Paw 49: Giving Back to All Animals in the Hamptons
It’s Noah’s Ark on Rappaport to the Rescue, with this very special show featuring Cathy Bissell, who is being honored by South Hampton Animal Shelter, we’ll get wild with the new executive director Kathleen Mulcahy of the Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center and giddy up with Valerie Angeli from the Equus Foundation as we talk all about adoption day at the Hampton Classic this year.
Listen to Episode #49 Now:
BIO:
Cathy Bissell is part of the Bissell Homecare family founded in 1876 with a strong emphasis on the amazing vacuums we all love. Cathy’s mission and true heart love, however, is for helping shelter animals. She is the founder of the Bissell Pet Foundation with the mission to help reduce the number of animals in shelters through adoption, spay/neuter programs, microchipping and emergency support. Founded in 2011 by Cathy, BPF is an extension of her long-standing love for animals and commitment to their welfare. BPF has since partnered with 5,000 shelters and rescues across the U.S. and Canada to help pets find loving homes. The foundation is supported by generous donors and BISSELL Homecare, Inc where every purchase saves pets.
Kathleen Mulcahy
The Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center is pleased to announce the appointment of The Honorable Kathleen Mulcahy as its new Executive Director. With a wealth of experience and a passion for wildlife conservation, Ms. Mulcahy is poised to lead the organization to new heights in its mission to rehabilitate and protect wildlife.
Kathleen Mulcahy brings a diverse background to her role as Executive Director, with a proven track record in nonprofit management and a deep commitment to environmental stewardship. As Mayor of Sag Harbor, she created the first Environmental Advisory Committee in the history of the Village. Her recent experience with Fighting Chance, a cancer support non-profit, and previous experience with Guild Hall of East Hampton, gives Kathleen in-depth knowledge of the non-profit landscape on the East End. Her leadership style, characterized by innovation and a collaborative approach, is expected to bring fresh perspectives, and drive positive change within the organization.
The Board of Directors expressed enthusiasm about Ms. Mulcahy's appointment, citing her impressive professional background, strong leadership skills, and commitment to advancing the Wildlife Rescue Center's objectives.
Valerie Angeli has spent most of her career as a humane professional and spokesperson for animal welfare issues for large, national animal protection organizations.
She is currently is VP of Engagement and Special Projects for the EQUUS Foundation, the only national animal welfare charity in the United States that is 100 percent focused on horse welfare and supporting and celebrating the horse-human bond. She is also Director of Engagement for the brand new Long Island University College of Veterinary Medicine — one of only two Veterinary Colleges in New York state and one of only thirty one in the country — and where the welfare of animals in the learning process is paramount.
A lifelong animal welfare advocate and former equestrian and horse owner, Valerie has concentrated her career efforts on animal and equine protection and promoting and inspiring horse lovers to become horse protectors for America’s at-risk horses.
Inspired by her own animals during her lifetime, she is committed to making a difference in the treatment of all animals and how people view animal care and welfare.
She is based in the the New York City area and is well known for her constant sidekick best friend, DaVinci, a joyful and inspirational rescue dog who was a victim of unspeakable cruelty as a puppy and had sustained multiple leg, hip and rib fractures. Completely healed and healthy, DaVinci was the anti-cruelty spokes-dog for years for the large, national humane organization that saved him, and has appeared at numerous events and advocacy opportunities to lobby for animal welfare. He inspires animal rescue and adoption wherever he goes.
Valerie is also the owner of a love-able but dysfunctional, inherited Thoroughbred horse and the proud co-parent, along with her friend and fellow animal lover and rescuer, Georgina Bloomberg, of two mother and son cows rescued from slaughter in the nick of time.
Transcript:
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This is Pet Life Radio.
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Let's talk pets.
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Rappaport to the Rescue with award-winning animal advocate, Jill Rappaport.
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Hi, I'm Jill Rappaport, and welcome to Rappaport to the Rescue.
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We have a really great show for you today focusing on three wonderful organizations that are giving back to animals in need, especially in the Hamptons of summer.
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And I am involved with all three of these exciting events, and they are helping every animal under the sun, dogs, cats, horses, deer, birds, you name it.
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We're gonna be talking about it today.
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And first up, I'm going to be catching up with Cathy Bissell from Bissell Inc, also known as Bissell Home Care, who is now devoted her life to helping rescue animals.
