Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Truth, Lies, and Puppy Mills

Every October, East Village Spa in Des Moines hosts one of the most relaxing events of the season: Spalloween, an annual fundraiser benefiting Bailing Out Benji. In this episode, Mindi sits down with Cassie Sampson, owner of East Village Spa, and Abby Strong, owner of Auntie Abby's Pet Care, to talk about how this yearly tradition became much more than a fundraiser.

Because Spalloween comes back every year, it has become a place where friendships take root and connections grow, including the one between these three women and the businesses and nonprofit they lead. Together they talk about what it means to be a leader, why it matters to build your business intentionally alongside people who share your values, and how that kind of collaboration creates something worth admiring.

Only 10 tickets remain for this year's Spalloween, so grab yours before they're gone: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/spalloween-2026-for-bailing-out-benji-registration-2000524885786?

Can't make it to Des Moines? Friends near and far can still join in by pre-registering for the silent auction: https://app.galabid.com/spalloween2026/register

What a night! Delicious food, amazing conversation, and fundraising fun- all to benefit your favorite anti-puppy mill nonprofit! 

On this week's episode, join the whole office crew as we share highlights from our Gala and talk about why this work is so special to us. Being in a room full of friends and supporters helps us stay on mission and share our work with some of the people who make sure it keeps working! 

To view a few of our photos from the evening, click this link. 

Have you joined our podcast mailing list yet? You can sign up by clicking this link below and we will let you know when new episodes air. 

Last week members of the USDA, DOJ, HHS, and others gave a surprise press conference to lay out their plan to crack down on puppy mills, animal testing, and dog fighting. The internet had a lot of opinions and so do we! On this week's episode Mindi and Kristen sit down to go through the press release, discuss the press conference, and share what we are working on behind the scenes! 

Our research is more important than ever! Please consider making a donation to help us continue our work: https://secure.everyaction.com/NXOnDaCJuEOv7av3C8kAog2

Show notes: 

USDA Press Release: https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2026/09/21/usda-announces-actions-marking-new-era-animal-welfare

USDA Press Conference: https://www.youtube.com/live/00WWt8SlTbM

This week we are revisiting an episode we released back in February of this year! Kristen and Mindi sit down after the Westminster dog show to talk about "pedigrees, popularity, and perception". This unplanned conversation focuses on how consumers and every-day people view dogs and view obtaining dogs. We also talk about various industry talking points that often contradict themselves and discuss or not we think doodles will ever be AKC eligible. 

Oddly enough, we had this line in the original description: "Also, Kristen pretends that she is above being trendy. But even she bought our latest shirt... Have you?" And it is so timely, because we also released new shirts this month... and Kristen also already bought one! 

If you haven't checked them out, look out our Bonfire store by clicking on this link: https://www.bonfire.com/store/bailingoutbenji/

We re-released this episode because we needed a quick break after this year's gala! Your girls are TIRED! 

If you missed out on supporting our fall fundraiser, please consider making a donation today: https://secure.everyaction.com/NXOnDaCJuEOv7av3C8kAog2

We are literally DAYS away from our annual Gala at Mainframe Studios in Des Moines on September 19th! Join our whole team for this fun episode as we chat about our favorite things that we are going to feature this year, including a behind-the-scenes look at some of our field research and some really cool silent and live auction items. There is nothing more exciting than being in a room full of people who share the same passion for making the world a better place. 

On top of mingling with friends and hearing updates from our staff about our work, our gala serves as our largest fundraising event of the year! If you can't join us in person, we have two ways that you can support from afar! 

1. Bid on our silent auction! Many of the items listed can be shipped right to you: https://app.galabid.com/bark-after-dark-2026/items

2. Make a donation from afar! We are doing really big things with limited resources. Every dollar raised goes towards helping us research, educate, and advocate for a future with no more puppy mill cruelty:https://secure.everyaction.com/BsB8fWFzHUyZgCL24SePQA2

Last week we chatted about our Field Research, which is a very small part of what we do. Today we are sitting down and talking about our academic research, which is the fun data work we do that takes up most of our time! 

