Episode 75

full
Published on:

9th Dec 2024

Veterinary Communication in a Multi-Cultural World with guest Mia Navedo-Williams

Are you successful at reaching your clients, donors, or adopters? We do not have a single audience, and our message has to be directed towards a multitude of individuals if we want to make a difference in the lives of animals. This is not always an easy task, but it is not an impossible one either.

To help us learn the different ways in which we can reach our audience, and the importance of understanding the community in which we live in, Dr. G has invited Mia Navedo-Williams to discuss marketing and communications in multi-cultural environments.

While the first thought, and a main focus of this episode, is individuals with language barriers, cultural diversity is much more than that, and includes socioeconomics, geography, and education. This episode will help you reach out beyond the walls of your clinic and shelter to your community, where you can make the biggest difference.

Please help us by rating and sharing! Together, we make a difference in the lives of animals and the people who care for them.

Mentioned in this episode:

10% off Tomahawk products

Use keyword keepithumane at checkout at livetrap.com

Keep it Humane Podcast Network

The Animal Welfare Junction is part of the Keep It Humane Podcast Network. Visit keepithumane.com/podcastnetwork to find us and our amazing animal welfare podcast partners.

Transcript
DrG:

Hi, and welcome to the Animal Welfare Junction.

2

:

This is your host, Dr.

3

:

G, and our music is written

and produced by Mike Sullivan.

4

:

Today's guest is a very special

friend of mine from Puerto Rico

5

:

originally, Mia Nevedo Williams,

VP of Marketing and Communications.

6

:

Thank you for being here

and welcome to the Junction.

7

:

Mia Navedo-Williams: Thank

you for having me, Dr.

8

:

G.

9

:

DrG: So let's start with what got

you involved in animal sheltering

10

:

and animal issues and kind of

how your previous experiences

11

:

brought you to where you are today.

12

:

Mia Navedo-Williams: Okay.

13

:

That's like, you know,

opening Pandora's box here.

14

:

So, um, I will try to make it as brief

as possible, but I think, you know,

15

:

me by now I'm really bad at brief.

16

:

Um, so I.

17

:

Um, like you, um, you know, came

to the U S from Puerto Rico.

18

:

And when I came here,

I was eight years old.

19

:

And even though, you know, I had seen

strays, I had seen, um, dogs as pets

20

:

in Puerto Rico, though, the less so,

um, when I came here and I, I didn't

21

:

know the language, I didn't have

friends, my family, um, was still

22

:

back in Puerto Rico, the thing I asked

my parents was, could I have a pet?

23

:

Specifically, could I have a dog and,

you know, even thinking back on it now,

24

:

it surprises me because I didn't really

have, you know, a pet in Puerto Rico.

25

:

I had only seen that and seen that

connection, um, between people and

26

:

definitely had this empathy towards

the dogs on the street, but not knowing

27

:

exactly how to make that connection.

28

:

So, um, my parents definitely gave in.

29

:

Um, I think they felt a lot of

guilt, um, you know, kind of

30

:

transplanting me somewhere new.

31

:

And so I got a dog and I loved this dog.

32

:

My family loved this dog.

33

:

Um, I think my mom loved the dog the most.

34

:

And, um, looking back, you know, when

I was in college, my dog passed away.

35

:

And at that time I had begun

learning more about animals.

36

:

Um, I had a roommate that brought in a

cat that, you know, just kind of happened.

37

:

into our, into our house

and became our pet.

38

:

And it was then that I started

reflecting on, you know, how

39

:

I, how we treated our pet.

40

:

And, you know, we loved our dog, um,

but we didn't spay and neuter him and

41

:

he lived most of his life outside.

42

:

And so looking back, I had, I

had tremendous guilt about that.

43

:

Um, as I went on to, you know, have my

own dogs, it weighed even heavier on me.

44

:

So when I had the opportunity to

volunteer and, um, I just, you

45

:

know, just by chance, I don't know.

46

:

I mean, Mary, maybe it was serendipitous,

but it was like, I became friends with

47

:

a veterinarian, um, in Kansas city.

48

:

And I began, um, volunteering

on the weekends, um, to help her

49

:

just, you know, do everyday things.

50

:

I, I really wanted to learn more.

51

:

She noticed she was getting an increase

in Spanish speaking population.

52

:

So it was really helpful when I

was there to be able to translate.

53

:

And that's when I realized that,

you know, we only had 15 minutes

54

:

with this client sometimes.

55

:

I mean, You don't have a lot

of time, especially if they're

56

:

coming for a very specific thing.

57

:

And I went all over looking for

information in Spanish, looking

58

:

for something to give them.

59

:

So when they left, they would have

some sort of information to look back

60

:

on, to read about, and potentially,

you know, call us back and ask us.

61

:

But I couldn't find anything.

62

:

I really could not find anything.

63

:

That was, you know, worthwhile.

64

:

I think I found one page on

the ASPCA site at that time.

65

:

And that's all I had, but I

printed out everything I could.

66

:

And that's when I realized,

wow, there's a big gap.

67

:

There's a big gap here in, in getting

information to a community that's

68

:

growing and growing around us in

an area that normally we didn't

69

:

see, you know, another language.

70

:

Um, and so I did reach out to a couple

of people, um, locally who were,

71

:

you know, working within shelters.

72

:

I.

73

:

Um, I had gone to, uh, the University

of Missouri, um, and gotten a degree

74

:

in journalism and just so happened

to, uh, graduate with somebody that

75

:

actually did go into sheltering.

76

:

And, um, and so I, I talked to him

and I was like, gosh, we really

77

:

need more Spanish communication.

78

:

We really need to do more outreach.

79

:

Um, but I was in the for profit space.

80

:

Um, I was a single mom and there

was no way I could afford to

81

:

switch over to animal welfare.

82

:

And, you know, and do this full time and

I didn't even know how I would even go

83

:

about connecting to animal welfare right.

84

:

Since we are in animal welfare, we,

85

:

I think we assume that it's a very

easy thing to find and it's not.

86

:

Um, you really have to be looking

for, um, this as an industry.

87

:

I don't even think many people

realize that it's its own sector

88

:

and it and its own very big thing.

89

:

Um, but I did express to friends that,

you know, this was definitely a gap and I

90

:

went back to my for profit job and at one

point, um, just about four, my gosh, maybe

91

:

four years ago, um, almost five years ago,

um, I got a call and basically saying, you

92

:

know, would you be interested in applying

for this role that was at best friends?

93

:

Um, and it was going to be focused on

multicultural and to me, it just felt

94

:

like it was, it was the right time, you

know, I had moved, I had gotten married.

95

:

Um, I was at that point where I

could choose to go into another,

96

:

um, industry and really do what I, I

was, I think, meant and called to do.

