My Rescue Rocks With Rebekah Nemethy

Get links to everything we talked about at http://myrescuerocks.net/45 Welcome to the season finale of My Rescue Rocks! It’s kind of become the tradition for each season to end with a conversation, and today’s conversation is all about a powerful concept that’s totally changed my life over the past few years. In 2010 I was working hard to establish myself as a professional photographer, I was building my portfolio, working any and all photo-related jobs from portraits to products. For most of that year it was all work and no play for me… I’m not sure what first inspired me, but a holiday was coming up, Nick was going away, and I found a bag full of Yoshi’s beautiful feathers that I’d collected over the years… he’s an orange-winged amazon, so his feathers are really colorful and unique. Somehow, free time and inspiration collided and I found myself playing with my camera. I got two really beautiful photos out of my playtime, but more than that, I felt really charged and refreshed and I wondered why I didn’t pl

Get all the spooky stuff we talked about right here: http://myrescuerocks.net/44 Happy Halloween!! Well if you’re listening to this on the day it goes out that is, if not well you’re about to regress a little bit, because this is a Halloween special and things are about to get spooky. Back when Britany and I were making plans to do these Q&U shows together I sent her a list of possible questions I wanted to send out to you and when she told me that her favorite question was the same as mine, I got so excited, because it was my favorite question too! We wanted to know if your pets have ever done anything to make you believe in their 6th sense. We got a few intriguing answers, too. Animals are so amazing… The other thing that made me giddy about this episode, is that Britany spent some time as a paranormal investigator, so we dig into a bunch of her creepy and strange experiences with the supernatural, as well as a couple of ghost stories of my own… Some spooky stuff has been going on in our new house… So,

Get the show notes at http://myrescuerocks.net/43.  Ya know, even though I’ve been involved in animal rescue for a few years, I feel like the rabbit hole is never ending. It’s more like a black hole than a rabbit hole, because ever since I dipped my toe into the inky blackness I got totally sucked in and I haven’t been able to climb back out… not that I want to climb back out. No, I’d rather know the truth, which is another funny thing because I used to live by that whole ignorance is bliss rule, and while that expression might still be true, ignorance is also just ignorance. Ever since I started this podcast, I feel like I’ve been on this journey and it’s taken me places I never expected to go. I mean, I have to give you credit, because if I didn’t have anyone listening I probably wouldn’t dig nearly as deep as I do… making these podcasts propels me more than anything else has so far. And, I thank you for riding along with me as I learn and grow. So, I was introduced to today’s guest by the Debs, and if you

Get the show notes at http://myrescuerocks.net/42 A couple of weeks ago we learned all about how we can overcome some of the challenges Pit Bull parents face… and even though it is Pit Bull Awareness Month and I mention that particular label quite a bit in this show, Pit Bulls are not the only dogs who get stereotyped. I’ve seen more than one rental property ad that listed Rottweilers and Dobermans and even German Shepherds as banned breeds. These dogs are thrown under the “dangerous” category, while other breeds are automatically labeled as “safe” or “friendly.” These stereotypes are accepted subconsciously by many of us – our conditioning simply a product of too much faith in the mass media, in my opinion anyway. But when you take a minute to think about it, dog breed stereotypes are just as ridiculous as labeling any one race of human as dangerous or safe. We are individuals and so are dogs. “Dogs are individuals.” I say that in quotes because I can’t take credit for this simple truth… I see it on bumper s

To access links to resources and see some photos submitted by our storyteller, please visit http://myrescuerocks.net/41.  I’m super excited about today’s show not just because it’s an amazing story, but also because we’re breaking the paw barrier with this episode, that’s right, no dogs or cats in today’s story… nope, today we have a story about saving piggies! Two weeks ago, Deb Ozarko shared her story with us, and our storyteller for today was actually her partner in crime in the puppy rescue she told us about. I also told you about her book, and one of the tear-jerkers inside, was a touching story, about a pivotal time in her partner’s life. This woman both stunned and inspired me with her impulsive nature… I was really intrigued about how she was able to practically flip a switch and change everything about her life. It wouldn’t have shocked me if she did it for money or fame… people chase these dreams anywhere… but no, today’s guest was changing her entire life for love and love alone. Love for herself,