Join Mindi, Alexis, and Kristen as we talk through some of our research and discuss the maps that we have been releasing on social media this month. We also highlight the importance of looking beyond just the USDA licensed breeders if you are studying this world, because there is a lot of information and context that is being overlooked! 

Please consider making a donation today and help us continue this important work: https://secure.everyaction.com/aDOnSJF3r0muNQCK0SoEWQ2

On this week's episode of "Truth, Lies, and Puppy Mills", Mindi and Alexis share some details, statistics, and stories from our Field Research trips, seeing as this summer marked 2 years since we were first welcome 'inside'. 

This is part of our work takes us into businesses that we've only seen on paper and gives us a deeper understanding of the very industry we are working to fix. By engaging with thought leaders from within the breeding industry, we are better able to see where the gaps in the system are. This knowledge paired with our academic research allows us to suggest better alternatives on the local, state, and federal level that could help end the cruel and inhumane practices often found at puppy mills. 

We share these stories and this perspective in order to give others a glimpse into a world they have only seen one side of, in order to help us all become better informed about the work that is being done. 

Please consider making a donation to help us continue this important work: https://secure.everyaction.com/NXOnDaCJuEOv7av3C8kAog2

On this week's episode of "Truth, Lies, and Puppy Mills", we discuss a disturbing case out of California regarding a "no-kill", "animal sanctuary" that is currently under investigation for the unthinkable. This facility was getting paid transfer fees to take animals in from desperately overcrowded shelters in order to find them homes- but a large number of the dogs were later found deceased and buried on the property. 

This case is heartbreaking and calls into question a larger issue that California is facing. Where are the laws that regulate breeders and rescues? Sit with Mindi, Alexis, and Kristen this week as we touch on this case but talk more deeply about how solutions and laws often miss the mark when it comes to pet overpopulation and animal cruelty. 

Here is an update on the rescue case that has been published since we recorded this episode: https://krcrtv.com/north-coast-news/eureka-local-news/humboldt-county-suspends-mirandas-rescue-permits-orders-fortuna-kennel-to-shut-down

Don't forget to support our work by making a donation: https://secure.everyaction.com/NXOnDaCJuEOv7av3C8kAog2

For more than 60 years, Ridglan Farms in Wisconsin bred beagles for research. These dogs spent their entire lives in windowless barns, stacked in metal crates, many subjected to painful "cherry eye" and vocal cord surgeries performed without anesthesia by staff who weren't veterinarians. Undercover footage, whistleblower testimony, and a judge's own finding of probable cause for animal cruelty finally forced a reckoning. Last week the very last beagles- 155 of them, adults and puppies as young as 11 weeks- walked out of that facility and the cages were empty for good.

In this week's episode, Mindi, Alexis, and Kristen take you inside that final removal, sharing what it was like to be on the ground as the last of Ridglan's dogs were rescued. 

* Please note * This rescue mission was not organized by us, nor did we have anything to do with the closure of the facility- we were just extra hands that were asked to come in and help. 

On this week's episode of "Truth, Lies, and Puppy Mills", Mindi and Alexis sit down to chat about a recent animal seizure that happened at a USDA facility in Iowa. 32 dogs (and a cat and rabbit) were seized by the USDA and Department of Justice after a USDA broker/breeder had multiple violations and two years worth of missed inspections. We talk about the process leading up to a seizure and which jurisdiction covers what in cases of cruelty. We also talk about the larger system that allows this particular facility to keep operating under different managers and how important meaningful laws are when it comes to businesses that handle companion animals. 