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Then we will be talking to the new executive director of the incredible Wildlife Center in the Hamptons.
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And I'm emceeing that event this year, and this woman, Kathleen Mulcahy, is truly boots on the ground.
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You won't want to miss this.
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And our third guest in this wonderful show about giving back to animals in the Hamptons is my dear friend, Valerie Angeli from the Equus Foundation.
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Now, Valerie focuses on these wonderful horses, what we can do to save them, to help them, to get them adopted.
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And we do an event every year at the Hampton Classic, I'm sure you've heard me talk about it before, called Adoption Day.
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Of course, we will be doing it again.
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And Valerie is here to tell us about all the exciting things that will be part of this event this year.
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So please stay tuned to this show about giving back to animals and the Hamptons when we come back.
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Let's Talk Pets on PetLifeRadio.com Welcome back to Rappaport to the Rescue.
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Our first guest up today is Cathy Bissell from Bissell Inc.
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You know that name.
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Everybody probably has one of those vacuums, of course.
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And Cathy, who started in the family business and still continues to this day, really found her true life calling much later in life.
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And it had nothing to do with vacuums, although you definitely need them for your pets.
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It's all about animal welfare for her now.
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And Cathy, so great to have you on Rappaport to the Rescue.
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And I'm going to be seeing you this weekend at the Unconditional Love Event, South Hampton Animal Shelter Foundation, and they're honoring you.
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Tell us about the award that you're receiving.
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Well, I got this phone call saying I was awarded.
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I was so honored, honestly.
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It's really wonderful to be recognized by, we're in Michigan and we're all over the country as a foundation doing hard work.
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But when somebody calls you and says they wanna honor you, it is really, really a special feeling.
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I mean, we work hard and sometimes you don't feel like anybody notices what you're doing.
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And so to get this call was like, oh, just so heartwarming and wonderful.
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And it's such a great shelter.
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I've been working with them for years and started this campaign this year, a home for the holidays and a home for after the holidays.
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And what I love about you, Cathy, you've been a corporate girl for years, but we kind of started out on the same path.
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I was a fascia reporter, and I know you were too.
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And then we found our calling later in life, which really was all about saving animals in need.
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Yeah, you know, it's really funny.
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I actually wanted to be a vet when I was younger.
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I went to Michigan State, but I sucked in math, so I ended up going to BU, School of Communications for Journalism.
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Now look at you and look at what you've done.
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I say I've come full circle.
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So I went into fashion.
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I loved it.
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It was the best part of New York.
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You know, to be in fashion in New York was incredible.
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Worked for two very high-profile magazines, GQ and Harper's Bazaar.
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And then to come back to Michigan and get into animals.
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It's just, you know, full circle.
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And that's my hometown.
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I'm a Michigan girl too.
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But what's amazing is your life took a turn later in your 40s, and it was due to Hurricane Katrina.
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Yeah, it was.
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It was really interesting.
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I had never gone into a shelter, never wanted to go into a shelter because I loved animals so much.
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So the fact that Katrina had, and they asked me if I would help, you know, take some pictures of the dogs at the shelter, it was beautiful.
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And it changed my life.
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It really did.
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And it's so funny because our paths have crossed over in so many ways.
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When I created the show Dog Bowl for Animal Planet, and I had been doing Puppy Bowl, the rescue segments, you have sponsored that show for years.
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You've been involved with so many wonderful projects, always donating your time, your company's money, you have the Bissell Pet Foundation.
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It's unbelievable what you have turned your passion and your heartfelt desire into.
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It is true.
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I mean, it is all about passion.
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I think that people are the most successful when they're passion driven.
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And for sure the Bissell Pet Foundation was driven on passion and all of our love for pets.
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I mean, I think 89% of the people that work at our company are pet owners.
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So that's a high number and we have an open campus so you can bring your pets to work.
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And it's just a really great environment and it's morphed into that naturally.
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It wasn't something we did out of, you know, trying to be a company that's giving back.
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It was just the natural progression of making products that clean up after pets and realizing that a lot of people back in the day gave up their pets because they couldn't clean up the stains or didn't want to deal with them.
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Now that's nothing.
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I mean, that's so easy to do.
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You can have six pets like me and not feel any pain.
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Oh, you have a six rescue pack, Cathy.
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I love that.
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But what's truly amazing is how many animals the Bissell Pet Foundation has actually saved.
