Self-Care and Supporting Women in Rescue with Cynthia Sweet

08/24/22 • 68 min

Working in animal welfare and animal rescue can be incredibly taxing. Not only is it hard work, but it’s emotionally and mentally draining as well. You’re exposed to upsetting situations that effect both animals and people and it can take a toll on you. You're on call 24/7. So how do rescuers continue doing the important work they do?

Cynthia Sweet, founder of Sweet Paws rescue, a nonprofit in Massachusetts, joins the show today to discuss how the fallout after a pandemic caused an uptick in surrendered animals, how she aims to address the root of the overpopulation problem through teamwork and partnership with other rescue women, and how she strives to find balance. Sweet Paws focuses on supporting animals in two of the poorest counties in Mississippi and Alabama, transporting dogs and cats who don't have a chance locally to their neck of the woods up north where happy homes await. We talk about how different parts of the country experience different issues for animals, how she deals with the sadness of her work, and how she keeps going despite the hardships. It's the good people. It's the good stories. She focuses on those.

If you’re interested in getting involved in the animal rescue scene or perhaps even starting your own, this episode is for you. Tune in and hear Katya, Jenny, and Cynthia laugh and cry as they go over the importance of self-care, compassion, and community support, while remaining aware of intercultural relations and constant need in the world of animal welfare.

Join The Animal That Changed You community on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook -- we're waiting to welcome you! Feel free to check out the website while you're at it.
Please leave a rating or review of the show. Your support matters so much!
Feel free to call ‪(415) 787-3159 to leave a short story about the animal who changed you - we might play yours on our next episode!
Woof, meow, oink, moo, cheep (of course, you know that means thanks for listening.)

Produced by Adode Media; a full-service podcast production agency.

Produced by Adode Media; a full-service podcast production agency.

Previous Episode

The Complicated Street Dog Crisis in Cleveland, Texas

Buckle up, friends. Today’s episode is a bumpy ride. Jenny and Katya get deep discussing the trip Jenny took with her board member Megan to Cleveland, Texas. What they witnessed there was upsetting to say the least. Stray dogs. Suffering animals. People in need. We want to take this opportunity to share the experience and talk it out with you in terms of what it means for the community. In terms of how we might be able to help no matter where we are.

It's complicated, the street dog crisis in Cleveland, Texas. Some of the animals are homeless, some dogs have families but are free to roam around and are sadly not in the best shape. But Katya and Jenny debate whether street dogs are better off than shelter dogs - a question that we can’t answer with full certainty as one group struggles openly and another behind bars. The thing is people and pets are always connected - animals need humans but humans also need animals. The dogs of Cleveland, Texas are intertwined with the community, with the people who live there and love them or don't. They carry their stories, they are part of those stories. And how the story will end is up to the support this area gets.

We wrap up this episode by opening the floor to you, by calling out for your ideas. Tune in, chime in, and share your thoughts on what we can do to address the stray dog crisis in Cleveland. Let's help humans and animals anywhere, everywhere, because the truth is their stories aren't separate from ours. It's the same book we're all part of.
Join The Animal That Changed You community on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook -- we're waiting to welcome you! Feel free to check out the website while you're at it.
Please leave a rating or review of the show. Your support matters so much!
Feel free to call ‪(415) 787-3159 to leave a short story about the animal who changed you - we might play yours on our next episode!
Woof, meow, oink, moo, cheep (of course, you know that means thanks for listening.)

Produced by Adode Media; a full-service podcast production agency.

Next Episode

Cultivating Compassion and Supporting Animal Welfare Workers with Jessica Dolce

Compassion fatigue is a real thing. Especially in the animal welfare industry, especially for those who feel and give with their whole hearts. And it isn’t talked about nearly enough. That's why we’re so excited to have Jessica Dolce here, a compassion fatigue educator and coach with incredible experience and an incredible mission.

In today’s episode, Jessica shares how she got started supporting people struggling with compassion fatigue precisely because of how deeply she had felt it herself. She emphasizes the importance of self-care, reducing stress, and finding satisfaction in your work so that you can make an impact but also be well while you do it. We discuss the complexities of uncertainty and why it’s essential to invest in supportive services for professionals in the animal welfare space so that longevity and overall health aren’t lost along their way.

If you want to learn how you can cultivate more compassion for yourself in the face of difficult situations, if you want to manage how much you care so that you can actually do more to help animals in the long run, then this episode is for you. Tune in as Jessica, Katya and Jenny go deep into a conversation that will bring you closer to your own resilience.
Join The Animal That Changed You community on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook -- we're waiting to welcome you! Feel free to check out the website while you're at it.
Please leave a rating or review of the show. Your support matters so much!
Feel free to call ‪(415) 787-3159 to leave a short story about the animal who changed you - we might play yours on our next episode!
Woof, meow, oink, moo, cheep (of course, you know that means thanks for listening.)

Produced by Adode Media; a full-service podcast production agency.