A few articles we reference: 

Steve Kruse connection: https://bailingoutbenji.com/steve-kruse-saga/

PAW Fort Madison: https://pawfortmadison.com/

Jerry Couchman, veterinarian: https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2026/05/14/dog-breeding-veterinarian-is-sanctioned-by-a-second-state-licensing-board/

Don't forget to send a donation to your favorite research team and help us continue our important work: https://secure.everyaction.com/NXOnDaCJuEOv7av3C8kAog2

We say we were on a break, but were we really? Join Mindi and Kristen for this 'junk drawer' episode where we catch you up on everything the BOB team was up to while we weren't releasing episodes of our show! We had a really busy summer and had some enlightening conversations along the way. 

Thank you for being here with us this week! We are excited to be back :) 

To become a sponsor of our gala, click here: https://secure.everyaction.com/do2sZtCutUe4ZY898EgRhQ2

To buy tickets to our gala, click here: https://secure.everyaction.com/7-lBKZBK6kizrMDU1cHpBg2

Join us this week for a short episode as we share our plans for the summer and announce a short break before season 3! We are working on some big things behind the scenes and we can't wait to unleash them on the world :) 

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or LinkedIn to stay up to date on all that is Bailing Out Benji! 

On this week's episode, Kristen and Mindi sit down to recap the latest conference we attended! At the end of May, Mindi and Alexis hit the road to attend the Canine Welfare Science Conference at Purdue University, where they met up with a Bailing Out Benji volunteer attending in person while another joined virtually from home.

What happens when animal welfare advocates pull up a chair at tables filled with commercial dog breeders? A lot of listening, a lot of learning, and some surprisingly productive conversations. We talked about rehoming retired breeding dogs, policy and regulation, veterinary care, housing, enrichment, and the future of welfare in commercial kennels. More importantly, we explore what it means to engage with people we don't always agree with in pursuit of a common goal: improving the lives of dogs.

The experience challenged assumptions, opened doors to new conversations, and reminded us that meaningful change often starts by showing up, asking questions, and being willing to listen.

On this week's episode of "Truth, Lies, and Puppy Mills" we chat about the community vaccine clinic that our little nonprofit fully sponsored! We do this annually in partnership with our city shelter, and this year we had a record-breaking year. After the spots filled up within a day, the shelter asked us if we could sponsor twice the amount of animals! This isn't a cost they are able to front, and we know that the need is higher than ever... so of course we said yes! 

Beyond that, we give updates on our birthday month and also talk about our upcoming Gala! Tune in for a lighthearted, but important episode and then click on the links below to SPONSOR and get your tickets for our Gala on September 19th! 

RSVP here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1071800079357099

Sponsor information:  https://secure.everyaction.com/do2sZtCutUe4ZY898EgRhQ2?

Gala tickets:  https://secure.everyaction.com/7-lBKZBK6kizrMDU1cHpBg2?

Through our work, we are blessed to be surrounded by amazing people who are doing amazing things for animals (and the humans that love them!)- like Austin and Jodi with the Animal Rescue League of Marshalltown. This dynamic duo has done incredible work in getting their rural shelter noticed by their community and by national organizations! 

Tune in this week to hear more about the issues that shelters in Iowa are facing and how innovative solutions can open up the doors for even more community support! 

This week, Mindi and Kristen kick off the episode by chatting about our experience with a local company that spent time with us to create videos and PSAs for our social media channels. We've learned a lot about what gets picked up on different platforms the best, and we've also learned to let ourselves look a little silly online (if that means more people see our message!) 

This episode evolves into a conversation regarding the latest breeder bust in Missouri and how weird exemptions to laws allow for loopholes to be taken advantage of. In this case, the 'hobby breeder' exemption in a law allowed for a kennel to grow to have more than 80 dogs on the property without having a single inspection. You can read more about that story here: https://www.ky3.com/2026/05/15/volunteers-supplies-needed-after-huge-dog-rescue-newton-county/

We also just announced a TWO THOUSAND DOLLAR match thanks to two incredible families! If you would like to help us reach our goal of raising $15k in the month of May, you can make a gift here: https://secure.everyaction.com/0dQVOHirMU-jZmPplXFC2g2

And our new merch store is live as well: https://www.bonfire.com/store/bailingoutbenji/

Y'all this week we are TIRED! Kristen flew across the country to table at her first ever national conference and then we recorded this one day after she got back (and one hour after our monthly free pet food pantry!)  So you are most definitely getting our sharpest thoughts and sweaty selves today :) 

Tune into this fun episode where Kristen shares the information she learned while being out in the field! She heard so much from shelters across the country about what they are facing and she shares some of the conversations she was able to have about how puppy mills impact communities differently. 