97

:

And so I, I started at Best Friends.

98

:

And that's really what kind of

catapulted, um, and really ingrained

99

:

me and, and, and my desire to stay.

100

:

Um, and continue to be a voice of

change and a voice of connection,

101

:

um, and a bridge builder, uh, so

that we can do more community work.

102

:

So in the end, um, I did build a

multicultural team at Best Friends

103

:

that ended up merging into a commute,

what's called a community team.

104

:

It was, um, a center of excellence,

and it was really focused on

105

:

looking at a community and

seeing what their needs were.

106

:

Where were they in terms of

information about animal welfare?

107

:

Um, so that we didn't begin the

conversation about sheltering

108

:

when maybe they didn't even

know what a shelter was, right?

109

:

So what, what steps did we need to take?

110

:

Um, and what backup?

111

:

And I was very fortunate to have a team

of incredible talent, young talent.

112

:

Um, that really understood

that understood the concept of

113

:

community of, um, not seeing

114

:

one, you know, just just one audience,

but really, truly understanding

115

:

that the shelter we're working

with in the Rio Grande Valley is

116

:

going to look very different than

a shelter we're working with in

117

:

California or Florida or Pennsylvania.

118

:

Um, so that really made it I

think easier, but it really did.

119

:

I can't tell you.

120

:

Um, I really feel like the first

step of my dreams came true just

121

:

by creating a website in Spanish.

122

:

Um, because I knew then that someone like

me that was sitting in a vet's office

123

:

or was sitting looking for information

for their parents to explain certain

124

:

concepts or to explain heartworms, I knew

that now you could do a Google search

125

:

and have that information in Spanish.

126

:

So that was, you know, what seems like

so simple to people, "oh, it's just

127

:

a website", to me, that was a dream

come true, because that is access.

128

:

That is information that is tangible,

that you can print out, that you can

129

:

show someone, that you can link to.

130

:

Um, and that is information

that I didn't have.

131

:

And it's information now that I

feel that, you know, someone like

132

:

me, a young person that had their

first pet, would have access to that

133

:

their parents would have access to.

134

:

And because of that could make better

decisions, um, for the family pet.

135

:

So, um, That's the very long story.

136

:

And now I am with Humane Rescue Alliance,

um, really focused on, you know, marketing

137

:

and the public relations that goes

along with an organization that runs

138

:

two very different shelters and two,

um, different communities and also, you

139

:

know, has a city contract and has the,

um, I think, All of the many things that

140

:

are involved with something like that.

141

:

So at the end of the day, though, it's,

to me, it's all about building those

142

:

bridges with your community and continuing

to exhaust myself talking about people.

143

:

I probably talk more about

people than I do animals.

144

:

Um, I'm very focused on that because I

feel that change cannot happen without

145

:

embracing our very different communities

and, um, and bringing very important

146

:

information so that we can all, you

know, make progress in saving lives.

147

:

DrG: Yeah, we were always talking about,

I mean, and then one of the purposes of

148

:

this podcast is education and, and getting

the word out about different things.

149

:

Because I think that first, we

don't know what we don't know.

150

:

And, and that can affect

people significantly, right?

151

:

It can affect.

152

:

rescues and shelters and

what and what they can do.

153

:

You know, animal shelters are going

through such a crisis with so many

154

:

animals that have nowhere to go.

155

:

Adoptions are low, you know, intakes are,

they're actually not intaking because they

156

:

have nothing to do with these animals.

157

:

And perhaps some places are losing

contact with the fact that the

158

:

answer for it is that, you know,

we blame people for the problem.

159

:

But that's who is the answer.

160

:

The people are the answer.

161

:

So we need to figure out how to get

the people involved in this process so

162

:

that we can help the animals, right?

163

:

Mia Navedo-Williams: Absolutely.

164

:

I think it's very, I mean, I don't know if

this, I think everybody can identify with

165

:

this particular example where we're very

good at, saying that a group of people is

166

:

one way based on one interaction, right?

167

:

So let's say you have an interaction

with a Hispanic family and you are

168

:

not able to make headway, you're not

able to get the, you know, the good

169

:

outcome that you were hoping for.

170

:

Um, if this was your first

interaction, maybe, um, you

171

:

would think, well, I did it.

172

:

I went out.

173

:

I tried to connect and it didn't work.

174

:

I think Hispanics are this way.

175

:

And I think we tend to do that.

176

:

Um, and it's very easy to, um, you

know, stereotype and, you know,

177

:

stereotypes are based on, you

know, some factual things, right?

178

:

Like you can look at a person and maybe

say, well, you know, he's Hispanic.

179

:

He doesn't know this.

180

:

I'm not going to approach him or whatever.

181

:

Um, you know, and, and those are big

mistakes because I can't imagine that if

182

:

you're, you have 10 interactions a day,

and one of them happens to be with a

183

:

BIPOC individual, that you've dismissed

the fact that you probably had five

184

:

really bad interactions with, you know,

your, um, you know, your white Community

185

:

members, but for some reason it that's

a little bit more forgiving than when

186

:

you have an interaction with a community

member that you're not as familiar

187

:

with their culture, their language.

188

:

Um, and I think we can make, you

know, these very big assumptions that

189

:

are incorrect and not only that but

really do you a disservice because

190

:

there are people waiting to feel

included, to feel invited, um, and to

191

:

be a part of something that's good.

192

:

But they need for you to meet

them halfway and sometimes they

193

:

need you to meet them all the way.

194

:

It's very, I think, for some reason,

difficult for us to understand

195

:

that newcomers are fearful.

196

:

If you're dealing with an

immigrant community, likely

197

:

they were seeking refuge.

198

:

They were seeking asylum.

199

:

There were things back home that were,

you know, they were fleeing something.

200

:

They, there is trauma there.

201

:

There is absolute trauma there.

202

:

And it's important that we acknowledge

that there's fear on their side.

203

:

There's, you know, trauma

that they're dealing with.

204

:

These people didn't want to

leave their home country.

205

:

I don't know if you, um, well, I'm

sure you know this because I don't

206

:

think you could know any Puerto Rican

family without seeing the flag outside.

207

:

Right?

208

:

Like, um, I have a flag on my car.

209

:

I have a flag, you know,

in my house, in my kitchen.

210

:

And so we have this pride from

the place that we came from.

211

:

And I think no one, you know, grows up

in a country and imagines themselves.

212

:

having to leave it.

213

:

Um, but when things are forcing you,

um, and you come to a new place, it is

214

:

really important that we understand that

there is fear, there is apprehension,

215

:

and there's just a lot of information

that, um, that we need from each other.

