Who Will Let the Dogs Out

Telling the stories of shelter dogs, the heroes who fight for them, and what you can do to help.

Who Will Let the Dogs Out is a kids podcast hosted by Cara Achterberg, with 24 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Cara Achterberg hosts Who Will Let the Dogs Out, a kids show with 24 episodes published.

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  Who Will Let the Dogs Out

  Responsible Sheltering for a Humane Community: Moving Beyond the No-Kill Label

  Sep 16, 202620 min

  Our animal welfare system is reaching a breaking point.Across the nation, stray populations are exploding, intake waitlists are stretching for months, and shelters are operating far beyond capacity. But how did we get here—and why has the rigid push for "no-kill" status made it harder for municipal shelters to serve their communities? In this episode, Cara Achtorberg breaks down the hiddencosts of judging a shelter's success strictly by its Live Release Rate (LRR). When open-intake safety nets close their doors or delay intake to protect a metric, animals, pet owners, and public health suffer. It's time to shift the narrative from arbitrary numbers to what truly matters: responsible sheltering, preventing animal suffering, and building a humane community. Key TopicsCovered in This Episode: · The Safety Net Cracking: Why municipal shelters were built for open admissions and how managed intake shifts the burden back onto the public. · The "No-Kill" Misconception: How the 90% LRR threshold creates unintended incentives to deter high-needs, sick, orbehaviorally complex animals. · Signs of a Broken System: The ripple effects of overloaded shelters, including rising stray populations, increased rabiesrisks, and a spike in dog bites. · Systemic Root Causes: How outdated facilities,deprioritized spay/neuter programs, and restrictive pet housing contribute to the crisis. · Redefining Success: Shifting the goal from simply "not killing" to active community care, owner support, and preventinganimal suffering. UpcomingWebinar Event Join us on Zoom for a live conversation about what it means to shelter responsibly to build a human community with special guests Lisa Milot (Director of Vermont’s Division of Animal Welfare) and Roxanne Hicks (Founder of The Shelter Shift ). · When: Sunday, September 20 at 7:00 PM Eastern · Registration: Register for the ZoomWebinar · Submit Questions: Email your questions in advance toCara@WWLDO.org. Learn more about our work and support us at WhoWillLettheDogsOut.org

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  Who Will Let the Dogs Out

  Frontline to Shelter Director: Confronting the Memphis Stray Crisis

  Aug 28, 202648 min

  In this episode, host Cara Achterberg sits down with Suzy Hollenbach, Director of Memphis Animal Services (MAS), for a candid discussion on the animal welfare crisis in Memphis and across the nation. Suzy shares her journey from founding All Fours Rescue League—a grass-roots outreach program delivering free spay/neuter services, vaccines, and support directly to underserved neighborhoods—to taking the helm at MAS during one of its most challenging periods. Together, they dive into: The Reality of Community Outreach: How building trust and meeting pet owners where they are transforms neighborhoods and saves lives. The Stray Overpopulation Boom: The catastrophic impact of long-term limited intake policies, nationwide shelter capacity issues, and the critical need for open-intake accountability. Inside Memphis Animal Services: The heavy emotional toll on frontline staff and animal control officers dealing with dangerous pack sizes, parvo outbreaks, and an overwhelming daily call queue. Real Solutions: Why expanding spay/neuter access, building regional veterinary networks, and establishing true shelter stability are the only ways to break the cycle. Learn more about Who Will Let the Dogs out.

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  Who Will Let the Dogs Out

  The Open Intake Dilemma: Rethinking Managed Admissions & Creating a Truly Humane Community

  Aug 10, 202656 min

  What actually happens when animal shelters turn away immediate surrenders? In this episode, we take an honest, unvarnished look at the reality of open intake versus managed intake shelters, and explore why the national shift toward restricted admissions may be doing more harm than good. In this episode, we cover: Defining Intake Models: Clear breakdowns of open intake, managed intake, and limited intake—and why the terms are often misused. The Post-2020 Pivot: How pandemic-era appointment systems became permanent policy and changed the landscape of municipal animal welfare. The Hidden Costs of Managed Intake: How waitlists and appointments lead to surges in roaming strays, abandoned litters, public safety risks, and human housing heartbreak. The Safe Harbor Approach: Why offering immediate, judgment-free surrender options protects vulnerable animals and families better than forced "pet owner accountability." Euthanasia vs. Warehousing: Facing the hard choices between overcrowding, abandonment, and humane open-door policies with complete public transparency. Actionable Steps for Advocates: How volunteers and citizens can gather community data—from reclaim rates to stray pickups—to advocate for real shelter reform. Whether you are a shelter worker, volunteer, or passionate animal lover, this conversation offers a candid roadmap for building a realistic, safe, and truly humane community for pets and people alike. Resources mentioned: https://www.youtube.com/@UGALawPAWS/videos WhoWillLettheDogsOut.org

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  Who Will Let the Dogs Out

  Has "No-Kill" Gone Off Track? 32 Years in Animal Welfare with Tammy Fox

  Jul 30, 202637 min

  In this episode, Cara sits down with Tammy Fox, Executive Director of the Florida Keys SPCA, to unpack how animal welfare has dramatically shifted over the last three decades. With a career spanning back to 1994—including leadership roles in Austin, Texas, and Lancaster, Pennsylvania—Tammy brings a wealth of frontline experience to a tough but necessary conversation. Together, Cara and Tammy tackle: The Reality of Open Intake: What it truly means to be an open-admission shelter in today's climate. The Evolution of "No-Kill": How the language surrounding animal rescue has changed, and where it may have gone off track. Euthanasia vs. Warehousing: The heavy ethical questions rescue workers face when shelters stay overcrowded. Whether you are a seasoned rescue volunteer or simply love dogs, Tammy’s deep insights offer a powerful, honest look at the state of animal sheltering today. Connect with us: Contact Cara: Cara@WWLDO.orgLearn more about our mission at ⁠WhoWillLetTheDogsOut.org⁠

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  Who Will Let the Dogs Out

  The Missing Safety Net for Our Pets

  Jul 13, 202612 min

  After our last episode on the critical differences between public shelters and private rescues, we received a lot of... let’s call it reactive feedback. In this episode, we are backing up, slowing down, and clearing up the confusion because this misunderstanding is at the very heart of the animal welfare crisis we are facing today. Too many people are placing the expectations of a private rescue onto publicly funded municipal shelters. When we demand that open-intake public shelters act like "no-kill" rescues, they are forced to close their doors, turn away citizens, and warehouse animals. We dive deep into why every single community absolutely needs a publicly funded, open-intake safety net, including 5 undeniable reasons you might not have considered: Unplanned Owner Passing: What happens to pets when someone dies unexpectedly without a backup plan? Accidents: Who steps in for a dog when their owner is hospitalized in a car crash? Arrests: The tragic reality for animals when an owner is suddenly detained. Hoarding Situations: Why public services are vital when large groups of sick or unsocialized animals are discovered. Rescue Vulnerability: Why relying solely on private rescues—which can go bankrupt, fill up, or close down—is dangerous. We also tackle the reality of "hybrid" nonprofit shelters that take taxpayer dollars but still turn animals away by using waiting lists. Are they actually serving the community, or just the lucky few who make it through the door? It’s time to look closely at your own community. Is your local shelter truly acting as a public safety net, or is it operating as a rescue? Join the Conversation: Visit WhoWillLetTheDogsOut.org to read our blog stories from over 220 shelter visits, download our free Animal Crisis FAQ, and learn how you can help create practical solutions. Connect with us and add your voice on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube!

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