Check out our merch here: https://www.bonfire.com/store/bailingoutbenji/

Make a donation here: https://secure.everyaction.com/0dQVOHirMU-jZmPplXFC2g2

On this week's episode of "Truth, Lies, and Puppy Mills", Alexis, Kristen, and Mindi talk about the recent puppy mill bust in Indiana and how lax laws across the country allow for animals to fall between the cracks. We discuss our research into the recently cancelled licensed breeders and talk about what steps can be taken to make laws more uniform across the country. 

To view the news story and details on the Indiana bust, click here: https://www.wane.com/top-stories/humane-fort-wayne-calls-for-repeal-of-paradoxal-anti-puppy-mill-bill-following-rescue-of-43-dogs/

This month is also our anniversary! Please consider making a donation to help us continue our work: https://secure.everyaction.com/0dQVOHirMU-jZmPplXFC2g2

Our little baby organization is officially 15 years old! So much has happened during that time and we have already accomplished so much. Tune in this week as Kristen and Mindi walk back through time and chat about some of the biggest ways that our work has had an influence on the world- and vice versa.

We have lofty goals for the future and we can't do it without you! 

Please consider making a donation today in honor of our birthday and help us continue our work: https://secure.everyaction.com/0dQVOHirMU-jZmPplXFC2g2

For years, “animal rescue” meant putting animals first no matter what. But the conversation is quickly changing and, because of that, so is the impact.

In our latest podcast episode, Kristen and Jalaine sit down with Cayla from The Pet Project Midwest and Abbey from The Animal Rescue League of Iowa to discuss how our organizations work together regularly to share food and resources so we can help support families in need. Through our community work, each organization has come to understand that when families are given dignity, and access to support, it is easier for them to keep their pets. This means that more dogs and cats get to stay home with their families, where they belong. 

This conversation is honest, hopeful, and a glimpse into a future where helping people is how we save animals. Join us this week to learn about how our work is helping to reshape what the animal welfare world looks like by supporting not just pets, but the people who love them. 

On this week's episode, Mindi and Kristen take a closer look at the conversation around animal rights and animal welfare. These two approaches are often talked about, but are not always understood or recognized as two different belief systems. We explore where these perspectives come from, where they overlap, and how they shape the way people work to help animals.

As always, we are having another nuanced discussion, one that reflects the complexity of this work and the different paths people take to create change.

What happens when the work you love starts to shape who you are or when the baggage you carry dictates where you go?

In this week's episode, Jalaine and Kristen dig into something we don’t talk about enough in animal welfare: trauma. Not just the heartbreak we witness, but how it compounds over time with case after case and story after story. All of that begins to live in us and influences our choices. 

We are joined by Emily, a licensed mental health counselor to explore what it means when your identity becomes intertwined with the work and why that can make change feel so personal (and so hard).

This is an honest conversation about burnout, boundaries, and the emotional weight behind doing this work. 

As our research has expanded over the years, our understanding of the industry has deepened. With that came a strong sense of responsibility to turn away from generalizations and approximations, and instead focus on what we know... The research and the data that comes from it. 

Alexis says it perfectly: "With great research, comes great responsibility".  

Tune in this week as Jalaine, Alexis, and Kristen chat about our database and the different ways we hope that people will use it. 

Haven't checked out our database in a while? We are adding to it and expanding to it daily. You can view it here: https://directory.bailingoutbenji.com/

On this week's episode of "Truth, Lies, and Puppy Mills", we invite you to step outside of the usual outrage cycle and into something a little more nuanced and hopeful. As the USDA proposes changes that could reshape oversight of the commercial breeding industry, we go back to the question that drives our work: what if real change isn’t about calling out individuals, but about creating systems that actually improve dogs’ lives over time?