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Hundreds of thousands.
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Hundreds of thousands, yeah.
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Since our short time in 2011, and we started slow, but we do so much to save so many lives.
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It's really grown a lot and we grow out of need.
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When there's a need, it projects us into an area to make a difference.
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And this is your 13th anniversary.
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What is your desire?
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What's your dream?
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You say you've saved hundreds of thousands of animals, which in itself is just unbelievable to truly make that sort of a difference.
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During a time, and you know right now, Cathy, I'm seeing it day in and day out and talking to shelters.
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It's the worst it's been in decades.
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It's the worst it's been in a long time.
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So my dream would be to make sure that we can get every pet fixed, you know, spayed or neutered, so that we can cut down on populations and have rules for people and laws passed that protect animals because they deserve our protection.
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We're seeing so much cruelty out there right now.
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We're seeing an overabundance of pets.
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We're seeing struggling, you know, mothers with kittens and puppies and it's a bad time.
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And shelters are overcrowded right now.
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So we need to get our populations down.
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We need to focus on spay and neuter.
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The key thing, which, you know, wasn't happening during COVID.
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So now we're back full force trying to make that difference.
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And also I try to encourage people what we can do, what everybody can do.
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If it's donate $1 or become a foster, which is so crucial because you are the lifeline between hell and heaven.
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You're the middle man.
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And I tell people there's so much we can do.
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If you just take one element and go to your local shelter and say, okay, I can walk a dog for you.
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You know, I can foster a dog.
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Here's a dollar, whatever.
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We can make a difference.
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We can make a difference.
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And I love that between heaven and hell.
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You are so right.
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And fostering is crucial for so many of these pets with overcrowded shelters.
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The stress that these pets have.
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I mean, it's just so sad to see.
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I mean, some of them turn their backs on the people walking by because they've just had it.
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They're looking for a home, they're deserving.
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And not only are they stressed, but the shelters themselves are stressed right now because these people want the best for the animals in their care and they just can't find enough homes.
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That's where adoption really will change the game.
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Spay and neuter, adopt, foster.
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Really important, so important.
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And Cathy, I'm so excited to see you in my neck of the woods this weekend.
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Just love South Hampton Animal Shelter.
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They do so much great work.
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They have an open door policy and no animal is ever turned away.
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It's so special for me and I'm really looking forward to meeting everyone behind this wonderful shelter because they are doing great work.
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And people who, where I live in Michigan, there are a lot of people from the New York area and they've heard about me getting this award and they talk so much about this shelter, how much they love the shelter.
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This is their home state and they love South Hampton Shelter and what they do for the animals.
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So I'm very honored and really thrilled and can't wait to be there.
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And I'm sure this honor is going to bring in a lot of support to the shelter, which is what they need now more than ever.
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Cathy Bissell, you are an angel and I'm so thrilled to have you on the show today.
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Well, thank you for having me.
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And it's so nice to be on your show and to be connected with you because you are an amazing person and I love being around amazing people.
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Oh Cathy, thank you so much.
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And when we come back, we are getting wild.
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We will hear all about this wonderful organization to help the wildlife in the Hamptons.
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Let's talk pets.
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Welcome back to Rappaport to the Rescue.
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I'm Jill Rappaport.
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You know, one of the greatest things about living in the Hamptons is enjoying our beautiful wildlife.
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And there is an organization here, the only one of its kind on the East End, called the Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center, that is truly making a difference for all of our wildlife.
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And I am so thrilled to have on today the new executive director, Kathleen Mulcahy.
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So great to have you here, and so excited to be hosting and seeing your events.
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Kathleen Mulcahy: Well, we are so thrilled to have you at our event on August 2nd, we can't wait.
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Well, it's such an incredible organization.
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What you do is truly God's work.
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And it is unbelievable the scope of rescue and the animals that you take in, and the work that goes into what you do.
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And I know this is a relatively new job for you.
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You were the mayor of Sag Harbor.
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You are truly boots on the ground, Gayle.
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Tell us about this role and why you wanted to take this job at this time.
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You know, it's just so important as we develop and develop and develop out here and overdevelop the East End, the wildlife are just getting pushed and pushed and pushed.
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And unfortunately, they're getting pushed on the roads where they get hit by cars.
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They just don't have a habitat.
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And we see it in the animals that are coming in every day.
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So I'm very lucky.
