Independent reporting for the rescue dog community. We chat with dog rescuers and adopters, campaigners and experts, artists and creatives. New episodes every Thursday! <br/><br/><a href="https://wunderdog.substack.com/s/rescued-by-wunderdog-podcast?utm_medium=podcast">wunderdog.substack.com</a>
Podcast Overview
Independent reporting for the rescue dog community. We chat with dog rescuers and adopters, campaigners and experts, artists and creatives. New episodes every Thursday! <br/><br/><a href="https://wunderdog.substack.com/s/rescued-by-wunderdog-podcast?utm_medium=podcast">wunderdog.substack.com</a>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
4/4/2026
1 verified contact email on file for Wunderdog Podcast
Pitch yourself as a guest, propose sponsorships, or reach out directly to the host.
Recent Episodes
June 11, 2026
Behind the headlines of Ridgland Farm with Shannon Keith of Beagle Freedom Project
<p>Never before have pictures of riot police tear-gassing animal rights campaigners in broad daylight made the news. The scenes this April at Ridgland Farm, where beagles were bred for the animal testing industry, made the news across the US and on our social media. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/18/us/beagle-facility-wisconsin-protests-tear-gas.html">Direct rescuers stormed the kennels</a>, where dogs were kept in barren metal cages, and ran out with as many dogs as they could. Very few made it out.</p><p>All the while, behind the scenes, another group of activists tried to free the Ridgland beagles. While a special prosecutor had agreed a plea deal with the business operators, who had amassed hundreds of USDA violations for animal welfare offences, it wasn’t clear what would happen to the dogs. “They also sell them for parts,” explains Shannon Keith on our podcast. The animal rights attorney worked with the Centre for Humane Economy to get the dogs released. And eventually, while all hell broke loose at the Ridgland gates, the quiet negotiations were successful, and 1,500 beagles were released.</p><p>“It’s epic,” says Shannon on our podcast. She tells us about how her rescue organisation Beagle Freedom Project (BFP) works with the Dane County Humane Society where the freed dogs get triaged, before transporting them either to its numerous partners across the US or directly to fosters and adopters. You can see videos of the ongoing release drives on<a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/@beaglefreedomproject"> BFP’s YouTube </a>channel.</p><p>And then, there is also Shannon’s pride and joy: Freedom Farm.</p><p>“I kept writing letters every year to animal testing facilities in the US, asking if we could rehome the dogs and cats they were no longer using,” she tells me. Eventually, the owner of one farm bit and allowed Shannon’s team in to reheome some of his animals he used to test flea and tick treatments. They struck up a relationship, and one day, Shannon asked him if he would sell his farm to them and seize his business. After some negotiations, he did just that, and Shannon turned the animal testing site into Freedom Farm.</p><p>At the farm, BFP also houses the many other species that have been rescued from test labs – from alpacas to pigs, it’s not just beagles that are being used by an industry whose ‘results’ fail in more than 97% of human applications.</p><p>Shannon has worked as animal rights attorney for 15 years, and she has chalked up a number of victories. We have written about BFP three times in Wunderdog Magazine, as a main feature (<a target="_blank" href="https://wunderdogmagazine.com/product/wunderdog-magazine-issue-7-sophie-gamand-hsi-pete-paxton-beagle-freedom-project-welcoming-your-new-rescue-dog/">issue 7</a>), a story about its (short-lived) foray into the UK <a target="_blank" href="https://wunderdogmagazine.com/product/wunderdog-magazine-issue-8-dog-manifesto-curtis-holder-rez-dogs-dog-friendly-north-devon-portugal/">(issue 8</a>), and about Freedom Farm (<a target="_blank" href="https://wunderdogmagazine.com/product/issue-9/">issue 9</a>). I am proud to bring Shannon’s story to you as a podcast, where we discuss everything from Ridgland to Freedom Farm, the legislative wrangling that goes on behind the scenes, and how beagles are doing once they are freed. We also talk about giving these dogs a name, and why Shannon considers them newborns in adult bodies.</p><p>If you are wondering how you can help to end animal testing, one simple step is to boycott products that have been tested. BFP developed the <a target="_blank" href="https://cruelty-cutter.org">Cruelty Cutter app</a>: simply scan a product and check whether it was tested on animals. If it does, it takes one click to notify the manufacturer that you are boycotting their products, and you can also share your decision on social media. The app is free and works worldwide.</p><p>To find out more, head to<a target="_blank" href="https://bfp.org"> bfp.org</a></p><p><strong>Time stamps:</strong></p><p><strong>Introduction and background</strong></p><p>0:01 - Beagle Freedom Project and negotiations for beagle release</p><p>0:29 - Episode introduction by Nina May</p><p><strong>Rescue efforts and challenges</strong></p><p>2:30 - Shannon Keith introduces Beagle Freedom Project</p><p>4:44 - Discussion on Ridgland Farms and legal challenges</p><p><strong>Freedom Fields and adoption stories</strong></p><p>12:29 - Status of rescued beagles and adoption efforts</p><p>17:23 - Story of Freedom Fields and its transformation</p><p><strong>Industry overview and future goals</strong></p><p>28:48 - Overview of animal testing industry and Beagle Freedom Project's mission</p><p>39:29 - Discussion on financial and legal challenges in activism</p><p><strong>Closing Remarks</strong></p><p>45:46 - Shannon Keith's final thoughts and Cruelty Cutter app</p><p>46:54 - Episode closing</p> <br/><br/>Get full access to Wunderdog Magazine at <a href="https://wunderdog.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4">wunderdog.substack.com/subscribe</a>
