The Lifeline Podcast: Pet Lifesaving

This episode explores the barriers to adopting large dogs such as size and breed bias, apartment and breed restrictions, high veterinary and prevention costs, and limited foster support. We cover how Lifeline of Galveston County is using out‑of‑state placements, adoption events, and community partnerships to get long‑stay dogs into homes.

Hosts discuss heartworm challenges, the need for affordable veterinary care and spay/neuter pr...

Hosts Caroline and Paula from Lifeline of Galveston County discuss the philosophy and practice of open adoptions: reducing barriers so more pets find homes, accepting returns without judgment, and focusing on long-term care.

They share data about stray animals and shelter limits, explain why bilingual services matter, and tell how Spanish-language communication helped in a complex case (Austin) to reach the best outcome for the dog...

Join Caroline and Kate from Lifeline of Galveston County as they return to the podcast from their cat cafe room to recap 2025. From viral social posts that led to adoptions to lessons learned about simplicity, trends versus storytelling, and the emotional rewards of rescue work, they share successes like kitten rescues, adoption updates, and the impact of social media on saving lives.

Listen in for behind-the-scenes insights on con...

In this powerful episode of The Lifeline Podcast, Caroline sits down with Lakeisha and Vivian from Best Friends Animal Society’s Houston Team to explore how real change happens in animal welfare from the inside out. 🚨

Get an unfiltered look into what it takes to build life-saving programs, partner with local shelters, and move entire communities toward the No Kill 90% benchmark. From navigating politics and policy to mobilizing vo...

In this must-listen episode of the Lifeline Podcast, we sit down with Ashley, Animal Control Supervisor for Friendswood Animal Control, and Marcy, founder and Executive Director of Friendswood Animal Needs and Solutions (F.A.N.S.). Discover how this dynamic duo is transforming animal welfare in Friendswood through cutting-edge microchipping programs, deep community engagement, and innovative city-nonprofit partnerships.

You'll hear...

In this inspiring episode of The Lifeline Podcast, Caroline sits down with Jennifer Jones—co-founder of Lifeline of Galveston County—for a heartfelt conversation about how a small idea turned into a lifesaving nonprofit. 🐾

You’ll hear never-before-shared stories about Lifeline’s humble beginnings, including how Jennifer and her daughter helped design the very first logo, and how the name “Lifeline” was chosen. Jennifer also opens ...

In this inspiring episode of The Lifeline Podcast, we sit down with Paulina, a former zookeeper turned full-time animal care technician at Lifeline of Galveston County. With a background in zoological management and a heart for rescue, Paulina brings a fresh perspective to the front lines of animal welfare.

🎧 Tune in as we explore:

• How trust is the true currency in animal training and care

• Why fostering and fast adoptions ...

In this powerful episode of The Lifeline Podcast, we sit down with Amy and Leah—dedicated animal control officers serving the City of Dickinson & Bayou Animal Services. With backgrounds in animal sheltering and boarding facilities, these two women share their transition into the world of municipal animal control and what it truly takes to protect both animals and communities.

🐾 Discover how training, education, and community o...

In this inspiring episode of The Lifeline Podcast, we sit down with Natalie Fox Maisel, a dedicated animal welfare advocate and volunteer with Galveston Island Humane Society, who has fostered over 65 dogs in just two years.

Fox shares her incredible journey into the world of animal rescue, offering behind-the-scenes stories of emergency rescues, the unique challenges of fostering large breed dogs, and the day-to-day realities of m...

🐾 In this episode of The Lifeline Podcast, we sit down with Howard Haskell, founder of Sea Dog Inn Pet Resort and the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Sea Dog Saves, to explore the incredible story of a pet boarding facility that’s been quietly saving lives for over 30 years.

What started in 1992 as a small hobby kennel in League City, Texas, has grown into one of the largest pet boarding facilities in the area — and a lifeline for local rescu...

In this episode of the Lifeline podcast, we delve into the inspiring journey of Kim Schoolcraft, the board chair for Lifeline of Galveston County and former animal shelter manager of League City Animal Control. Join us as Kim shares her transition from a police officer to a leading figure in animal welfare, spearheading two municipal shelters and advocating for transparency and change. Discover the challenges and triumphs in shifti...

Welcome back to the Lifeline Podcast, where this episode features Andi Tavarez, an inspiring foster mom and volunteer. Join us as we dive into Andi's remarkable journey in animal rescue, showcasing her dedication to saving lives. Hear about Texas, a foster kitten who made a miraculous recovery thanks to Andi's unwavering commitment. Through bottle feeding, tube feeding, and lots of love, Texas went from the brink of death to a thri...

In this powerful episode of the Lifeline Podcast, we sit down with Tiffany Hill, founder and force behind SNIP of League City—the Spay-Neuter Initiative Program that's making waves in Galveston County animal welfare.

Tiffany shares her inspiring journey from devoted animal advocate to launching a lifesaving program rooted in her experience with a dog named Chip. What began as a personal mission evolved into a transformative initiat...

Join us for an eye-opening episode of The Lifeline Podcast, where we sit down with Nina Baker, Shelter Manager at Bayou Animal Services in Dickinson, TX, a municipal shelter and one of our partner organizations. Alongside host Caroline McKenna, Executive Director of Lifeline of Galveston County, we dive into what it truly takes to run a high-performing animal shelter and save lives every day. From managing daily chaos to implementi...

In this episode of The Lifeline Podcast, host Caroline McKenna sits down with Kathy Aven, Lifeline’s dedicated Foster Coordinator and Board Member, to discuss the reality of fostering neonatal kittens, the challenges of animal rescue, and the incredible impact of fostering on pets and people alike.

🐱 Topics covered in this episode: ✅ The challenges and rewards of fostering neonatal kittens 🍼 ✅ The high mortality rate of orphaned ...

Welcome to the transformative journey of Three Little Pitties Rescue, where passion meets action. In this episode, we explore how a simple volunteer effort blossomed into saving over 16,000 animals since 2018. Alayna, the heart behind this massive rescue operation, shares the challenges and triumphs of scaling a small hobby into a high-impact organization.

Dive deep into the importance of building a robust infrastructure and the st...

In this episode of the Lifeline Podcast, we are excited to host Chiquita Taylor from Fix Your Pet Community Outreach. Join us as we explore the incredible work Fix Your Pet is doing to tackle the problem of animal overpopulation in a compassionate and effective way. From subsidized spay and neuter clinics to innovative programs like Traps to Laps and Pregnant Feline Hotline, discover how they are making a positive impact in the com...

In this inaugural episode, join Jade and Caroline as they introduce their organization, Lifeline of Galveston County, a dedicated nonprofit committed to preventing the euthanization of shelter animals due to space. They dive into their personal journeys and share how their passion for animals has shaped their lives and careers. Learn about the challenges and triumphs in animal rescue, featuring heartwarming stories like Tessa's, a ...