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I'm in a position at this point where I can give back a little bit more.
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This is just one of the perfect places on Long Island to be giving back.
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So I love it.
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I learn so much every single day on how to protect our wildlife, which is one of the things that we really want to strengthen in our goals in general, the Wildlife Rescue Center.
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So that we don't have to rescue, so that people who find animals can help rescue them themselves and they can stay right where they belong in their neighborhood with their parents and their family and their friends and dear friends and everything else.
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Well, this statistics are truly daunting.
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Just reading about what you do in a given year, since January, I believe almost 1300 animals have been taken in to the wildlife.
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1400 today.
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1400 now, that's just since January.
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Yeah.
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The other statistic that blew me away that on any given day, you get between 750 and a thousand phone calls to help, to rescue, to go out, to save.
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We get ridiculous amounts of phone calls, but the great news is we have 100 volunteers out there.
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So we take those phone calls and we put them out to the right area and we are able to go and rescue the majority of the animals that we get calls about if they're within our area.
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It's so interesting that you say you have 100 volunteers.
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When you consider almost a thousand calls a day and you've helped 1,400 animals in just less than eight months, 100 volunteers seems very few, Kathleen.
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So one of the things with our calls is we get calls from all around the country.
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You know, when somebody puts in Wildlife Rescue, we are one of the top hits.
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So we get calls not only from all of Long Island, but all of New York and Connecticut.
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And often, I mean, I've taken calls from Chicago, from Dallas, from all over.
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So a lot of the things we handle right here on the phone with people before we even have to send somebody out.
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I want to share a story and I'm going to share it at the event too, but I have to tell my listeners what I've experienced with this wonderful organization.
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Just this year, I was driving home on a very cold winter day, icy streets, and it was just bitter, brutal outside.
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And I see this deer limping, barely able to walk in South Hampton, going from one part of the street into the woods and I went, he looked like he'd been hit by a car.
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So I immediately called your organization.
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A volunteer was on the phone with me within seconds and they said, where are you?
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I told them the general area and I said, but I don't think you're ever gonna find him.
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He was limping and he went off into the woods.
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She said, what's your phone number?
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She took it down.
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She said, we will get back to you when we find him.
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And I said, I love that, not if, when.
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And wouldn't you know that within an hour of that phone call, this unbelievable volunteer called me back and she said, Jill, well, we did find him.
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I know you'll be comforted to hear that.
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Unfortunately, he could not be saved.
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He had a broken back, but we were able to get him into our truck, a warm safe area and cover him with a soft blanket so that at the end he was comforted.
00:15:50.635 --> 00:15:58.215
And that's the whole reason people need to understand what you do, what this organization does is God's work.
00:15:58.275 --> 00:16:06.475
That made me feel so much better, even though the outcome was so sad, but look what they did for that animal in his last minutes of life.
00:16:06.895 --> 00:16:20.735
And that is, unfortunately, one of the things we do all too often is just comfort in the last few minutes of life because these animals are so severely injured and they just can't make it in the wild anymore.
00:16:20.795 --> 00:16:25.515
So we help them have a good end of life and move on.
00:16:25.655 --> 00:16:28.255
It's crushing, but we know we're helping.
00:16:28.255 --> 00:16:43.295
So even when we have to put an animal down for one reason or another, we know, or the animal dies because it was so severely injured on its own, we know that we helped a little bit and helped its end of life to be more comfortable.
00:16:43.555 --> 00:16:49.275
And what about what you do to save them at the rescue center with the birds and the prey?
00:16:49.295 --> 00:16:52.295
I mean, what comes in and what you've been able to accomplish?
00:16:52.635 --> 00:16:56.395
And the babies, we get so many babies, it's crazy.
00:16:56.415 --> 00:17:00.095
At one point we had about 37 raccoon babies in here.
00:17:00.495 --> 00:17:04.495
Every single one had to be hand fed every two hours.
00:17:04.775 --> 00:17:07.955
We have the raccoons, we have squirrels.
00:17:07.975 --> 00:17:12.235
We're just starting our second series of squirrels because squirrels have two litters.
00:17:12.815 --> 00:17:21.895
Until recently that wouldn't have happened till late August, but now all of climate is crazy and we're starting to see baby squirrels already in mid July.
00:17:22.175 --> 00:17:24.895
We have baby squirrels coming in, baby rabbits.
