Episode Details

Nearly a third of domestic violence survivors stay in dangerous situations because they won't leave their pet behind.

Jill, a former prosecutor and founder of Ruger's Rescues, joins Em to talk about the three things that led her to start the rescue: an animal cruelty case involving a cat named Lucy that got reduced to a misdemeanor despite a fractured skull, the sudden loss of her own dog Ruger to hemangiosarcoma, and the rescue of a dog named Hippo, who already had an adopter lined up and still nearly didn't make it out of a high-kill shelter because no rescue could transport her in time. Jill and Em get into the overlap between domestic violence and pet ownership, San Diego County's food pantry program for unhoused and low-income pet owners, and the realities of the emergency transport and rescue-only screening system most people never see.

You'll hear:

• What actually happened in the case that made Jill leave her job as a prosecutor
• Why an already-adopted dog can still end up on a euthanasia list
• What Ruger's Rescues is doing to close the gap between domestic violence shelters and pet owners

Press play if you've ever wondered what's actually standing between someone and leaving, or what really happens behind the scenes of a dog listed as "adoptable."

Guest Info:

Instagram: @rugersrescues

Support Ruger’s Rescues: linktr.ee/rugersrescues

Sponsored by Ruger’s Rescues

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This podcast explores life with dogs, dog behavior, dog behavior problems, dog obedience, dog anxiety, reactive dogs, dog reactivity, and dog training. It's for the dog community navigating overwhelm, guilt, burnout, and self-doubt while struggling to keep up with a dog who asks for more. Episodes cover canine nutrition, dog food, dog enrichment, dog body language, dog communication, emotional healing, self-trust, personal growth, and finding real relief in the connection you have with your dog. Whether you're raising