June 4, 2026
Shutdown Campaigns to end greyhound racing in England, with Norb Gordon
<p>When Norb Gordon attended a protest at a track recently, a dog trainer camp up to him. After some agreeable disagreement, the trainer told Norb he expected greyhound racing to end within five years. </p><p>“I wanted to shake his hand on that,” Norb said with a smile on our latest podcast episode. He has been campaigning to end greyhound racing for most of his adult life, and to hear this from a trainer genuinely excited him. </p><p>I talked to the long-standing animal right campaigner about his many efforts to end greyhound racing in England once and for all. We talked in depth about the realities of what happens during a race and the tremendous harm inflicted on the dogs, and Norb shares insights from his work with Greyhound Watch, highlighting the need for transparency.</p><p><strong>Two campaigns, one goal</strong></p><p>Norb coordinates the local Shutdown Campaigns that are taking place at each of the remaining 15 race tracks in England. But he also publishes fall data, which Norb and a team of 40 volunteers painstakingly record after analysing each (available) race video. What’s more, the team track which dogs weren’t seen again after a fall, which dogs were retired and turned up at a rescue centre, and which dogs have died. It’s a huge amount of work, but Norb says basic transparency should be in every trainer’s interest – if the industry really cared, that is. </p><p>What stood out for me was the face that Greyhound Watch is, for the first time, giving racing dogs a name. They are no longer a gimmicky thing that people bet on, they could be our pets. “And it’s a 100% of the reason we’re doing this,” said Norb. “Because these dogs are individuals, they’re not just a number. But unfortunately, it’s how the industry lumped them together when they published the statistics. In 2024, a hundred and twenty three dogs died at UK dog tracks. I don’t know any of their names.”</p><p>To find out more, head to <a target="_blank" href="https://shutdown.org.uk">shutdown.org.uk</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://greyhoundwatch.co.uk">greyhoundwatch.co.uk</a>.</p><p>The march in London takes place from 11:30 a.m. on 25th of July. The meeting place will be near St. Paul’s Cathedral. With or without a greyhound, make sure you attend! </p><p></p><p><strong>Chapters: </strong></p><p><strong>00:00</strong>The Journey Begins: Childhood and Animal Care</p><p><strong>01:20</strong>Campaigning for Change: Shutdown Campaigns</p><p><strong>04:04</strong>Greyhound Watch: Monitoring and Reporting</p><p><strong>09:32</strong>The Data Dilemma: Transparency in Greyhound Racing</p><p><strong>15:56</strong>The Industry’s Response: Cooperation and Resistance</p><p><strong>21:09</strong>A Shift in Momentum: Bans in Wales and Scotland</p><p><strong>29:19</strong>Changing Perceptions: The Argument Against Greyhound Racing</p><p><strong>33:56</strong>Dog 2 140BPM.mp3</p><p><strong>Keywords: </strong>greyhound racing, animal welfare, industry transparency, dog rescue, UK legislation, animal cruelty, racing industry, greyhound statistics, ban greyhound racing, advocacy</p><p><p>Wunderdog is a reader-supported publication. Your subscription enables us to continue writing about rescue dogs, animal welfare – and why dogs are better people. Thank you!</p></p><p><p>Thanks for reading Wunderdog Magazine! This post is public so feel free to share it.</p></p><p></p><p></p> <br/><br/>Get full access to Wunderdog Magazine at <a href="https://wunderdog.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4">wunderdog.substack.com/subscribe</a>
May 29, 2026
The Cost of Cute with Caroline Jenkins, Head of Campaigns at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home
<p>“Awww cute,” you might think when you see Battersea’s latest poster campaign: a pug face in profile, looking up and looking cute. Or does it? The dog’s snot is visually extended with curved copy: “Squishy little face. Struggling with short little breaths. Every. Single. Day.”</p><p>“The campaign takes the audience on a journey,” explains Caroline Jenkins, Batterea’s head of campaigns. “People see this massively cute picture of an animal. They then read the copy, feel slightly guilty about their initial reaction, and then, it makes them think. And that’s what we want to do. We want to prompt reconsideration around what people see as cute and what they then would want to take on.”</p><p>Caroline says of the visuals: “The shape that the copy forms is the original shape of a pug’s face.” Other motifs include a tail-less dog and a cat with a folded ear.</p><p>These kind of pets feature heavily in our media landscape, and Battersea has found in its research that, for younger people, these animals are becoming the new normal. “We found that people under 45 see animals virtually more than in real life, which is startling. And these features are becoming normalised.”