00:17:24.915 --> 00:17:28.635
I just saw a baby rabbit that it was no bigger than two inches.
00:17:28.855 --> 00:17:30.635
I've never seen something so small.
00:17:30.975 --> 00:17:40.815
And again, being hand fed and that won't be hand fed every hour on the hour until it's big enough to get released in about a month.
00:17:41.115 --> 00:17:46.555
Just hearing about what the work you do, it's just mind blowing and this costs money.
00:17:46.735 --> 00:17:51.575
Please talk to us about the costs of what you need to continue.
00:17:51.955 --> 00:17:56.815
We have a food budget that is astronomical and getting higher all the time.
00:17:57.535 --> 00:18:03.235
We are, thank God, supported in part by Wild By Nature here in Hampton Bays.
00:18:03.575 --> 00:18:11.495
They very generously, six days a week, give us their own produce, which has really helped our budget tremendously.
00:18:11.835 --> 00:18:20.255
But we still have a five, going on six figure food budget just to feed our animals on a regular basis.
00:18:20.275 --> 00:18:22.955
What about the medical, the expensive medicine?
00:18:23.335 --> 00:18:26.055
The medicine is crazy.
00:18:26.555 --> 00:18:36.195
That is another close to six figure budget of just medicine and to keep these animals alive, to keep them hydrated.
00:18:36.315 --> 00:18:47.295
A lot of seabirds come in with botulism because they've been eating lead off the bottom of the bays, lead fishing materials.
00:18:47.775 --> 00:18:52.055
So we have to give them antibiotics, but we can save these animals.
00:18:52.215 --> 00:19:02.655
We save swans and geese that come in with terrible breathing problems, their necks are twisted, and we can save them with antibiotics.
00:19:02.675 --> 00:19:08.295
So it's really remarkable what is doable if we have the resources to do it.
00:19:08.615 --> 00:19:23.275
Okay, and on that note, I wanna end with first of all thanking you for taking over and really making this organization the wonderful, unbelievable place that it is and continuing this life-saving work.
00:19:23.275 --> 00:19:31.135
And just tell people where they can donate, where they should send any donations or whatever they can do to help where you would like them to go.
00:19:31.155 --> 00:19:35.755
Sure, we would love you to go to wildliferescuecenter.org.
00:19:36.035 --> 00:19:40.695
We are the Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center in Hampton Bays.
00:19:41.075 --> 00:19:47.315
But if you go to wildliferescuecenter.org, you will see a donate button or a volunteer button.
00:19:47.575 --> 00:19:53.395
And really, we love your money, but we love your hard work as well.
00:19:53.395 --> 00:19:58.975
So, we do courses on how to rescue animals, how to work here in the hospital.
00:19:59.235 --> 00:20:00.055
We'll take it all.
00:20:01.175 --> 00:20:05.835
And Kathleen, you promised I could go out on a run with you, on a rescue run.
00:20:06.075 --> 00:20:12.295
We have an offspring who we're going to release at some point this week, and I'm gonna call you as soon as I know the time.
00:20:12.655 --> 00:20:18.755
We've seen a little baby turkey today in San Carver, if you want to join me with that late this afternoon.
00:20:19.315 --> 00:20:20.135
Oh, I love that.
00:20:20.155 --> 00:20:22.375
I have all my wild turkeys on my property.
00:20:22.395 --> 00:20:23.535
I might do that one.
00:20:24.695 --> 00:20:26.555
I'll go when I know when that is.
00:20:26.855 --> 00:20:31.735
And we'll see you on August 2nd at the South Hampton Arts Center at our Get Wild Gala.
00:20:32.015 --> 00:20:33.875
And tickets are still available for that.
00:20:33.895 --> 00:20:37.075
You can also find that at wildliferescuecenter.org.
00:20:37.355 --> 00:20:39.935
And that's a wonderful event, but yes.
00:20:39.955 --> 00:20:40.955
It'd be better now.
00:20:41.475 --> 00:20:42.775
Oh, thank you so much, Cathy.
00:20:42.795 --> 00:20:46.035
Well, thank you for all you do for the animals of the East End.
00:20:46.055 --> 00:20:49.095
You are remarkable, and Mark, thank you for starting this.
00:20:49.855 --> 00:20:51.855
And it's a great podcast.
00:20:51.875 --> 00:20:52.995
I love listening to it.