Today you will hear us speak candidly and honestly about our field research and the Canine Care program, including a visit to a kennel we first saw after their former USDA violation photos were circulated. A year later, we were invited in to see what had changed and what that progress says about the role that support, accountability, and consistency can play in helping to improve the lives of dogs.

Thank you for being here and for helping us create a world where we can work together for change, instead of yelling at each other in policy rooms. 

This seems like a good spot to put our "Advocacy without Pitchforks" article. Please read it and consider sharing the work we are doing: https://bailingoutbenji.com/advocacy-without-pitchforks/

After a busy few weeks, Mindi and Kristen are back in the nook talking updates! On this week's episode we chat about Mindi's trip to DC and how she was able to learn from a few Chiefs of Staff about effective advocacy and how to get your message heard. We also talk about Kristen's first experience tuning into a hearing about a puppy store ban and we talk about the negative side effects of both 'sides' filling the room with people who all essentially say the same thing... for 7 hours straight. 

Don't forget to join us for next week's episode, as we continue this conversation but dive into Mindi's trip to visit a breeder with USDA violations who sells to pet stores.  

This week Alexis and Kristen sit down with our intern/part time employee Clarisse to talk about her passion for animals and how she found our organization! We met Clarisse through the group she volunteered for "Students Helping Rescue Animals". 

On this week's episode of "Truth, Lies, and Puppy Mills", join Alexis, Kristen, and Mindi as we chat through the USDA's plan on how they will be cracking down on puppy mills. We talk about what they say, what we think, and what we hope will come of this initiative. 

We also talk about how our online research will be a crucial tool for the USDA and state agencies as they begin their quest to bring breeders who sell online into compliance. Learn more about what we know about online brokers here: https://directory.bailingoutbenji.com/online-seller-directory

On this week's episode, join Mindi and Alexis as they chat about the release of our NEW directory! This website allows you to see even more of our research at your finger tips. You can search pet stores, online websites, breeders, brokers, and compare your state laws to others! We are proud to be the resource that people have come to trust for the most current and accurate data surrounding the puppy mill industry. 

To view our new directory, click here: https://directory.bailingoutbenji.com/

And don't forget to support our nonprofit and mission here: https://bailingoutbenji.com/donate/

This week we invite you to tune in and listen to our stream of consciousness as we try to work through some of the harder conversations surrounding pedigrees and breeds! We want to remind people that we always tell you what we absolutely know, and then we tell you what we don't know but think or have opinions on. 

As we dive into different perspectives on issues like registries, doodles, and consumers, please remember that we bring these issues up and talk through them so we can all continue to be the best advocates that we can be for dogs in every kind of situation. 

Also, Kristen pretends that she is above being trendy. But even she bought our latest shirt... Have you? The sale ends Friday: https://www.bonfire.com/bailing-out-benji-1/

This week Alexis and Mindi chat with Rosie, our part-time assistant research analyst! On top of working 911 dispatch in Des Moines, Iowa and monitoring USDA records for our team, Rosie volunteers for two Shiba Inu rescues. Listen as we talk about rescue missions, creeping from the road, and the heartbreaking side of getting discarded dogs from puppy mills. Rosie also shares her perspective on our field research and how it challenged her to evolve how she works to end this inhumane industry. 

In this episode we feature Kita, a former mama shiba that has been looking for her forever home for too long. Click this link to learn more about Kita and consider opening your home to this independent lady: https://www.petfinder.com/dog/kita-90486212-1f00-4781-bfd8-79a2ddd9a1ff/ia/bondurant/shiba-inu-rescue-association-il484/details/

The words we use every day matter. They shape perception, they influence behavior, and they have the power to tear someone down or build them up. After taking the time to reflect on puppy mill advocacy and the language we use, our team sat down and started writing down the different ways our own terminology has evolved over the last few years. Join Mindi and Kristen this week as they chat through some of these language changes and then reach out to us to share your thoughts! 