216

:

So, you know, um, I like to think of

animal welfare as very much a people

217

:

business, because it will take a lot

of strength and, um, vulnerability

218

:

from our leadership to build these

bridges, because it really starts there.

219

:

It needs to be modeled.

220

:

Um, there needs to be open mindedness,

there needs to be more transparency, we

221

:

need to talk more to each other, work

with each other, and it would be great

222

:

to see nationals working together and,

you know, um, and really including more

223

:

people in the equation and and helping

us inform communities because we we

224

:

need our shelters to have support.

225

:

DrG: I think in both shelters and even

in veterinary medicine and everything,

226

:

we have to understand that there are

different barriers in communicating with

227

:

people and, and it really, realistically,

it goes for everyone, right?

228

:

Because it goes for minorities and

such, but it can even go by differences

229

:

in socioeconomics, but you got to

understand, like, the culture of the

230

:

individuals that you are reaching to.

231

:

Because the culture here where I'm at in

Columbus is going to be different than

232

:

the culture that is in Southern Ohio.

233

:

And it's going to be really

different depending on the, on

234

:

the makeup of that community.

235

:

And then language makes a difference.

236

:

And you know, it, they're not only, how

do you say, being able to understand

237

:

who you're talking to first, it gains

trust, but then second, you can, you

238

:

can transfer that information better.

239

:

I have dealt with individuals that.

240

:

have come to me and I have told them, you

know, I have asked them why, you know,

241

:

like why haven't you spayed your pet?

242

:

Because that's a big myth is that

Hispanic people, for instance, do

243

:

not believe in spay and neuter.

244

:

So I will ask, "Hey, why

haven't you spayed your pet?"

245

:

And they will say, well, because

I don't need to, because she's not

246

:

going to be around other dogs and they

don't understand the health benefits

247

:

of it, but nobody has taken the

time to explain the health benefits

248

:

because of the language barrier.

249

:

So sometimes we have to make that extra

effort to meet people, like you said,

250

:

meet people where they're at and make

that effort to make sure that our clients

251

:

are understanding what we're giving them,

because if not, who's going to suffer?

252

:

The animals are going to suffer.

253

:

Mia Navedo-Williams: Absolutely.

254

:

And you know, another point I, we should

probably discuss is the fact that when

255

:

I speak about immigrant communities

or when I speak about multicultural

256

:

communities, I think some people might

think, well, that's not me, right?

257

:

I, I live in St.

258

:

Louis or, you know, I live in wherever.

259

:

Um, and the thing that's important

to note is that you are living

260

:

in a multicultural community.

261

:

Chances are, I mean, if one in three

Americans is already multicultural, you

262

:

are living in a multicultural community.

263

:

And even if, you know, I'll speak

specifically about, um, an example.

264

:

I have family in New Jersey.

265

:

Family that's lived there all their lives.

266

:

Yet, they also speak fluent Spanish.

267

:

They live in a mostly like bilingual

Spanish Puerto Rican neighborhood.

268

:

These folks, you know, they go to Wegmans.

269

:

They go to all of their, um, the

regular places that we're all at.

270

:

Um, but they still have some beliefs

that are exactly what you just said.

271

:

Well, I don't need to spay

and neuter because she's never

272

:

going to leave the house.

273

:

Um, and I had, you know, my sister,

um, a family member on her, uh,

274

:

side that her dog had pyometra.

275

:

And just had no idea, like,

why is this happening?

276

:

And, you know, and so we began to

have that conversation and what's

277

:

crazy is that, you know, it happened

to a friend of mine here in St.

278

:

Louis.

279

:

Um, and it's like, these folks are

getting the same information, you know,

280

:

that whatever the general market is or

used to be, um, but the way we think

281

:

of the general market is getting yet

they are in cultural groups, right?

282

:

So my friend here was mostly

part of the black community,

283

:

um, you know, in Ferguson.

284

:

And so we still gravitate to people

of our culture of similar values.

285

:

And therefore, there are just some

things that, you know, we're just like,

286

:

well, my neighbors never, you know,

spayed or neutered, you know, his dog

287

:

stays on his side, mine stays on mine.

288

:

Um, so it's important to note

that this is every neighborhood.

289

:

Um, it's important that we absolutely talk

to the people that are outside our doors.

290

:

And I think it's even

more than that, right?

291

:

We always say, yeah, talk to people

and I'm sure every shelter that's

292

:

gone to HSUS or Best Friends or any,

you know, AWA, any conference is used

293

:

to seeing, you just have to open the

door and get out of your shelter.

294

:

I would take it one step further.

295

:

I think before you even walk out the

door, you really have to examine yourself.

296

:

You really have to become aware

of, you know, your own fear,

297

:

your own bias, and that's okay.

298

:

Like.

299

:

But it's important that you're

aware of yourself, that you go out

300

:

intentionally, that you open that

door and go into the community with

301

:

the intention of connecting, of

being open, and letting yourself

302

:

learn, and maybe even make mistakes.

303

:

But it goes, it's not as simple

as, oh well, you know, I'm going

304

:

to go outside, you know, I'm going

to leave the shelter and do this.

305

:

It's, you have to really

be intentional about it.

306

:

DrG: Yeah, I recently attended the

International Veterinary Social Work

307

:

Summit, and something that was very

interesting is that, you know, some

308

:

of the people there that were shelter

individuals were saying, we don't look

309

:

like the community that we're serving.

310

:

And that can play a huge impact.

311

:

And they were just talking

again, like about socioeconomics.

312

:

Uh, I believe that the place that I

was talking about this, they were in

313

:

Wisconsin, and they were talking about

how the people that are in the shelter,

314

:

they're not from rural communities,

but that's who they are serving.

315

:

So we have to be socially competent.

316

:

We have to know the people

that we are dealing with.

317

:

We need to know what they need, but they

also, we need to know what they want.

318

:

And then we have to put that together

to be able to reach out to them and

319

:

again, help them and help the animals.

320

:

But if they don't know what they need,

then they may not know what to ask for.

321

:

Mia Navedo-Williams: I mean, absolutely.

322

:

And I think about, there are so many

examples of where there is absolutely,

323

:

you know, your shelter doesn't

look like your community, but the

324

:

leadership, the government, um, nothing

looks like the community it serves.

325

:

Now, sometimes that isn't always because

326

:

there are some populations that, and

many, I would say, um, there are two

327

:

things that you steer away from if

you're, you're a new immigrant or

328

:

you're of a different culture, and

that's politics and the police, right?

329

:

And very much so when we think

about sheltering or ACOs, um,

330

:

you know, there are uniforms.

331

:

And, um, or so, so, so they're still

trying to figure things out, but a lot

332

:

of people don't run for office because

their home country and the values that

333

:

they kind of have for themselves and

their family didn't line up with the

334

:

authority and regime or, you know,

the politics that were happening in

335

:

their home country, they fled that.