00:20:53.015 --> 00:20:55.115
I listen to it all the time on my way home from work.
00:20:55.355 --> 00:20:56.855
And we love you.
00:20:57.255 --> 00:21:00.215
Well, coming from you, that's a huge compliment, Kathleen.
00:21:00.235 --> 00:21:03.035
And hopefully I'll see you this afternoon on the turkey run.
00:21:04.555 --> 00:21:12.055
And when we come back, it's all about steeds in need, horse welfare, and the Hampton Classic Horse Show Adoption Day.
00:21:12.275 --> 00:21:12.995
Stay tuned.
00:21:15.915 --> 00:21:19.195
Hi, I'm Jenny Garth, and I am a lifelong animal lover.
00:21:19.415 --> 00:21:25.315
I grew up on a farm in Illinois and spent my life caring for horses and animals of all shapes and sizes.
00:21:25.675 --> 00:21:29.375
Your life can be forever changed too by adopting a shelter pet.
00:21:29.535 --> 00:21:37.655
It's not only the joy your new pet experiences when they find a loving home, but also the happiness you'll get from welcoming them into your life.
00:21:38.195 --> 00:21:42.415
The heroes at American Humane have been helping animals for more than 140 years.
00:21:43.035 --> 00:21:45.395
You can learn more at americanhumane.org.
00:22:01.649 --> 00:22:03.469
Welcome back to Rappaport to the Rescue.
00:22:03.469 --> 00:22:10.689
I'm Jill Rappaport, and our final guest today, my dear friend Valerie Angeli from the Equus Foundation.
00:22:10.709 --> 00:22:13.569
And Valerie, so great to have you on again.
00:22:13.649 --> 00:22:18.989
Every year, we get together to talk horses and adoption of horses.
00:22:19.049 --> 00:22:22.529
And we have our big event coming up at the Hampton Classic.
00:22:23.049 --> 00:22:23.809
Oh, we do.
00:22:23.829 --> 00:22:26.029
Jill, thank you so much for having me on.
00:22:26.049 --> 00:22:32.449
And thank you as always for all of the attention you give to horses at risk and all animals at risk.
00:22:32.449 --> 00:22:34.969
And this adoption day, I couldn't do without you.
00:22:34.989 --> 00:22:47.349
You've been part of it since the beginning and you helped me create it and help me be a voice for the horses behind the scenes that aren't getting the attention that the fancy show horses get it.
00:22:47.449 --> 00:22:55.309
At shows like the Hampton Classic, there are many, many, many, many thousands of horses across the country that need our help and need our voice.
00:22:55.829 --> 00:22:58.169
So thank you for being part of this again.
00:22:58.209 --> 00:22:59.349
I'm really excited.
00:22:59.829 --> 00:23:00.849
Oh, I'm so thrilled.
00:23:00.869 --> 00:23:02.569
What year are we in, Valerie?
00:23:02.589 --> 00:23:05.369
I was thinking back to our very first adoption day.
00:23:05.609 --> 00:23:07.469
Oh, gosh, don't make me remember.
00:23:08.609 --> 00:23:10.409
Is it 10, 11 years?
00:23:10.409 --> 00:23:11.489
Or maybe, I don't know.
00:23:11.649 --> 00:23:12.349
All off track.
00:23:12.369 --> 00:23:13.549
All off the line.
00:23:13.569 --> 00:23:14.369
Lost track.
00:23:14.789 --> 00:23:19.409
But you hear it gets better and so do you in helping me with this.
00:23:19.429 --> 00:23:23.789
And of course, it's sponsored by Georgina Bloomberg, top international rider.
00:23:24.229 --> 00:23:28.009
And it's about dogs and cats getting adopted that day too.
00:23:28.369 --> 00:23:29.289
Which we love.
00:23:29.569 --> 00:23:36.849
But the Equus Foundation loves that we get to take the lead on organizing the adoptable horses that come.
00:23:37.289 --> 00:23:38.489
And also the messaging.
00:23:38.509 --> 00:23:41.149
It's not just adoption of horses that day.
00:23:41.189 --> 00:23:44.069
It's about learning why horses are at risk.
00:23:44.569 --> 00:23:48.489
Why they need help in transition and options for them.
00:23:48.949 --> 00:23:51.209
So, you know, we always say adopt, don't shop.
00:23:51.289 --> 00:23:52.069
Absolutely.