And Mindi did meet her own challenge! You can read some of these language changes online here: https://bailingoutbenji.com/rethinking-puppy-mill-messaging/

In today’s brief episode, we’re pausing our regular programming to acknowledge the heaviness that so many of us are carrying. At Bailing Out Benji, our work is rooted in research, accountability, and protecting dogs and their families from harm, but today we’re showing up as people before we show up as advocates.

This raw episode is a reminder to breathe, to step back if you need to, and to give yourself permission to rest in a world that too often feels relentless. You don’t need to have the right words, the right politics, or the right energy to listen, only your humanity.

This week's episode was recorded back in November, but the sentiment remains the same! The times are changing and we are excited to be leading the charge. 

Sit with Alexis, Kristen, and Mindi as they chat about a few conferences they attended at the end of last year and how the vibe is evolving among advocates. More people are seeing the importance of laying down the swords and working together to create change for animals and the people who love them. Civil discourse with people who don't act like you or think like you is what challenges us all to grow and we are excited to continue using our skills to build a new path. 

Thank you for being on the journey with us! 

What if the way we talk about animal welfare is just as important as the policies we fight for?

In this episode, we’re joined by Hanna Lentz from SPARC for a candid and necessary conversation about the messaging that happens in the animal welfare world. How everything we say shapes public perception and affects real-world outcomes for animals and the people who love them.

We dig into our everyday interactions with the public- the moments that build trust, the moments that shut people down, and the unintended ripples (both positive and negative) that follow our words long after the conversation ends. From advocacy burnout to public backlash to unexpected allies, this episode explores how tone, framing, and empathy can either move people toward change or push them further away.

Thank you for joining us again this week and for being with us on this journey! 

To learn more about SPARC visit: https://www.sparcinsight.org/

HAPPY NEW YEAR and welcome back to Truth, Lies, and Puppy Mills! Join Alexis, Jalaine, Kristen, and Mindi this week as we chat about the impact that we had in 2025 and what our goals are for 2026. With an amazing volunteer team and a world of support, we are ready to be an even more effective voice for all the dogs, cats, and consumers out there. Thank you for being a part of this journey! 

Happy Wednesday and thank you for joining us for another week of "Truth, Lies, and Puppy Mills!" Tune in to this very short episode to hear why we are taking a little break from recording and when to expect us back! 

If you have ever learned from us or from this show, please consider sending a year-end donation over to help us continue our work! 

https://bailingoutbenji.com/donate/

In this lighthearted episode full of laughter and smiles, we sit down with two members of Bailing Out Benji’s admin who help drive our mission every day: Alexis, our research analyst, and Jalaine, our volunteer coordinator. They share how their roles intersect through the incredible work of our volunteers, what collaboration looks like behind the scenes, and how partnering on presentations has strengthened both their work and their friendship. It's an uplifting peek into the people-powered engine that keeps Bailing Out Benji moving forward, grounded in transparency, teamwork, and a whole lot of love.

(No, but seriously, try to keep track of how many times they say they word 'love') 

Last week you heard us talk about the online world of puppy sales and what our team is doing to try and get a handle on it! This week Alexis and Kristen sit down with Ally and Sarah , two of our volunteers who helped jumpstart our online research. Join us as we chat with them about what it takes to find unlicensed breeders online, and what it takes to create a profile to sell online! 

Thank you for sitting with us this week and please don't forget to send a donation our way: https://bailingoutbenji.com/donate/

On this week's episode, Alexis, Kristen, and Mindi dig deep into the world of online puppy mills. We talk about the history of regulation and go into the work we are doing to try and wrangle the wild-wild-west of puppy sales. 

Love this topic? Next week we sit down with a few of our volunteers to talk about what doing this work looks like! 