</p><p>But Caroline is careful not to patronise or dismiss current owners of these pets. The campaign aims to help buyers make a more informed decision next time they get a pet. “Ultimately, it’s demand that drives these features. So, if we can influence that, we are on the right track.”</p><p>As one of the UK’s top five charities, Battersea takes in the dogs and cats that have been either abandoned or relinquished by their owners. The flat-faced Frenchie has been not only Britain’s most popular dog, it was also the most abandoned due to its many – costly – health issues resulting from its severe deformities. The Frenchie has recently been surpassed by the miniature dachshund – another dog with severe features. And cats – as well as other species – are increasingly being bred to meet the sick aesthetic normalised in the media.</p><p>While Caroline doesn’t want to put a price on what it costs the charity each time one of these pets comes in, she is clear that both animals and their distressed owners suffer. “No one wants to see their animal suffer, let alone their beloved pet,” she says. “But they may not understand some of the challenges that come with these animals, whether that’s additional vet costs and the emotional cost of seeing their animal suffer. And unfortunately, sometimes, that leads to people having to relinquish their animal when they can no longer care for them. So, that’s what we want to stop; we want to reduce preventable relinquishment and make sure that people can live really good, happy lives with their pets that are happy and healthy.”</p><p>In this podcast episode, Caroline talks us through the campaign development and what current brachycephalic pet owners want others to know. We also talk about the Renters’ Rights Act, which was revised this month to allow sitting tenants to acquire a pet, and about The Royal Kennel Club’s new breed assessment. And we chat about Caroline’s own pet … a cat.</p><p>To find out more about the campaign, head to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.battersea.org.uk/what-we-do/animal-welfare-campaigning/cost-of-cute">Battersea.org.uk/costofcute</a></p><p></p><p>Time stamps:</p><p>00:00 Introduction to the Cost of Cute Campaign</p><p>02:18 Battersea's Role in Animal Welfare</p><p>03:09 The Impact of social media on pet choices</p><p>06:38 Understanding the health risks of brachycephalic breeds</p><p>10:19 Conversations with The Royal Kennel Club and regulations</p><p>11:53 Public perception and campaign reception</p><p>15:44 The debate on crossbreeding for health</p><p>18:03 Adoption trends and breed preferences</p><p>20:14 The long-term impact of the campaign</p><p>21:28 Advertising and media influence on pet ownership</p><p>23:04 Financial implications of health issues in pets</p><p>24:44 Challenges faced by smaller charities</p><p>26:20 Legislative changes and pet-friendly housing, aka The Renter's Rights Act</p><p>28:29 The role of government in breeding regulations</p><p>29:13 Caroline on her own cat</p><p>30:21 The rise of extreme features in cats</p><p>32:40 The need for compassionate conversations</p><p>34:57 Addressing addiction to pets with specific needs</p><p>38:02 Empowering informed choices in pet ownership</p><p></p> <br/><br/>Get full access to Wunderdog Magazine at <a href="https://wunderdog.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4">wunderdog.substack.com/subscribe</a>
7 total episodes available
Deep-dive analytics for Wunderdog Podcast
Frequently asked questions
Have a different question and can't find the answer you're looking for? Reach out to our support team by sending us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
- What is Wunderdog Podcast?
- How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Information about guest appearances is not available.
Legal Disclaimer
Pod Engine is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected with any of the podcasts displayed on this platform. We operate independently as a podcast discovery and analytics service.
All podcast artwork, thumbnails, and content displayed on this page are the property of their respective owners and are protected by applicable copyright laws. This includes, but is not limited to, podcast cover art, episode artwork, show descriptions, episode titles, transcripts, audio snippets, and any other content originating from the podcast creators or their licensors.
We display this content under fair use principles and/or implied license for the purpose of podcast discovery, information, and commentary. We make no claim of ownership over any podcast content, artwork, or related materials shown on this platform. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are the property of their respective owners.
While we strive to ensure all content usage is properly authorized, if you are a rights holder and believe your content is being used inappropriately or without proper authorization, please contact us immediately at hey@podengine.ai for prompt review and appropriate action, which may include content removal or proper attribution.
By accessing and using this platform, you acknowledge and agree to respect all applicable copyright laws and intellectual property rights of content owners. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or commercial use of the content displayed on this platform is strictly prohibited.