00:23:52.089 --> 00:23:56.809
But let's, you know, let's all help horses in any way we can, even if we can adopt.
00:23:56.849 --> 00:24:02.489
And you'll learn how at our event this year, which is August 26th, Monday.
00:24:02.509 --> 00:24:06.649
This year, we're in the Big Fancy Grand Prix ring, something new, Jill.
00:24:07.069 --> 00:24:12.549
And where it's from 130 to three with adoptable horses from Rising Star Horse Rescue.
00:24:13.349 --> 00:24:20.609
And we'll have our Guardian Charities Endeavor Therapeutic Horsemanship, the Equus Effect from Sharon, Connecticut.
00:24:20.889 --> 00:24:28.969
They're all gonna talk about how to donate a horse for therapy purposes, for first responders and physical therapy.
00:24:28.989 --> 00:24:36.249
Horses are therapists, as well as athletes and our friends, and they can do so much so they need second chances.
00:24:36.269 --> 00:24:38.169
They need homes and they need options.
00:24:38.449 --> 00:24:42.169
This is an event about options for horses transitioning as well.
00:24:42.529 --> 00:24:49.789
And repurposing, you know, people don't really understand and when they hear what you do and what you've created, they're thinking, wow, this is so great.
00:24:50.129 --> 00:24:56.109
I might have had a show horse, but now they can have a whole new life, even be a companion horse.
00:24:56.369 --> 00:24:58.289
It doesn't matter, they have purpose.
00:24:58.729 --> 00:24:59.669
Absolutely.
00:24:59.769 --> 00:25:13.189
And you know, when you go to a horse show and you think how beautiful, look at these gorgeous horses and they are gorgeous, but then you think if they can't jump that fence anymore or the person riding them retires or goes to college or whatever, then what?
00:25:13.329 --> 00:25:22.529
You know, we don't think about the then what and that's, you know, every single horse is at risk of abuse, neglect and potentially even slaughter.
00:25:22.549 --> 00:25:24.789
I hate to say it, but it's true.
00:25:24.889 --> 00:25:30.249
You know, they're all one unfortunate or non decision away from risk.
00:25:30.449 --> 00:25:35.649
They're big, expensive, sensitive creatures and we need to step up and have options for them.
00:25:36.069 --> 00:25:55.249
So this is a joyful, positive event that's all about options and solutions and you're gonna be dazzled by Mary Elena Moran who is a mounted officer and she's also a horse trainer that rescues horses from slaughter and turns them into police horses and therapy horses.
00:25:55.709 --> 00:25:59.309
And some of them are Mustangs, formerly wild Mustangs.
00:25:59.749 --> 00:26:06.369
Some of them are draft horses that used to pull carts and they were dumped at auction and they were about to lose their lives at slaughter.
00:26:06.789 --> 00:26:11.429
So she believes that every horse needs a chance and so do we, they're all champions.
00:26:11.489 --> 00:26:13.829
You know, if we just give them a chance.
00:26:14.209 --> 00:26:30.689
So this is our day to make horses shine and be their voice as you do so well in helping us interview all the people that are on the front lines of horse rescue and repurposing, retraining, rehoming and giving horses the options they need.
00:26:31.129 --> 00:26:41.369
Well, it's such an amazing event and when people come, they are truly blown away when they see the horses from Rising Star and they think, wait a minute, that horse is up for adoption.
00:26:41.629 --> 00:26:46.009
That horse looks like a contender in this unbelievable horse show.
00:26:46.409 --> 00:26:55.229
And for very low cost, you can actually adopt one of these gorgeous majestic animals and give them a second chance for a new life.
00:26:55.249 --> 00:27:00.969
And that's what I love about this event because the backdrop is quite different for what the cause is.
00:27:01.449 --> 00:27:03.049
Exactly, exactly.
00:27:03.089 --> 00:27:05.309
And you know, what you said is exactly true.
00:27:05.309 --> 00:27:11.489
Some of these horses were fancy show horses that just lost their owner and were in a bad place.
00:27:11.529 --> 00:27:13.529
You know, again, horses are expensive.
00:27:13.549 --> 00:27:17.229
People can fall on hard times and not be able to afford their horse.
00:27:17.669 --> 00:27:19.789
So that's where rescues step in.
00:27:19.809 --> 00:27:22.349
And they do get fancy horses.