Get the show notes at: http://myrescuerocks.net/40  It’s October, and that means it’s also Pit Bull awareness month, so we’re mixing it up a little bit! Instead of our regularly scheduled Q&U episodes, I thought it would be great to bring a couple of experts onto the show to talk about some of the issues that are near and dear to my heart.  If you’re new to this show you might not know that my soul mutt is a short-haired, stocky girl with droopy jowls and a block for a head. Her head might be big, but it’s tiny when you compare it to her heart. Ever since we adopted her I’ve been rudely awakened to the stereotypes that surround dogs that look like her, and some other breeds of dogs that have been classified as quote on quote dangerous. If you’ve ever struggled to find a place to live or an insurance company that would cover you because of your dog’s appearance or breed, this episode is going to give you resources and tactics that’ll help. There are even a few tips here that are gold for ALL dog parents… s

To access links to resources and see some photos submitted by our storyteller, please visit http://myrescuerocks.net/39. I’m so excited to introduce today’s storyteller, not only because of her fascinating and slightly shocking, story, but because she’s not afraid to follow her heart, like so many of us are, myself included. I actually have to thank Sean Howard, from episode 13, for introducing me to the Unplug Podcast, which is produced by today’s guest. He told me all about this compassionate rescue advocate he was friends with and so I listened to his interview on the Unplug Podcast first, and then I started binge listening to all the other shows. Looking back at my first impressions about this passionate lady, what really sticks out is how she said she’d never take on any sponsors for her show. To me, that was huge, and it made me instantly trust every word out of her mouth. As it turned out, around the same time that I started listening to her show, she was having a really hard time with the loss of her

To access links to resources and see some photos submitted by our storyteller, please visit http://myrescuerocks.net/38. As animal lovers we have all had our share of meeting distressed animals in the wild. This episode shares listener wild animal rescue stories as well as a few tips about when you should rescue and when you shouldn’t. There are a few other things I added in this off the cuff episode… but you’ll have to listen to find out what! To access links to resources, photos, and more, submitted by other listeners like you, please visit http://myrescuerocks.net/38.     Please help us spread our rescue stories by sharing this show with a friend, PAWlease, I’d really appreciate it!   You can also help out by subscribing, and leaving a rating and review on either iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks so much for your support!

To access links to resources and see some photos submitted by our storyteller, please visit http://myrescuerocks.net/37. Sean O’Daniels has been a concept artist for video games and movies for most of his artistic career. And, in case any of you are wondering what exactly a concept artist is, it’s basically a designer who creates the look and feel of environments and characters in movies and games. More recently, though, Sean’s work has evolved into something else, and his inspiration is, not surprisingly, his rescue dog, Rocky. Before we go any further I just have to tell you that Sean’s dog art is, not only beautiful, it’s fun too! His latest series is dubbed YappyHour and features dogs next to their owner’s favorite drinks. My favorite, is this little Chihuahua next to a cosmo… it’s actually titled cosmo if you want to look for it later in Sean’s store… But I’m getting ahead of myself, because none of this happened until Sean met Rocky… To access links to resources and see some photos submitted by our stor

To access links to resources and see some photos submitted by our storyteller, please visit http://myrescuerocks.net/36. The Q: What has your rescue pet trained you to do? We're always talking about how important training is to any successful pet relationship... because, as I'm sure many of you know, training issues are one of the top reasons pets (at leasts dogs and cats) are surrendered to shelters. As I'm sure you also know, training isn't just getting your pets to do what you want, it's a way to communicate with them so they can understand you... and many times the training roles end up getting reversed and our pets start training us! I’m grateful to have this episode of My Rescue Rocks co-hosted by adventurer, fellow rescue advocate, and fellow podcaster Britany Felix! We got so many great responses from all of you and it made for quite a hefty episode, so let’s get right to it, shall we? Here we go! To access links to resources, photos, and more, submitted by other listeners like you, please visit http:

To access links to resources and see some photos submitted by our storyteller, please visit http://myrescuerocks.net/35. As a storyteller, and an accidental journalist, it’s easy to find stories that grab me, but they don’t always fully satisfy my curiosity. Sometimes the stories I discover were never written down, and sometimes they’re just short online posts that just fill me up with more questions than they answer. When I found Seamus’s story, though, I soon realized that it was all already there, and there was really nothing I could do to make it any better, and why try? So today’s guest was willing to share his amazing story with us as it was first published on his blog, and I’m so grateful for this! I have to also just shout out Amy Dalton from episode 33 here too, because even though I didn’t mention it, she surprised me with a prepared story for her interview, and made me realize how nice it is to have it all laid out for me already. I have to say I’m feeling a little spoiled with how little editing I

To access links to resources and see some photos submitted by our storyteller, please visit http://myrescuerocks.net/34. The Q: What’s your biggest takeaway from becoming a rescue parent? What have you learned? Ever since I was first initiated into the rescue community it's been a non-stop learning experience. I'm so grateful for the many people who've taught me what's going on in the world AND for all the animals I've had the opportunity to meet and work with. I'm really excited to share what you've learned from your experience in the rescue world! I’m also thrilled to be sharing the mic with my season 3 co-host, Britany Felix, from the Living Unconventionally podcast. But before we get to our conversation I just wanted to rewind for a second, because I kind of threw Britany into the show without an explanation, and I totally meant to give you one. If you’ve been listening since the 1st episode you already know that I intended these Q&U episodes to be unedited and “conversational” which I’m saying in air

To access links to resources and see some photos submitted by our storyteller, please visit http://myrescuerocks.net/33. Our storyteller for today actually reached out to me by leaving a voicemail on the website, which reminds me, have I told you guys that you can do that?! If I did it was probably ages ago, because I don’t remember it. It’s actually pretty simple, especially if you’re on your phone more often than a computer, instead of typing up an email you just visit myrescuerocks.net/contact and scroll down past the contact form and click on the big green button that says start recording. You get 90 seconds to leave me a voicemail, you can even review the message before you hit send, it’s pretty cool! You can use this feature like today’s guest did, to give me the twitter version of your rescue story, if you’re interested in sharing it, you can also drop me a line to tell me what you think of the show, or to submit your response to any questions I put out there. You have 90 seconds, say whatever you want

To access links to resources, photos, and more, submitted by other listeners like you, please visit http://myrescuerocks.net/32. The Q: What do you do to de-stress from the hectic nature of rescue work? This is the 1st Q&U episode of season 3 and I have a little surprise for you… we have a co-host for the upcoming Q&U episodes in season 3! If you’ve been listening for awhile, you’ll recognize today’s co-host, Britney Felix, as our storyteller from episode 23, and that one’s called, Saving a Muttley Crew, when she told us all about how her favorite rescue ended up needing a rescuer! You might also remember that she was getting ready to quit her job, sell her house, and take off in an RV, on an adventure around the U.S. with her hubby and their 2 rescue dogs. Well they finally hit the road and I’ve been following the progress from the beginning on Britany’s podcast, Living Unconventionally. I thought her perspective would bring some fun new stories to the Q&U episodes and I think you’re going to agr