Want a Benji shirt? Check out our pop up store here: https://pmapparel.chipply.com/store.aspx?eid=440338

We didn't know what to expect when we opened ourselves up for questions, but we are here to answer all of them- even the tough ones! 

Join us this week as we wrap up with part two of our Q&A style episode and continue having nuanced conversations about our work and the puppy mill industry. Remember, we aren't here to force you to think like us! We are offering different perspectives and deep conversations about the puppy mill industry, in hopes of continuing to move the needle forward on animal welfare. 

If you haven't seen our recent article, please read our thoughts on how you can still be an effective advocate, without the pitchforks: https://bailingoutbenji.com/advocacy-without-pitchforks/

Do you have questions? Send them to info@bailingoutbenji.com! We would love to chat things through. 

Don't forget to support the work that we are doing, by making a donation today: https://bailingoutbenji.com/donate/

Whoop whoop! Our team has released 30 episodes so far!! Thank you for sticking with us as we found our groove. We have had thousands of listeners tuning in on various podcast apps and several dozen watching each week through Youtube! We are hearing from advocates and volunteers who love the content each week, as well as from people in the pet industry that are curious about how they can participate in the animal welfare conversation. 

Today's episode is a fun patchwork episode that Jalaine had a lot of fun editing! Listeners of our show sent in questions that they've had since they began tuning in and we had fun talking things through. The conversation ran so long that we will actually have a part 2 next week! 

If you have questions that you would like to write in or record yourself asking, please reach out to us at info@bailingoutbenji.com . We would love to answer them on an upcoming episode! 

We know that this conversation is rarely easy, but thank you for sitting with us in the discomfort as we keep learning to grow and evolve as animal welfare advocates! 

In today's show we reference the following study: 
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23634679/

Don't forget to donate to keep your favorite anti-puppy mill advocates recording and researching! 
https://bailingoutbenji.com/donate/

The Daniel Gingerich puppy mill case was one of the hardest cases we have ever worked on. In 2021 we helped shut down the worst USDA licensed dog breeder in history, but it didn’t come without learning some lessons and hard truths.

As we come upon the 4 year anniversary of the seizure and rescue of all of the dogs on his property, Mindi and Kristen chat about how laws and regulations often enable problematic breeders to stay in business. We also chat about unlikely allies in this case that could have helped save dogs a lot earlier, had we been open enough to reach out. For those who listened to our first podcast and followed this journey, please sit down and revisit the case, as we look back at it with all of the information that was missing the first time.

When we know better, we can do better. but first we have to acknowledge that there is growth to be had!

*Also, we misspoke during this episode. It was a $100,000 grant.

*Please remember that the discussions we have are our opinions from our lens of work. We are not speaking on behalf of anyone else or organization* 

Steve, Steve, Steve... We can't seem to keep his name out of our mouths! As TSwift might say, "it's actually romantic" how often we talk about Steve Kruse, owner of Stonehenge Kennels in Iowa- lol- okay maybe not. But in all reality he is just kind of everywhere and he seemingly evades all consequences! The tentacles that this person has within the puppy mill industry would shock you, but that doesn't stop us from trying to hold him accountable every way that we can. 

In this episode we talk about one of the most glaring examples of what the public thinks when they picture a puppy mill. We talk about a facility that has dozens of violations (including direct and critical) and has had multiple suspensions, yet still somehow sells his puppies to brokers and pet stores across the country! Sit with us this week as we talk through an extremely frustrating part of our work and let us catch you up on some of the tea :) 

Oh- and don't forget to send a little support our way! Our small but mighty nonprofit is putting in the work to put an end to puppy mill cruelty: https://bailingoutbenji.com/donate/

This week, our admin team sits down and talks about the importance of gathering together with our supporters in person to share our work. Community is extremely important and having connections in our home state and across the country are what make Bailing Out Benji so successful in our mission. 

Thank you for tuning in this week! 

