Episode Details

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.