336

:

So there's not this.

337

:

desire immediately to

become a part of that.

338

:

Um, and so in many cases, it's not just

that, um, that we're not being inclusive.

339

:

It's that we haven't built enough

bridges to bring information and help

340

:

them understand, um, what it could mean.

341

:

For their, you know, for their

community, for them to hold an

342

:

office or for them to become an ACO.

343

:

Um, so yeah, I, I think I, I

was definitely working with, um,

344

:

shelters in the South that were

white led, but, um, the community

345

:

was absolutely, predominantly BIPOC.

346

:

Um, and with the understanding of

your community, um, one of the things

347

:

that's beautiful about, like, having a

community approach versus this kind of

348

:

national, um, blanket approach is that

349

:

you have information about how

these groups consume media, right?

350

:

So, you know, one of the things that we

know offhand that we, that we've always

351

:

known that we've known since I started in

icultural back in, oh my God,:

352

:

um, is that Hispanics, Latinos, do adopt

technology quicker than any other group.

353

:

So, you know, when I was working at

Sprint, which is now T Mobile, um,

354

:

smartphones were being developed, but

they were not being promoted to the

355

:

Hispanic community because the thought

was, or the stereotype was, well, you

356

:

know, they likely want a free phone.

357

:

They likely cannot afford a

smartphone or maybe, you know,

358

:

maybe, maybe the thought was.

359

:

They can't afford it and they

probably don't know how to use it.

360

:

Right.

361

:

But our competitors, um,

were absolutely on it.

362

:

Um, and they were already gaining

growth from the Latino market because

363

:

they understood that Hispanics and

Latinos were using their smartphones.

364

:

To call home call back home so that again

at the time you paid for long distance.

365

:

You paid for these, um, larger, more

sophisticated phones, but since they

366

:

preferred cell phones to a home phone.

367

:

I mean, they were really the first group

that, you know, cut the cord, so to speak.

368

:

They never had a cord to begin with.

369

:

Um, so.

370

:

When you get to know your community,

you can also learn about how they

371

:

consume media, which will make your

message even, you know, go even further.

372

:

So, you know, I, I worked in a community

once where I knew it was a predominantly

373

:

black community who loved TV.

374

:

They got all of their information from TV.

375

:

So, you know, that would have been

the best way to them versus social.

376

:

Um, and the one thing, though, that

I think worked in all communities

377

:

was the face to face, the, the

person to person contact because,

378

:

um, that's what they valued.

379

:

They valued connection.

380

:

They did business with friends.

381

:

Um, and They didn't separate those things.

382

:

So that connection was really, and

to me is still the most important

383

:

thing, um, for any business

or, you know, any organization.

384

:

DrG: So if we have a, if we have a

shelter, let's say, you know, we have a

385

:

shelter in a relatively small community

and they're, they're struggling, like

386

:

all shelters are struggling as far as

decreased, decreased adoptions and that

387

:

kind of stuff, and they want to start

reaching out more to the community.

388

:

What would you say is their first

step as far as learning about the

389

:

community that where they live in?

390

:

Mia Navedo-Williams: I would say the

first thing that you'll want to do is

391

:

figure out the makeup of your community.

392

:

So whether that's going online and

googling your zip code and getting the

393

:

census information, but understanding

what the makeup of your community is

394

:

and identifying where they gather.

395

:

Right.

396

:

So let's say I'm going to

give an example here in St.

397

:

Louis.

398

:

We had what was once a community

that was mostly black at one point.

399

:

Turn into a mostly Latino Hispanic

community, and there was definitely a

400

:

gathering place there was definitely a

couple of buildings where they felt at

401

:

home together where there were parties

where there were meetings about, you

402

:

know, like, finding financial or, you

know, how to become a citizen where

403

:

they were really holding all of these

information, um, type of community events.

404

:

And when you know where those places are,

you can begin, I think, that relationship.

405

:

Go there, um, meet, um, here in St.

406

:

Louis, it was the library.

407

:

It was a library in a community.

408

:

And to know the librarian

is to know the gatekeeper.

409

:

And so it's always someone different.

410

:

It may not be a librarian

in your community.

411

:

You know, it may be a, um, restaurant.

412

:

Who the business owner is considered

almost a celebrity among that community.

413

:

And so that's the gatekeeper.

414

:

Um, but know the makeup of your community

and start to find out where they gather.

415

:

And I'd say the next step is try to

make one friend, just one friend.

416

:

And, um, I, I think that's

easier than most people think.

417

:

, DrG: So once you, once you gather the

information as far as the, the makeup of

418

:

your community, what are going to be the

ways that we can approach the community?

419

:

Like what are going to be the

resources that a shelter can

420

:

use to reach those people?

421

:

Mia Navedo-Williams: So I would say if

you're just starting out, the information

422

:

you should go out with is the very basic.

423

:

So information like what you do,

your address, why you're there.

424

:

Um, but it's really important

to start out with the basics.

425

:

I went to a community where

they were really excited to

426

:

show me like the information

that they had for the community.

427

:

And when I looked at it,

it was really complicated.

428

:

It was about TNR and it was like the

process of it and why do it and I was

429

:

like, oh boy, um, This is too much, right?

430

:

Like, um, I think it's important

first to assess, you know What

431

:

are your needs in that community?

432

:

What do you need to do?

433

:

Um, and then we'll work back from there.

434

:

So I wouldn't start right at TNR, right?

435

:

Even if you have the information

translated, um, into, you know,

436

:

the language of that community,

it's still very confusing.

437

:

You have to start at the beginning

by introducing yourself and

438

:

really inviting them to come See

you to come visit the building.

439

:

Um, if you have vaccine clinics

nearby or at the building those are

440

:

fabulous inviting them to things that

are, um, a benefit to them, right?

441

:

So either it's low cost or it's

free, but I would really start with

442

:

basic information, basic services,

And if you are able to provide like

443

:

free services, free vaccines, those

are the places to begin to connect.

444

:

You have a very, um, engaged audience when

they come to you for, at a vaccine clinic.

445

:

And so if you have one person that's,

you know, Doing, um, the vaccinating

446

:

and another one that's just connecting

that's greeting people, right?

447

:

Really basic connection

points, um, being kind.

448

:

Smiling, like it is.

449

:

It is just the basic things

that can take you so far.

450

:

Don't try to complicate it by going

straight into a TNR conversation.

451

:

Oh, do you feed community

cats or blah, blah, blah.

452

:

They will tell you, you know, um,

they will give you that information

453

:

in the best manner they can.

454

:

Obviously, if you have somebody

on staff that can speak that

455

:

particular language, great, but

we're not always going to have that.

