussed in this episode, go here: https://bailingoutbenji.com/puppy-mill-maps/cvi-data/To make a tax-deductible donation to our non-profit, go here: https://bailingoutbenji.com/support-us/Support the show (https://bailingoutbenji.com/support-us/)

Join us this week to learn how small animals are adversely affected by being raised in large-scale commercial breeding facilities and then sold as pet in pet stores just like puppy mill dogs.  We often talk about companion animals in puppy and kitten mills, but other domesticated animals are exploited by the commercial breeding industry and sold to unsuspecting and naive customers as well.  Our special guest, Lorianne Kloss of Red Door Animal Shelter, teaches us all about rabbit rescue.  Did you know rabbits are the 3rd most surrendered animal in shelters across the country? Tune in to learn more!To learn more about Red Door Animal Shelter, go here: http://www.reddoorshelter.org/To find almost any pet you can imagine available for adoption near you, go here: https://www.petfinder.com/If you learned something new from this episode and you want to support our efforts to #EndPuppyMills you can make a tax-deductible donation to our non-profit, here: https://bailingoutbenji.com/support-us/Support the show (https://bailingoutbenji.com/support-us/)

Tune in to this week's episode to find out how YOU can take the lead and help your city #EndPuppyMills by passing a Humane Ordinance!Marc Ayers, HSUS Illinois State Director, is our special guest this week and he happens to be one of the most successful advocates in the country when it comes to passing Humane Ordinances.  Learn how to start the process of banning the sale of puppy mill dogs in your town and become inspired to create lasting change for the dogs trapped in puppy mills!To learn more about joining our efforts to create a more humane place for companion animals, go here: https://bailingoutbenji.com/how-you-can-help/To learn more about passing a humane ordinance, go here: https://www.humanesociety.org/sites/default/files/docs/ordinance-combat-puppy-mills-guide.pdfTo sign up for Action Alerts and stay up-to-date on legislation in your city or state, go here:  https://secure.everyaction.com/nJH9y8dAW0ilG7-xltxBQQ2Support the show (https://bailingoutbenji.com/support-us/)

Why are politics sometimes a brick wall for puppy mill dogs? Tune in to this week's episode to learn how to #EndPuppyMills by breaking through that brick wall and lobbying for humane laws in your city, county, state, or even the U.S. Capitol! Find out how YOU can change the laws to help the dogs trapped in puppy mills.  Go here to join Bailing Out Benji's action alerts and be ready for when we need you to talk to your local, state, or federal lawmakers: https://secure.everyaction.com/nJH9y8dAW0ilG7-xltxBQQ2Go here to sign up for action alerts from the Humane Society Legislative Fund: https://hslf.org/issues/pets-crueltyTo make a tax-deductible donation to our non-profit, go here:  https://bailingoutbenji.com/support-us/Support the show (https://bailingoutbenji.com/support-us/)

Tune in to this week's episode to learn how puppy mills hide behind websites with cute puppy pictures and videos of dogs frolicking through grassy fields while hundreds of their breeding dogs suffer site-unseen.  We list the red flags to watch out for on the major puppy-selling websites and educate about how to avoid getting fooled by puppy mills online.  To learn more about the topics discussed in this week's episode go here:https://bailingoutbenji.com/reputable-breeder-or-puppy-mill/To buy an "Order Pizzas Not Puppies" T-shirt, go here: https://www.scratchpadtees.com/collections/bailing-out-benjiTo make a tax-deductible donation to our non-profit, go here: https://bailingoutbenji.com/support-us/Support the show (https://bailingoutbenji.com/support-us/)

If someone wanted to become an expert on puppy mills overnight there is one book we would recommend, and that book is The Doggie in the Window by Rory Kress! Every animal advocate should tune in to this incredible interview as Rory discusses how she learned about puppy mills after buying a puppy from a pet store.  Discover how her dog, Izzie, ended up changing the direction of her life and made her into one of the most thought-provoking and investigative advocates against the puppy mill industry.  From investigative journalist to animal advocate to future attorney for the animals!  Rory Kress is one of the most knowledgeable educators on the topic of puppy mills, commercial breeding dog behavior, the USDA, and the Animal Welfare Act.    Go here to learn more about Rory and her book, The Doggie in the Window: https://www.rorykress.com/  To learn more about how YOU can get involved in helping us #EndPuppyMills, go here: https://bailingoutbenji.com/how-you-can-help/  To make a tax-deductible donation to our non-profit, go here: https://bailingoutbenji.com/support-us/Support the show (https://bailingoutbenji.com/support-us/)

You asked and we answered!This week's episode invited our listeners to ask their own questions about the puppy mill industry and we answered them.  Tune in to learn who Benji is! Also, listen to us discuss puppy mill law enforcement, dog auctions, social media, other animal mills, and what YOU can do to help us #EndPuppyMills!To learn more about the topics we discussed in this podcast, go here: https://bailingoutbenji.com/about-puppy-mills/podcast/To make a tax-deductible donation to support our non-profit, go here: https://bailingoutbenji.com/support-us/Support the show (https://bailingoutbenji.com/support-us/)

