Dara Worthington shares how thoughtful leadership, community support, and a commitment to seeing the potential in every animal have helped Friends of Strays grow into one of Florida’s most impactful shelter organizations.
Nicole Navarro shares how a small fox sanctuary in the Florida Keys evolved into a unique healing space where rescued foxes help survivors of trauma, addiction, and hardship discover hope, boundaries, and resilience.
Kerri Burns shares how a career spanning disaster response, animal welfare leadership, and community service taught her that the future of animal welfare depends on collaboration, compassion, and putting people first.
Alexis Fine shares how investing in staff, building strong community partnerships, and leading with compassion has helped Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter create better outcomes for animals and the people who care for them.
Starting as an animal control officer before becoming a veterinarian, Kate witnessed firsthand how shelters often lacked the medical knowledge, resources, and systems needed to properly care for animals.
After being given just 90 days to live due to end-stage liver failure caused by alcoholism, Zach found hope and purpose through the unconditional love of his dogs.
As a volunteer with Chatham Animal Rescue and Education (CARE), Chris is helping lead efforts to address cat overpopulation through Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), affordable spay and neuter access, and community collaboration.
After first entering animal welfare in the late 1990s, Kristen left the field due to the trauma of working in shelters with extremely high euthanasia rates. Years later, she returned with a new mission: changing the system from within.
In this episode of the Top Dog Podcast, Rachel Ide, Animal Services Director at Young-Williams Animal Center, shares how community-focused programs and compassionate leadership are transforming animal welfare in Knoxville, Tennessee.
In this episode of the Top Dog Podcast, Stephen Knight, Founding Executive Director of Dogs Matter, shares how his personal journey through addiction inspired him to create a one-of-a-kind program helping people enter treatment without losing their pets.
Dogs Matter provides temporary foster care for pets while their owners attend drug and alcohol rehab — removing one of the biggest barriers preventing many people from seeking help.
“The last thing you want to give up is your pet.”
What started with one dog named Jade became a life-changing mission that has now helped more than 2,500 pets and their owners stay together through crisis and recovery.
“She gave me purpose.”
One of the biggest takeaways from this episode is the power of the human-animal bond in healing and recovery. Stephen explains that pets provide motivation, stability, and emotional support during some of life’s hardest moments.
“A healthy dog and a healthy human.”
Dogs Matter doesn’t just foster pets — they continue supporting clients after treatment through counseling, resources, and community support to help them rebuild their lives.
“We stay with them.”
Stephen also emphasizes the importance of compassion, second chances, and creating systems that support both people and animals together.
“We’re changing lives.”
At its core, this episode is about hope, recovery, and the belief that keeping pets and people together can transform lives in powerful ways.
That mission will also be celebrated at Dogs Matter’s upcoming Tails of Triumph: A New Era event on June 11, 2026, in Dallas, Texas — an evening focused on storytelling, recovery, second chances, and the incredible journeys of the people and pets impacted by the program.
This message is especially important for Dooberteers, fosters, and volunteers. Every foster home and every act of compassion can help create another chance for both animals and the people who love them.
If you’re passionate about helping animals, join the Doobert community where volunteers, fosters, transporters, and organizations work together to save lives every day. Visit Doobert.com to get involved.
And don’t forget to subscribe to the Top Dog Podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode.
Do you know any Top Dogs we should interview? We’re always looking for amazing people in animal welfare to feature on the podcast. Send us an email at tdp@doobert.com.