456

:

Um, that language experience until

we meet someone that is bilingual in

457

:

that community and wants to help you.

458

:

And those people are out there.

459

:

Um, there are kids growing up in

these communities that are learning,

460

:

um, newer things about pets, about,

you know, businesses and, you know,

461

:

they can be your gateway as well.

462

:

So really think back to basics.

463

:

Um, think about even, you know, how to

connect in schools, especially if you're

464

:

in a small town, um, because, these kids

are learning the language and they are

465

:

giving the information to their parents.

466

:

I think a lot of parents that either

don't speak the language or are new here,

467

:

they delight when their kids

come home with information.

468

:

And so making sure that there's access

to that information it's fantastic.

469

:

You don't always have to

have the The knowledge of the

470

:

language to connect with people.

471

:

DrG: I like the idea of going to

schools because I have gone to

472

:

usually really young, um, classes like

kindergarten through about like third

473

:

grade, because they're the ones that

are really excited to see you, right?

474

:

Like once you get into high school,

they just kind of, you know,

475

:

watching their phone and, and

ignoring you or whatever, but the.

476

:

They're really little kids like they're

very impressionable and they want to

477

:

learn and they're so excited and they

love animals and you go in and you

478

:

give them information about, you know,

their, their pets overall health, the

479

:

important of going to get vaccines,

the same as your parents take you

480

:

to get your vaccines, the important

of, of taking care of their teeth.

481

:

And you give them handouts that you

know that the kids are not necessarily

482

:

going to read those handouts.

483

:

You give them coloring pages,

but then they take them home

484

:

and they say, Hey, look, look at

the coloring page that I made.

485

:

And then they start a

conversation with the parent.

486

:

And then hopefully that gets the parent

to, to say, Oh, I never thought about,

487

:

you know, if you're needing this,

and then that can potentially bring

488

:

them in to, you know, to, to get.

489

:

preventive care for their animals.

490

:

Mia Navedo-Williams: Absolutely.

491

:

I mean, think about it.

492

:

I mean, I remember when the dentist

came in and showed you the big

493

:

toothbrush and how you brush your

teeth and how you do these things.

494

:

And yes, I'm not reading the brochure they

give me afterwards, you know, um, but I

495

:

brought it home and parents knew about it.

496

:

And so we did have a discussion

and, um, and so it's really.

497

:

It's really a way to

begin those conversations.

498

:

One of the things that, um, I think

a lot of cultures have in common is,

499

:

um, or at least I know, you know,

when I speak to different ethnicities,

500

:

um, that are, you know, my friends

that are different ethnicities.

501

:

We all have this collective mentality.

502

:

Um, when decisions are made,

they're made for what's best for

503

:

the entire family, not necessarily

what is best for one individual.

504

:

So this There's a lot of

collective discussions.

505

:

There's a lot of, um, engagement in,

you know, what did you learn today?

506

:

Or, you know, um, and I think

also as I learned new words in

507

:

English, I was always excited to

like tell my parents, or I would.

508

:

I was, I feel so bad for doing this, but

I always corrected my mom, uh, because you

509

:

know, she was learning English at the same

time I was, but she was in her thirties

510

:

and, um, she would say what time it is.

511

:

What time it is?

512

:

And I'm like, do you mean what time is it?

513

:

Like, is that a question?

514

:

And it was something that

was really hard for her.

515

:

And so she'd always be

like, what time it is?

516

:

And I'm like, mom, it's what time is it?

517

:

And so we had a lot of moments where

I would, you know, And, you know, give

518

:

her information or, you know, educator

on how to say different or, you know,

519

:

conjugating different things in English.

520

:

Um, so we always have these

opportunities for discussion.

521

:

And I think, um, we're no matter whether

you're an introvert or extrovert, if

522

:

you're in a Latino family, you are.

523

:

required to talk about things.

524

:

So, um, so I think there are just so many

opportunities where you can, you know,

525

:

go to the younger ones in the family and

then that message gets up to the adults.

526

:

So that's, that's

definitely one way to do it.

527

:

Knowing that the decisions are made by

the parents, that's where you have to also

528

:

remember that you're going to need to have

some information and it has to be basic

529

:

information so that they can come along

with the child, um, and, you know, feel

530

:

more informed so they can make decisions.

531

:

better decisions for their families.

532

:

DrG: So we have evaluated our community.

533

:

We have decided on our messaging on

starting simple and not overwhelming

534

:

people with too much and about the

importance of face to face meeting.

535

:

Now, how about social media?

536

:

How does social media

tie into all of this?

537

:

Mia Navedo-Williams: I love

social media, first and foremost.

538

:

Um, I think that, um, all

generations are on there in some way.

539

:

Um, and so I think social

media is still fantastic.

540

:

What I would say is, and what we

do, is we ensure we have Things

541

:

for different audiences, right?

542

:

You want to know who's

coming to your page.

543

:

But the way I really think about measuring

how well we're doing on social media

544

:

and how well we're doing on our website

is seeing how many new follows are we

545

:

getting from people that, um, you know,

have are not part of our page, right?

546

:

So how many people are we seeing that

we're adding, that are seeing a reel and

547

:

are opting in to, you know, follow us.

548

:

Um, because too often

we just talk in circles.

549

:

We just talk to each other.

550

:

We talk to our Followers that

are already following us.

551

:

We know what they like, right?

552

:

Um, we know what gets the clicks.

553

:

And so we just continue in that pattern.

554

:

But one of the big goals for us

is to continue to add younger

555

:

people looking at this content.

556

:

Because those those folks are helping

to make the decision of the animal

557

:

that's coming in to the home, and

they are absolutely on social media.

558

:

So having information about adoption,

but not just adoption, like one of the

559

:

things I'm always strict on is adoption.

560

:

We want to push adopting from your local

shelter or rescue versus just adoption.

561

:

Because one of the things I learned

when we did research, um, on Latinos

562

:

was that, and we already know this,

that adoption is a term that's.

563

:

used for all kind, all acquisition,

whether you did it at a pet

564

:

store or you did it at a shelter,

everyone's using the word adoption.

565

:

But I think even more so Latinos

really felt that they were saving

566

:

an animal at a pet store, right?

567

:

So they saw the conditions.

568

:

They weren't happy with them.

569

:

Um, but the, the, the response

was, well, I'm going to buy the

570

:

dog and get it away from this, um,

not realizing obviously that then

571

:

you're perpetuating, you know, the

whatever's happening on that other side.

572

:

So, um, I think it's important that

we stay on top of trends, listen to

573

:

your volunteers, your young ones.

574

:

Um, if.

