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Artwork for The Animal Welfare Junction

The Animal Welfare Junction

A. Michelle Gonzalez, DVM, MS
Animal Cruelty
Animal Welfare
Ohio
Steffen Baldwin
Domestic Violence
Tops
Forensic Science
Act Ohio
Puppy Mills
Animal Neglect
Dog Fighting
Animal Hoarding
Union County Humane Society
Animal Cruelty Task Force Of Ohio
Remi
Animal Welfare Investigations Project
Ohio Supreme Court
True Crime
The Acatemy
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... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes114Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ScienceTrue CrimeSocial Sciences

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Animal Welfare Junction

Latest Episodes

The 2026 Animal ForensiCon in Orlando, Florida

Dr. Rachel Sheffler shares information on the use of toxicology for the identification of substances that may be present in an animal victim of crime.

The 2026 Animal ForensiCon in Orlando, Florida

Tonia Smith from the Orange County Sheriff's Office shares with us how fingerprints are used in investigations to rule people in/out, what information can be obtained and myths of fingerprint science. S... more

The 2026 Animal ForensiCon in Orlando, Florida

Dr. Nancy Bradley discusses the use of ballistic information in animal related crimes.

The 2026 Animal ForensiCon in Orlando, Florida

Dr. Laurie Millward from the Ohio State University describes clinical pathology and its uses in assisting in cases of animal neglect and cruelty.

Key Facts

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Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Laurie Millward
Clinical assistant professor in clinical pathology at Ohio State University; experience in shelter medicine and field outreach
Ohio State University
Episode: Clinical pathology - 2026 Animal ForensiCon with Dr. Laurie Millward
Jamie McManus
Attorney; former prosecutor; advocate for animals
Civil litigation firm
Episode: Private Citizens and Cruelty Investigations - 2026 Animal ForensiCon with Jamie McManus
Dr. Nancy Bradley
Forensic veterinarian
Arizona Humane/Forensic Veterinary Throughline
Episode: Ballistics - 2026 Animal ForensiCon with Dr. Nancy Bradley
Shalimar Oliver
Case manager in Animal Crimes and Investigations
Humane World (based on website and discussion in episode)
Episode: Puppy Mill Pipeline - 2026 Animal ForensiCon with Shalimar Oliver
Rachel Sheffler
Veterinarian and toxicology expert
PhD in Toxicology, Michigan State University (toxicology residency)
Episode: Forensic Toxicology - 2026 Animal ForensiCon with Dr. Rachel Sheffler
Tonia Smith
Latent print examiner with 24 years of experience
Episode: Fingerprint Analysis - 2026 Animal ForensiCon with Tonia Smith
Dr. Larry Garcia
Veterinarian, faculty at the University of Florida, Disaster Response Team lead
University of Florida
Episode: UF VETS Disaster Response - 2026 Animal ForensiCon with Dr. Larry Garcia
Dr. Eileen Roy-Zokan
Forensic Veterinarian
Independent veterinary forensics practitioner
Episode: Osceola Turkey Hunter Fraud - 2026 Animal ForensiCon with Dr. Eileen Roy-Zokan
Dr. Adam Stern
Speaker, expert on forensic science, organizer of Animal Forensicon
Animal Forensicon
Episode: Animal ForensiCon 2026 - What to Expect from the Conference with Dr. Adam Stern

Host

Michelle Gonzalez
Veterinarian and host of The Animal Welfare Junction; forensic veterinarian involved in animal cruelty investigations.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 31 ratings
  • Devastatingly good podcast

    I started listening to this podcast after writing about the automation of factory farming — not from the perspective of an animal-welfare worker but as a mechanical engineer and technical writer who covers a lot of different industries that use automation (such as semiconductor manufacture and aerospace for example). The images and descriptions of what happens to animals in factory farming while they are still alive disturbed me enough to seek some kind of insight into the bigger picture of an... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Eli W.
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Impactful storytelling that connects cruelty cases to broader human issues.
Listeners appreciate the practical takeaways for rescuers and shelters.
High-quality conversations with experts, though production quality could improve.
Insightful deep-dives that reveal the realities of animal welfare work.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Season One: State vs Steffen Baldwin / Episode 9: The Monster Behind the Mask
Q: Why is it important to discuss coercive control in relation to animal welfare and dog ownership?
Because perpetrators exploit the bond between humans and animals to exert leverage, the threat or harm to an animal becomes a strategic tool to keep victims compliant, and recognizing these tactics helps professionals intervene earlier and protect both people and their animals.
Season One: State vs Steffen Baldwin / Episode 9: The Monster Behind the Mask
Q: Can you explain to the audience what coercive control is?
Coercive control is a pattern of violence and manipulation that aims to control a partner's daily life through threats, intimidation, economic abuse, and isolation; it may exist without overt physical harm but results in sustained fear and power imbalance.
Private Citizens and Cruelty Investigations - 2026 Animal ForensiCon with Jamie McManus
Q: What are practical recommendations for what to do and not to do regarding social media and reporting?
Avoid posting on social media about ongoing cruelty cases; it can endanger you, bias investigators, and harm the credibility of the case; instead, communicate with authorities and rely on official channels.
Private Citizens and Cruelty Investigations - 2026 Animal ForensiCon with Jamie McManus
Q: What should citizens do when they witness animal cruelty?
Witnesses should remain calm, observe facts, document objective details, and report to the proper authorities without interfering with the scene or the animals, to preserve evidence and avoid legal jeopardy.
Forensic Toxicology - 2026 Animal ForensiCon with Dr. Rachel Sheffler
Q: Can you start by letting our audience know what's your background?
Dr. Sheffler describes her veterinary training, a residency in toxicology, and a PhD focusing on food safety and ingredient toxicology, highlighting a diverse background in veterinary toxicology and related research.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Animal Welfare Junction

What is The Animal Welfare Junction about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on animal welfare, veterinary forensics, and the intersection of cruelty cases with policy and community impact. Across episodes, discussions commonly examine real-world casework, rescue operations, investigative processes, and the legal/systemic factors shaping animal protection. A notable strength is the guest roster, which spans veterinarians, forensic experts, law enforcement, rescue leaders, and nonprofit operators, offering practical insights for listeners considering careers in animal welfare or opportunities for collaboration and sponsorship in this space. The format tends to blend case narratives with expert analysis, making it a valuable resource for professionals seeking actionable takeaways and for sponsors aimi... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Animal Welfare Junction?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Animal Welfare Junction:

1. Keep it Humane
2. Tooth & Claw: True Stories of Animal Attacks
3. United We Spay
4. The Vanished Podcast
5. Small Town Dicks

How many episodes of The Animal Welfare Junction are there?

The Animal Welfare Junction launched 3 years ago and published 114 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Animal Welfare Junction?

Recent guests on The Animal Welfare Junction include:

1. Laurie Millward
2. Jamie McManus
3. Dr. Nancy Bradley
4. Shalimar Oliver
5. Rachel Sheffler
6. Tonia Smith
7. Dr. Larry Garcia
8. Dr. Eileen Roy-Zokan

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