To access links to resources and see some photos submitted by our storyteller, please visit http://myrescuerocks.net/31. I can’t believe it’s August already, and that means two things, 1) season 3 is here! And 2) this podcast is officially 1 year old!  With a new year of stories ahead, My Rescue Rocks just got a new look to go with it! Have you noticed our new cover art for the show? A big thank you to Zach from podcastdesigner.com for that amazing birthday present! We’re kicking off season 3 in style! I know I’ve mentioned it before, but one of my favorite podcasts is NPR’s Snap Judgment, and it’s in a tiny, 5-minute story I heard over there, that I discovered today’s guest. That story was actually one of the inspirations that led me to create My Rescue Rocks; when I heard how one dog’s story actually changed laws that affected dogs across the US, I realized just how powerful stories could be. Have you ever heard of Daniel: The Miracle Beagle? If not, you still may have heard his infamous story of survival,

This question was shamelessly stolen from my rescue friends over on the west coast. Harold asked me this question once on his podcast and I thought it would make a fun episode… and he agreed! To access links to all that I mentioned in this show visit http://myrescuerocks.net/30.  Please help us spread our rescue stories by sharing this show with a friend, PAWlease, I’d really appreciate it! You can also help out by subscribing, and leaving a rating and review on either iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks so much for your support!

To access links to resources and see some photos submitted by our storyteller, please visit http://myrescuerocks.net/29. I found today’s guest, Kim Kavin, with a simple search at my local library. I searched “rescue dog” and a book popped up with the most adorable face on the cover. He had floppy ears, big brown eyes, and he was the same bluish brindle color that always fascinated me about my own dog. I checked out Little Boy Blue right away, and I knew, well before I had finished reading, that I would be getting in touch with Blue’s mom…  When I first contacted her this past summer, I really wanted to dig into Blue’s story here on the show, but what I didn’t know was that she was already fully immersed in her newest book, The Dog Merchants, and, naturally, that’s what she wanted to talk about. At 1st I wasn’t really sure that talking about Kim’s new book was something I wanted to do here. You guys know that I like to zoom in on the individual stories of our rescue pets, and with no central fur-figure in the

The Q: Are you a foster failure? If so, what made you foster fail? It’s the most joyful failure of all, and I know I’m not the only rescue chick that’s proud to have that failure under my belt! It’s not uncommon to fall in love when you bring an animal into your life. Sometimes we fall fast, other times it takes a little longer, but the only thing I’m sure about is that you can’t control love. Love happens with or without your consent. Thanks to all of you who shared the love stories behind your foster failures! To access links to the resources and photos mentioned in this episode, please visit http://myrescuerocks.net/28. Please help us spread our rescue stories by sharing this show with a friend, PAWlease, I’d really appreciate it! You can also help out by subscribing, and leaving a rating and review on either iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks so much for your support!

I met today’s guest when I first got involved with Pets Alive. Everyone was always praising this volunteer groomer who worked wonders on the dogs and I had to find out more. She was like this mystical creature to me, because, unlike most of the volunteers there, her work was usually done in her shop and so I never had the chance to meet her in person. So I stalked her on Facebook and asked her if I could take before and after photos of her at work, she seemed just as excited as I was, and soon enough I headed over to Flawless Paws Pet Grooming to meet her. I got to experience her love and patience for animals first hand for several hours that day and so I’m excited to be able to bring her to your ears today. This is Shay Roda and this is how her story began…  To access links to resources and see some photos submitted by our storyteller, please visit http://myrescuerocks.net/27. Please help us spread our rescue stories by sharing this show with a friend, PAWlease, I’d really appreciate it! You can also help ou

The Q: Who is your rescue role model? It can be anyone from a compassionate volunteer to a celebrity animal advocate. I was excited to ask this question, but I was even more excited when the answers started rolling in. I knew you are all great people doing wonderful things for animals, but it’s so nice to find out how supportive you are of each other! It was a pleasure to read your stories and share your favorite rescue advocates in this episode! To access links to all the role models we mentioned, who inspire other listeners like you, please visit http://myrescuerocks.net/26. Please help us spread our rescue stories by sharing this show with a friend, PAWlease, I’d really appreciate it! You can also help out by subscribing, and leaving a rating and review on either iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks so much for your support!