575

:

You know, I loved the fact that, um, our

social media person, um, you know, is in

576

:

the know of the, the TikTok trends and

all of that, and was able to bring some of

577

:

that humor, um, and some of those trends

578

:

into shelter content, so it's about

looking at ways to bring people to

579

:

your content to bring new people

to your content, consistently

580

:

asking your followers to, um,

to, to forward the messages.

581

:

I even ask our volunteer team to ensure

that the volunteers know to share out

582

:

our content because their contacts are

out in the world and aren't following us.

583

:

So it's really about how do we get out

of our own loop and bring in more people

584

:

of all different, you know, age groups.

585

:

So you have to sometimes.

586

:

Take a risk.

587

:

Um, and you know, follow

it a certain trend.

588

:

Your older audience may totally not

know it'll go over their head, but

589

:

your younger audience will pick it up.

590

:

And I think to me, the most

important thing about social media

591

:

is understanding not everyone gets

served up the content you send out.

592

:

So it's, You know, all algorithm based.

593

:

The more engagement you get,

the more it does get shared out.

594

:

But, you know, you have to get

out of the loop of talking to your

595

:

followers, um, and really start

thinking about how do you bring in

596

:

more engagement from others and think

about content that requires engagement.

597

:

So, everyone, it's, you know,

whatever, "Yappy Friday" um, "please

598

:

post a picture of your adopted pet

and what he's doing right now."

599

:

People love that because if

I get an opportunity to show

600

:

off my pet, I will do it.

601

:

And so now.

602

:

Facebook is automatically already seeing,

Oh my God, there's a lot of engagement.

603

:

I'm going to push this out to more people.

604

:

And so your reach will go up.

605

:

Um, it's important to

comment, like your own post.

606

:

And like, if somebody comments

on your post, comment back, um,

607

:

that increases engagement as well.

608

:

So understand that it's not the one

all be all solution to adoption.

609

:

But it is a way to bring more people

into the fold of animal welfare.

610

:

So, be open to new ideas, um, try to do

as much engagement content as possible.

611

:

Keep an upbeat tone.

612

:

Life is hard.

613

:

It's really hard right now.

614

:

It's very difficult to maintain

positivity with politics.

615

:

With, you know, what's happening

in schools, there's a lot of bad

616

:

news and bad news weighs on people.

617

:

Don't have your posts become

the additional bad news,

618

:

which will turn people off.

619

:

So, try to keep an upbeat voice.

620

:

Try to bring people along in the journey.

621

:

But I would say the best advice

is maintain that positivity and

622

:

maintain that open mind to really go

a little extra, um, in your content

623

:

and know that social is part of your

media mix, not your entire solution.

624

:

DrG: Yeah, because some people,

especially in rural communities

625

:

and some underserved communities,

they may not have social media.

626

:

They may not have Wi Fi at home.

627

:

Like we, we don't even think

about that being a possibility.

628

:

I, we, we call people sometimes

and they have a landline.

629

:

Like what is that?

630

:

Right.

631

:

Like people don't know

that that even exists.

632

:

Yet, that is the reality of some of our

clients, of some of our community members.

633

:

So they are being left out if

we are only approaching one,

634

:

one thing.

635

:

As you say, you know, like social

media is going to approach a lot of

636

:

different people, but that person that

has a landline, that person is probably

637

:

the one that you need to reach at the

library, the person that you need to

638

:

reach at some community center, at the

Y, you know, because that's going to

639

:

be their, their focus of engagement.

640

:

The other thing that you said

that resonates is that I really

641

:

hate when on social media, you

get some of these groups that are

642

:

constantly posting and everything is.

643

:

death row.

644

:

This dog's gonna be killed tomorrow.

645

:

This dog's gonna be

killed if nobody gets it.

646

:

This is ridiculous that this is

happening and that kind of stuff.

647

:

And I'm not saying that we should

not speak for those animals

648

:

because definitely we have to

get their information out there.

649

:

We have to let people know that

this is the reality of shelters

650

:

and animals unfortunately and

sadly are dying in shelters.

651

:

But when every single thing you put out is

depressing, people are just gonna unfollow

652

:

you because they don't want to see that.

653

:

They don't want to see

all the depressing stuff.

654

:

One of the things that, that I do is

when I have a case that, that is kind

655

:

of sad, like we, we get a dog and

it's been hit by a car or, you know, a

656

:

kitten with a, ruptured eye or something

like that, I will take pictures.

657

:

I will take that story, but I'm also

going to wait until the story unfolds

658

:

and I have a happy ending so that then

I can tell people, look at how this

659

:

poor kitten came in, but look, there's

a light at the end of the tunnel.

660

:

We have a happy ending here.

661

:

And then that makes, you know, that, that,

those are the tear jerker moments because

662

:

you look at the positivity that happened.

663

:

And in my experience, that

helps draw more, more viewers.

664

:

And in the case of shelters that may

help bring in more donations because

665

:

you're saying look at look at the great

things that we're doing with the help

666

:

that you're giving us and this cat this

dog is in a better place because of you.

667

:

Mia Navedo-Williams: I think that's a

fantastic approach because I'm the same.

668

:

I see often too many graphic

images, but as it happens, which

669

:

can be really anxiety inducing.

670

:

And, um, very much, I think,

a detriment to your brand.

671

:

Um, because then it becomes, like

you said, almost like a rhythm.

672

:

So it worked one time.

673

:

So you continue to do it.

674

:

But over time that wears on your audience.

675

:

And yes, you will just stop seeing

those posts or opt out of those posts,

676

:

because it's very difficult to be in

fight or flight mode consistently when

677

:

you're looking at shelter content.

678

:

So I'd say we're really similar in

that, um, you know, we had, we had

679

:

a case, um, We still we have a case

currently where a dog was shot.

680

:

Um, luckily this prognosis is amazing.

681

:

He's, you know, um, going

home probably this week, you

682

:

know, amazing things, right?

683

:

The dog strayed from home, comes back two

days later and they noticed that he's got

684

:

like, Like what looks like a gunshot wound

between his eyes, but it has not touched

685

:

that that gunshot did not touch any of

the, you know, the life altering tissue,

686

:

um, and the dog really made it home.

687

:

There was they were able to

pull the bullet out and he

688

:

has, he's got a great recovery.

689

:

And now.

690

:

We talk about it because we want to find

what happened to this dog and likely will

691

:

need to Find a way to pay for the care of

that dog For all of the medical and the

692

:

overnights that they did an emergency.

693

:

So I think that's a great

way to stay positive.

694

:

Um, and definitely I know that

there are some that say, you

695

:

know, here's our last chance list.

696

:

Um, I'm, I'm really torn in that,

um, because I think there are some,

697

:

um, organizations that are taking, I

think, a more positive approach to it.