Shop for our Paw and Order shirts or other merch here: https://store.bailingoutbenji.com

On this week's episode, Mindi and Kristen discuss our investigation into "California and the Case of the Disappearing Puppies". While this specific research project led to a story with the LA Times and subsequent bills being filed, it also caused some hard discussions with our colleagues about how to best tackle new issues as they come up. Our research found that hundreds of puppies were leaving some of the worst facilities in Iowa only to be delivered to names and addresses that didn't exist! 

As usual-- sit with us to talk about the messy and don't hesitate to get involved in the conversation :) We would love to hear from you! 

To read more about our investigation and the LA times article: https://bailingoutbenji.com/ca-puppies/

To support our work: https://bailingoutbenji.com/donate/

Today we dive head first into the world of rescue. We start off by talking about 'sham rescues', those that are shell companies for the puppy mill industry, and then get into the messy discussion of 'retail rescues'. Retail rescue is a newer term that has been used most frequently by the pet industry to highlight why rescues need more regulation. These are typically rescues that buy puppies or dogs from breeders and then adopt them out for higher prices in their own communities. 

Join us for a conversation about how puppy mill dogs find their way into rescue and which situations feel a little yucky. 

If you would like to support our work: https://bailingoutbenji.com/donate/

We had SO much to say about the most common puppy mill laws (and their pitfalls!) that we broke this episode into 2 parts! Make sure that you listen to part 1 before diving in. We finish up this two-part episode by discussing sourcing laws, state registries, and shutting down puppy mills with animal cruelty laws! Next week we continue the conversation about laws by discussing sham rescues and retail rescues! 

In this episode, we mention "The Puppy Kingpin" a podcast that Sony productions published that covers our early investigative work into California. You can learn more and listen here: https://bailingoutbenji.com/puppy-laundering/

Don't forget, we are a very small organization and every donation matters! Please consider giving back and help us continue our work: https://bailingoutbenji.com/donate/

Sit with us this week as we dive into the most common types of puppy mill legislation that advocates work on! In this two-part episode, we discuss some of the biggest pieces of legislation that has been passed and what the research shows happened after the laws went into effect. 

We called this episode "laws and pitfalls" because no piece of legislation is perfect and it is up to advocacy organizations to make sure that policy matches the needs of each community. It is also important to make sure that we aren't just passing laws and leaving, without studying the ramifications of our legislation. 

In this episode, we discuss "The Puppy Kingpin" a podcast that Sony productions published that covers our early investigative work into California. You can learn more and listen here: https://bailingoutbenji.com/puppy-laundering/

Don't forget, we are a very small organization and every donation matters! Please consider giving back and help us continue our work: https://bailingoutbenji.com/donate/

We also don't know what Skibidi means (besides everything and nothing?) but we are in it now. Carsten and Gus are here for this week's episode and they tell us all about Bailing Out Benji and the animal welfare world through the lens of (almost) teenagers. These two keep us laughing and have a surprising grasp on some pretty complex issues. 

Carsten was recently named our "Youth Volunteer of the Year" and will be honored at our upcoming 'Bark After Dark' gala. Both Carsten and Gus have become leaders within our pet food pantry program! Tune in and listen to them share their volunteer stories! 

On this week's episode, Jalaine, Kristen, and Mindi sit down and discuss "Kibbles for a Cause"- the newly formed coalition between Central Iowa groups who provide pet food assistance to families! They also take the time to share what every day people can do to help provide pet food to families, without starting an entire new pantry themselves... Beyond that... The episode was a little bit of chaos and a whole lot of fun. 

Big apologies to our podcast editor extraordinaire, Jalaine, for just how messy this truly was. Listeners, just know that we have hours of footage that doesn't make it into each episode because we can get a little * messy * :) 

Everything on our Pantry wishlist is less than $25, if you would like to choose an item or two to send: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/32J89EWBEKXPO/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_3

You can also make a donation directly here: https://secure.everyaction.com/ETtsapRILECTVrUIhSS_ug2

Oh- and if you haven't already planned to come in for our Gala- do ittttttt! We are equally as fun in person: https://bailingoutbenji.com/bark-after-dark-gala/