This week we invite you to tune in and listen to our stream of consciousness as we try to work through some of the harder conversations surrounding pedigrees and breeds! We want to remind people that we always tell you what we absolutely know, and then we tell you what we don't know but think or have opinions on.

As we dive into different perspectives on issues like registries, doodles, and consumers, please remember that we bring these issues up and talk through them so we can all continue to be the best advocates that we can be for dogs in every kind of situation.

Also, Kristen pretends that she is above being trendy. But even she bought our latest shirt... Have you? The sale ends Friday: https://www.bonfire.com/bailing-out-benji-1/

This week Alexis and Mindi chat with Rosie, our part-time assistant research analyst! On top of working 911 dispatch in Des Moines, Iowa and monitoring USDA records for our team, Rosie volunteers for two Shiba Inu rescues. Listen as we talk about rescue missions, creeping from the road, and the heartbreaking side of getting discarded dogs from puppy mills. Rosie also shares her perspective on our field research and how it challenged her to evolve how she works to end this inhumane industry.

In this episode we feature Kita, a former mama shiba that has been looking for her forever home for too long. Click this link to learn more about Kita and consider opening your home to this independent lady: https://www.petfinder.com/dog/kita-90486212-1f00-4781-bfd8-79a2ddd9a1ff/ia/bondurant/shiba-inu-rescue-association-il484/details/

The words we use every day matter. They shape perception, they influence behavior, and they have the power to tear someone down or build them up. After taking the time to reflect on puppy mill advocacy and the language we use, our team sat down and started writing down the different ways our own terminology has evolved over the last few years. Join Mindi and Kristen this week as they chat through some of these language changes and then reach out to us to share your thoughts!

And Mindi did meet her own challenge! You can read some of these language changes online here: https://bailingoutbenji.com/rethinking-puppy-mill-messaging/

In today’s brief episode, we’re pausing our regular programming to acknowledge the heaviness that so many of us are carrying. At Bailing Out Benji, our work is rooted in research, accountability, and protecting dogs and their families from harm, but today we’re showing up as people before we show up as advocates.

This raw episode is a reminder to breathe, to step back if you need to, and to give yourself permission to rest in a world that too often feels relentless. You don’t need to have the right words, the right politics, or the right energy to listen, only your humanity.

What if the way we talk about animal welfare is just as important as the policies we fight for?

In this episode, we’re joined by Hanna Lentz from SPARC for a candid and necessary conversation about the messaging that happens in the animal welfare world. How everything we say shapes public perception and affects real-world outcomes for animals and the people who love them.

We dig into our everyday interactions with the public- the moments that build trust, the moments that shut people down, and the unintended ripples (both positive and negative) that follow our words long after the conversation ends. From advocacy burnout to public backlash to unexpected allies, this episode explores how tone, framing, and empathy can either move people toward change or push them further away.

Thank you for joining us again this week and for being with us on this journey!

To learn more about SPARC visit: https://www.sparcinsight.org/

This week's episode was recorded back in November, but the sentiment remains the same! The times are changing and we are excited to be leading the charge.

Sit with Alexis, Kristen, and Mindi as they chat about a few conferences they attended at the end of last year and how the vibe is evolving among advocates. More people are seeing the importance of laying down the swords and working together to create change for animals and the people who love them. Civil discourse with people who don't act like you or think like you is what challenges us all to grow and we are excited to continue using our skills to build a new path.

Thank you for being on the journey with us!

HAPPY NEW YEAR and welcome back to Truth, Lies, and Puppy Mills! Join Alexis, Jalaine, Kristen, and Mindi this week as we chat about the impact that we had in 2025 and what our goals are for 2026. With an amazing volunteer team and a world of support, we are ready to be an even more effective voice for all the dogs, cats, and consumers out there. Thank you for being a part of this journey!

Happy Wednesday and thank you for joining us for another week of "Truth, Lies, and Puppy Mills!" Tune in to this very short episode to hear why we are taking a little break from recording and when to expect us back!

If you have ever learned from us or from this show, please consider sending a year-end donation over to help us continue our work!

https://bailingoutbenji.com/donate/