698

:

Like here, we know we have these dogs.

699

:

Space is the only issue we have here.

700

:

Um, you know, if we can get these dogs

into foster, if we can get them adopted,

701

:

but, you know, and I think they're

using better names than, you know,

702

:

last chance or, you know, kill list.

703

:

Um, oh boy, that word just really.

704

:

Um, bugs the heck out of me.

705

:

But, um, I think it's It's important

to have a variety of content, not

706

:

get stuck in the doom and gloom

707

:

um, even if we feel it on the daily basis.

708

:

That is not how to bring

people in to help you.

709

:

Um, so it's really important to,

to find some positivity and bring

710

:

people to aid and be part of the

solution versus continuing to just

711

:

add anxiety to people's feeds.

712

:

But you're right, you know that when I

talked about that library, um, at that

713

:

library, the reason it is the gathering

point is because you have access to WiFi.

714

:

At the library, and when they were

laying like the, the what you need

715

:

for like Google fiber and all of that,

they didn't do it in that neighborhood.

716

:

Right.

717

:

But the library has it.

718

:

So it does become the

gathering point after school.

719

:

So you can have access to Wi Fi.

720

:

So yeah, that's why it's important

that you know where people gather

721

:

more than just social because your

community is probably not going

722

:

to be on social all the time.

723

:

DrG: And there are some people that

because of all of the negativity in

724

:

social media, they're little by little

getting away from it or only doing things

725

:

like like Snapchat or Instagram or, you

know, that kind of stuff because they

726

:

don't want to read all this, all this

stuff, they just want to see a picture

727

:

and kind of feed off that picture.

728

:

So, you know, we have to be,

we have to be able to approach.

729

:

A lot of different individuals that

may be getting away from social media.

730

:

So that brings me up to most

people have email addresses.

731

:

So how beneficial is it to create an e

newsletter for different organizations?

732

:

Mia Navedo-Williams: Um, I find

that I think e newsletters are

733

:

great as long as you keep it

brief and, um, use visuals, right?

734

:

So, um, if it's too text

heavy, it's just too much.

735

:

Like you said, there's a lot of competing.

736

:

Your, your audience is

getting thrown things at them.

737

:

I mean, if you're on Facebook

these days, you can see that even

738

:

everything has changed on Facebook.

739

:

You get more ads than you actually get.

740

:

Your friends content.

741

:

So people are becoming more

like, Oh, this is enough.

742

:

You know, let's just keep scrolling.

743

:

Keep scrolling.

744

:

Um, so I think if you do a newsletter,

having some visuals, but making it short

745

:

and sweet, you know, understand, like,

the action that you want is to stay,

746

:

have them stay in the know, have them

continue to, you know, engage in some way.

747

:

They're not going to click on everything.

748

:

They're not going to read everything.

749

:

But if you can find out what

they did read or that even they

750

:

opened it, that's important.

751

:

So I think newsletters are very valid.

752

:

I think if you can also, you know,

if you have the opportunity to make a

753

:

Spanish newsletter, if you have a Spanish

speaking audience, that's fantastic

754

:

because chances are they're not getting

a ton of content in their own language.

755

:

Um, so when they do, it's like,

ah, I want to read it, right?

756

:

Like I speak, you know, just

like you, we speak predominantly

757

:

English in our daily lives.

758

:

Um, but tell me you don't do a

double take when you see an ad in

759

:

Spanish and it's because they're

speaking to our heart language.

760

:

They're speaking to our

family language and that.

761

:

Has draw that has a lot of motion for us.

762

:

So when you can do that, you automatically

grab more attention than the other

763

:

emails that are in that inbox.

764

:

DrG: And then I guess finally,

the, some, some rescues and

765

:

shelters just for, for a website.

766

:

They just utilize things like

the free sites from Petfinder

767

:

and that kind of stuff.

768

:

And I feel like they're not able to

tell the story and they're not able

769

:

to really say what's in the shelter,

what sets them apart and showcase

770

:

their animals in an inviting way.

771

:

I know that I.

772

:

I just kind of cringe when somebody

gives me a website and I go in and it's

773

:

just some kind of like AI formulated,

you know, generic site landing page.

774

:

So how important is the website and

what are the things that they should

775

:

include in that website to, to engage,

not just the one time engagement, but

776

:

perhaps to keep people coming back to it.

777

:

Mia Navedo-Williams: I think the way

to keep people coming back to it is

778

:

to link to the places of your site

that you want people to look at.

779

:

First of all, you don't need a

difficult or complex, um, website.

780

:

You don't need to, um,

781

:

Every, I have to say, like, I'm,

I'm speaking from experience

782

:

because right now I'm not happy.

783

:

with our website, um, because I think it

needs to be a lot simpler and you have to

784

:

have a strategy in terms of what content

you want for people to look at, right?

785

:

So one of the things I Um, and that is

something that I suggest my team do.

786

:

So anytime we have a social, let's

say the social is about transports,

787

:

and we want people to donate

to a certain transport, right?

788

:

So I always provide the link to that page.

789

:

So people, so they don't

have to read the whole thing.

790

:

We can just gauge.

791

:

Do they want this content?

792

:

And then do they visit the site?

793

:

And at the end of the month, you can

look over your Google Analytics and

794

:

see where people are coming from, what

they're doing on the site, um, and

795

:

that leads you to formulate kind of the

strategy you want based on the goals

796

:

that you have, um, for the organization.

797

:

So, you know, are people

coming direct to the site?

798

:

Are they coming from a link?

799

:

Um, or is it, you know, are

they coming from another site?

800

:

Right?

801

:

So, um, to me, it's about making

your, um, your website simple.

802

:

Not throwing everything at once.

803

:

Cause I know there are all these

stakeholders and they think their

804

:

program needs the most, and this program

needs the most, it's important that you

805

:

understand what your strategy is for your

organization, build the website in that

806

:

manner, keeping it simple, knowing that

807

:

it's not supposed to be everything.

808

:

It's supposed to be enough to get

people to act on something, right?

809

:

Make any forms that you have easy, simple.

810

:

If you're going to become, you

know, a volunteer, it should

811

:

just be a very simple form.

812

:

Then follow up, um, with an

email or another communication.

813

:

But it shouldn't be how

you conduct business.

814

:

Because at the end of the day,

people do want other people.

815

:

They want to talk to somebody.

816

:

They have questions.

817

:

Provide an email address.

818

:

Not just a link.

819

:

So I get that you may not have

enough bandwidth, and you can set

820

:

expectations on a website or on an email.

821

:

But it's important that you don't

see your website as the sole source

822

:

marketing information element.

823

:

It really should be a simple breakdown.

824

:

Use simple language.

825

:

Um, Stay away from a

lot of paws and effect.