00:27:22.369 --> 00:27:30.109
There are gorgeous drop dead thoroughbreds, quarter horses, ponies of all kinds that are available through rescues.
00:27:30.529 --> 00:27:42.929
And the beautiful thing about adopting from a rescue is once you adopt from a rescue group, you make room for another horse that was probably slaughter bound or is suffering in the wing somewhere that's desperate for a lifeline.
00:27:43.389 --> 00:27:46.309
You know, so you're kind of saving two when you save one.
00:27:46.949 --> 00:27:48.089
And we love that.
00:27:48.109 --> 00:27:50.649
And the same with dogs and cats, as you well know.
00:27:50.669 --> 00:27:53.589
You know, you're the biggest shelter animal advocate.
00:27:54.049 --> 00:27:57.229
You know, we all have to work together and give animals a second chance.
00:27:57.249 --> 00:28:00.389
They do so much for us and they give us so much.
00:28:00.709 --> 00:28:02.509
We owe them that too, right?
00:28:02.509 --> 00:28:03.709
And that's what you always say.
00:28:03.949 --> 00:28:11.389
Well, Valerie, on a final note, first of all, you've devoted your whole life to animal rescue and the Equus Foundation is so unbelievable.
00:28:11.709 --> 00:28:24.029
Tell us where people can give back because this is an incredibly expensive endeavor and this foundation spends a ton of money to save these animals and a ton of time and volunteers.
00:28:24.329 --> 00:28:27.269
Tell people where they can go to donate to make a difference.
00:28:27.409 --> 00:28:31.469
Yes, and thank you so much because we can't do it without donations.
00:28:31.489 --> 00:28:56.089
I mean, we are a foundation that basically supports reputable and I stress reputable because the founder, Lynn Coakley, came up with a unique system where every organization we give to and support is thoroughly screened and does not get a grant from us unless they pass our qualifications because nobody wants to fund a charity that is bad and we've all done that by accident.
00:28:56.329 --> 00:28:58.849
And this is our way of making sure that doesn't happen.
00:28:58.869 --> 00:29:02.449
So equusfoundation.org is our website.
00:29:02.469 --> 00:29:14.869
You can donate there and we guarantee you that every dollar we get goes right back into our grants program that supports rescues, retraining, rehoming.
00:29:15.169 --> 00:29:17.309
We want to encourage vet students.
00:29:17.309 --> 00:29:19.349
We want to encourage vet techs.
00:29:19.709 --> 00:29:28.289
There are so many careers with horses that need people and we want to encourage that because horses are out there and they need help.
00:29:28.449 --> 00:29:36.229
And so we actually give grants to students that are studying for vet programs that have to do with helping horses.
00:29:36.589 --> 00:29:46.889
We're kind of one-stop shopping for the horse lover and the only charity that's 100% focused on helping horses and the horse-human bond in the United States.
00:29:46.909 --> 00:29:50.969
So if you love horses, our hashtag is for the love of horses.
00:29:51.069 --> 00:29:55.089
Please join us, support us and just be our voice.
00:29:55.669 --> 00:30:01.709
You can be a keyboard warrior and just help us network horses that need homes if you can't adopt.
00:30:01.749 --> 00:30:05.169
But there's so much you can do and we'd love to engage you in doing it.
00:30:05.309 --> 00:30:09.809
Well, Valerie, you are a true powerhouse voice for horses in need.
00:30:10.029 --> 00:30:12.349
Thank you again for being my guest.
00:30:13.309 --> 00:30:18.669
And Equus is doing just an amazing job to truly save these lives.
00:30:18.689 --> 00:30:20.289
So thank you so much for that.
00:30:20.309 --> 00:30:25.389
And I can't wait to see you at the end of August at the Hampton Classic Adoption Day.
00:30:25.409 --> 00:30:26.529
I know, I know.
00:30:26.549 --> 00:30:30.389
We have so much fun every year and you are so awesome and you're so inspiring.
00:30:30.409 --> 00:30:32.349
Thank you so, so much for all you do.
00:30:32.869 --> 00:30:40.909
And I want to thank all of you for tuning in today for this very special Giving Back to Animals in the Hamptons podcast.
00:30:41.489 --> 00:30:44.749
You can make a difference and please do it now.
00:30:45.509 --> 00:30:48.489
Let's talk pets every week on demand.
00:30:49.349 --> 00:30:51.509
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