Ep. 64: How One Radio Host Became a Voice for Shelter Animals with Holly Haze

On today's episode, I talk with animal advocate and longtime radio personality Holly Haze, whose journey into rescue began with a dog named Taco. After sharing Taco's story on social media and learning that he had been euthanized, Holly realized that awareness alone wasn't enough—she needed to do more. That moment sparked a mission that eventually led to Furry Friday, a weekly radio feature highlighting shelter animals in need of homes. Through her voice and platform, Holly has helped countless animals find families while becoming deeply involved as a volunteer, foster, and board member.  We Explore: How grief and guilt can become catalysts for action The emotional realities of volunteering in animal welfare Compassion fatigue, burnout, and the "zealot phase" Why boundaries are essential for staying in the work long-term Finding compassion satisfaction in the small wins The systemic issues driving shelter overcrowding The importance of spay/neuter and public education Why every person—regardless of their skills or emotional bandwidth—has a place in helping animals How fostering, daycations, photography, social media, and even laundry can save lives Learning to accept that we cannot save them all while still making a difference Resources Mentioned: Holly’s Instagram  Country Acres Rescue Additional Resources for Managing Compassion Fatigue:  Sign up for my free monthly newsletter here. Got a suggestion for a future topic? Reach out to me: [email protected]. Interested in becoming certified in compassion fatigue? Learn more here! Follow on social media:  Facebook Instagram YouTube Grab your free resources to help manage compassion fatigue here.  Visit my free virtual calming room here.  Get your copy of To Save a Starfish: A Compassion Fatigue Workbook for the Animal Welfare Warrior here.  Pre-order your copy of Beyond Compassion Fatigue: Trauma, Resilience, and Recovery in Animal Care and Advocacy here.