826

:

P A W S.

827

:

Um, check out our pawsibilities.

828

:

P A W S.

829

:

Really try to stay as simple as

possible because if they're linking

830

:

or if they're clicking on a language

switch, those things do not translate.

831

:

So you could lose meaning.

832

:

So, use the play on words for social

or for big events, where you can

833

:

be, have some fun and try to find

what the fun might be on the other

834

:

language side, but there's not always

a fun on other in other languages.

835

:

So I would just kind of,

um, avoid it altogether.

836

:

DrG: I think that we have given our

audience a lot of information to,

837

:

to digest, but I think that these

are, these are necessary steps for

838

:

getting the information out there.

839

:

And as you mentioned, for getting,

for reaching out the people that are

840

:

taking care of the animals, so that

then the animals can be taken care

841

:

of, you know, we're not going to

adopt our way out of this problem.

842

:

The shelters cannot kill

their way out of this problem.

843

:

The intake problem needs to stop.

844

:

The overpopulation problem needs to stop.

845

:

So we need to come together and figure

out how to utilize all our resources

846

:

to get the information that needs to.

847

:

To be given out, educate the community,

educate the public, getting it, get

848

:

them engaged, and then have everybody,

everybody work together for the animal.

849

:

Mia Navedo-Williams:

Yeah, absolutely agree.

850

:

And feel free to, like, I talked

a lot, so feel free to snip and

851

:

cut and do whatever you need to.

852

:

Um, because I feel like I can talk

forever about this issue, but for

853

:

me, it just, it really comes down to.

854

:

Imagining for yourself, bridge building,

imagine yourself as a bridge builder

855

:

and understand that all of this work is

truly about connection and belonging.

856

:

It's all about that.

857

:

Um, and that it's an inside out job like

we cannot, we have to change ourselves.

858

:

In order to be able to come out

to the community in an open way.

859

:

And I think so many of us are stuck,

um, or our leadership is stuck.

860

:

Um, and, and those are big issues

that we need to look at seriously.

861

:

And the importance of mentorship, right?

862

:

Um, I think about a lot of our content,

even at these national conferences.

863

:

Is so similar, and it's the same

groups coming back to hear it.

864

:

A lot of the groups that need

the information cannot afford

865

:

to come to these conferences.

866

:

So we need to figure out how

to reach out to them, right?

867

:

How to provide mentorship if they want it.

868

:

Um, but we have to do that in

a way that's about connecting.

869

:

And that's about, um, you know, integrity.

870

:

Right?

871

:

And knowing that progress is slow.

872

:

I mean, progress is slow.

873

:

And, um, it's not gonna happen

in a year, in two years.

874

:

Please don't set goals like

that because, you know, we don't

875

:

know what's going to happen.

876

:

Um, and people turn over a lot.

877

:

So it's just important that you,

I think, extend yourself whenever

878

:

you can, to whoever you can.

879

:

And We will progress, but it takes time.

880

:

It takes time.

881

:

DrG: Well, thank you so much for

the work that you're doing and for

882

:

sharing your story and for sharing

all this important information.

883

:

Hopefully again, some of our, some of

our audience that are, that work in

884

:

shelters and in rescue can take, even

if they can take one thing and run with

885

:

it, then that's going to help improve

the life of the animals in the shelter

886

:

and the lives of the individuals that

are working in that shelter as well.

887

:

So I hope, you know, Yeah.

888

:

Say something.

889

:

Mia Navedo-Williams: Well,

yeah, I want to say something

890

:

because, um, I'm so proud of you.

891

:

Um, I'm really proud of you when I met

you through LinkedIn, I think because

892

:

we had a mutual friend, um, I was just

so impressed by the work that you do.

893

:

Not only that you're Boricua, because

I absolutely love you for that, um,

894

:

and I love that we, that we both come

from the same island, um, but to see

895

:

how much you've done.

896

:

Um, and the risks that

you've taken for the animals.

897

:

Um, just knowing I how much you've

gone through the changes that

898

:

you yourself have gone through.

899

:

Um, and to be such an agent of change.

900

:

Um, I'm so proud of you, Dr.

901

:

G like, really, I'm, I feel

really humbled to know you.

902

:

Um, and I hope that we can be side

by side in Puerto Rico someday.

903

:

DrG: Thank you

904

:

so much.

905

:

I'm horrible at taking compliments,

so I will do my best to say thank you.

906

:

That's it.

907

:

That's the introvert in me.

908

:

I don't know how to handle it.

909

:

But no, I really appreciate you

saying that, you know, it's a matter

910

:

of, of knowing, of knowing what

you want to do and not letting any

911

:

kind of obstacles come in your way.

912

:

You know, you fail and that's okay.

913

:

You just figure it out and then, you

know, go on to the next thing until

914

:

you find the one that doesn't fail.

915

:

Just don't give up.

916

:

Mia Navedo-Williams: Absolutely.

917

:

Don't give up.

918

:

DrG: So thank you so much for being here.

919

:

And for everybody who's

listening, thank you for listening

920

:

and thank you for caring.

921

:

Mia Navedo-Williams:

Thank you for having me.

All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for The Animal Welfare Junction

About the Podcast

The Animal Welfare Junction
Veterinary Forensics
The Animal Welfare Junction is a podcast developed to bring awareness to different topics in animal welfare. The host, Michelle Gonzalez (Dr. G) is a veterinarian who provides affordable veterinary care in the State of Ohio, and also a Forensic Veterinarian helping with the investigation and prosecution of cases of animal cruelty and neglect.
The topics presented are based on the experiences of Dr. G and our guests and include discussions about real cases, humane projects, and legal issues that affect animals and the community. Due to the nature of the discussion, listener discretion is advised as some topics may be too strong for some listeners.

About your host

Profile picture for Alba Gonzalez

Alba Gonzalez

Michelle González (DrG) was born and raised in Puerto Rico. Her passion growing up was to become a veterinarian. She obtained a B.S. in Zoology at Michigan State University and the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at The Ohio State University, followed by a 1-yr Internship in Medicine, Surgery, Emergency and Critical Care at the University of Missouri-Columbia. In 2006 she founded the Rascal Unit, a mobile clinic offering accesible and affordable sterilization, and wellness services throughout the State of Ohio.
Dr. G is involved in many aspects of companion veterinary medicine including education, shelter assistance and help to animals that are victims of cruelty and neglect.
DrG completed a Master’s degree in Veterinary Forensics from the University of Florida and a Master’s in Forensic Psychology from Southern New Hampshire University. She is currently enrolled at the University of Florida Forensic Science program. She assists Humane organizations and animal control officers in the investigation, evaluation, and prosecution of cases of animal cruelty and neglect.