In this episode we take a deep-dive into the transport companies who make big money off of transporting sick puppies from puppy mills to pet stores across the country. Tune in to learn more about another part of the puppy mill industry that is rarely discussed.  Learn about the inter-connected industry players who keep puppy mills and puppy mill pet stores in business!To learn more about the topics discussed in this episode, go here: https://bailingoutbenji.com/animal-welfare-act/To make a tax-deductible donation to our non-profit, go here: https://bailingoutbenji.com/support-us/Support the show (https://bailingoutbenji.com/support-us/)

Do reputable breeders exist?How do you find a reputable breeder?What are the red flags that you're dealing with a puppy mill?Can I get a Doodle breed from a reputable breeder?Tune in to find out!For more information on the "red flags" of a puppy mill discussed in this podcast, go to our website at:https://bailingoutbenji.com/reputable-breeder-or-puppy-mill/If you learned something new from our podcast, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to our non-profit here: https://bailingoutbenji.com/support-us/Support the show (https://bailingoutbenji.com/support-us/)

2020 was a tough year for everyone, but we were still able to come up with some big wins for the puppy mill dogs! Learn about ALL the things that Bailing Out Benji was able to accomplish this year, despite the pandemic. To learn more about our efforts to #EndPuppyMills, go here: https://bailingoutbenji.com/Make a tax deductible donation to our non-profit here: https://bailingoutbenji.com/support-us/Support the show (https://bailingoutbenji.com/support-us/)

Christmas is puppy buying season! Every year around this time our inbox is full of messages from people who bought sick puppies from puppy mills via pet stores or online websites. Tune in to learn the red flags BEFORE you buy! While we wish everyone would adopt from a reputable shelter or rescue, we know that some people will still get a puppy from a breeder. Learn how to find a reputable breeder and about the ONE thing you can do to verify that your puppy isn't coming from a puppy mill!Go here to learn more about the topics discussed in this podcast: https://bailingoutbenji.com/reputable-breeder-or-puppy-mill/If you learned something from us, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to our non-profit, Bailing Out Benji: https://bailingoutbenji.com/support-us/Support the show (https://bailingoutbenji.com/support-us/)

Puppy mills are legal and many of them are licensed by the USDA.  Tune in to learn how the USDA fails to be effective in regulating puppy mills and how YOU can help us change that!Go here to learn more about the topics discussed in this podcast: https://bailingoutbenji.com/about-puppy-mills/If you learned something from us, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to our non-profit, Bailing Out Benji: https://bailingoutbenji.com/support-us/Support the show (https://bailingoutbenji.com/support-us/)

Listen in to learn about how lucrative the puppy mill industry can be to the dealers who act as middlemen between pet stores and puppy mills.  This big business dog broker industry is rarely discussed, yet comes with its own dose of cruelty and opportunity for spreading disease to puppies and the public at large.Learn how YOU can see through the layers of secrecy and avoid getting a dog from a puppy mill!Learn more about "the puppy mill belt," where these dog brokers reside, by looking at our puppy mill maps: http://maps.bailingoutbenji.com/Support the show (https://bailingoutbenji.com/support-us/)

Join us as we interview 3 former pet store employees who worked at 3 different pet stores in 3 different states selling puppy mill puppies.  Learn the truth about how these stores exploit the animals in their care.  Begin to understand how these brave women went from pet store employees to Bailing Out Benji volunteers -- joining our fight to #EndPuppyMillsGo to our website to learn how YOU can help us educate, volunteer, donate, and inspire lasting change for dogs stuck in puppy mills: https://bailingoutbenji.com/Support the show (https://bailingoutbenji.com/support-us/)

We don't just say pet store puppies come from puppy mills, we prove it!  Listen and learn how we connect pet stores across the country to the puppy mills they use.  You can learn more about our CVI data on our website at https://bailingoutbenji.com/puppy-mill-maps/cvi-data/If you enjoy our podcast and want to support our mission to #EndPuppyMills, please contribute to help us create lasting change for all the dogs stuck in puppy mills: https://bailingoutbenji.com/support-us/Support the show (https://bailingoutbenji.com/support-us/)

Welcome to Bailing Out Benji's first Podcast!  Learn how we got started on our journeys to become leaders and advocates for dogs trapped in puppy mills.Tune in to learn how you can join us in the fight to #EndPuppyMills!Find our t-shirts at www.scratchpadtees.com/pages/bailing-out-benjiFind us at www.bailingoutbenji.comwww.facebook.com/bailingoutbenjiInstagram: @bailing_out_benjiTwitter: @bailingoutbenjiTwitch: @bailingoutbenjiSupport the show (https://bailingoutbenji.com/support-us/)

Join Nicole and Mindi as you learn how puppy mills operate and, more importantly, how to avoid them!Tune in to learn how you can join us in the fight to #EndPuppyMills!For more information about the topics discussed in this podcast, visit our website at: https://bailingoutbenji.com/about-puppy-mills/common-myths-about-puppy-mills/Find us at www.bailingoutbenji.comwww.facebook.com/bailingoutbenjiInstagram: @bailing_out_benjiTwitter: @bailingoutbenjiTwitch: @bailingoutbenjiSupport the show (https://bailingoutbenji.com/support-us/)