EPAS Unleashed

EPAS Unleashed is back, and we're kicking off with an episode that truly speaks to today's challenges. In this month's episode, Community First, we sit down with Kristen Gurrola and Alyssa Atilano from the Community and Pet Support Team at El Paso Animal Services to talk about pet ownership and the challenges many pet parents find themselves facing when navigating increased pet costs, lack of housing, and a struggling economy. The CAPS program has evolved over the years with one goal in mind—keep families together. Tune in to find out how this small but mighty team works with the community to keep pets with the families that love them through education, resources, and support. Want more information on available resources through our CAPS program? Visit www.ElPasoAnimalServices.org/PetSupport. Have ideas for future Unleashed episodes? Email us at EPASoutreach@elpasotexas.gov! Don't forget to follow us on social media: TikTokInstagramFacebook

As pet parents, our jobs are much more than just making sure our pet has the basic needs—we also have to make sure they are loved and protected. In this month’s episode of EPAS Unleashed, we talk with Certified Behavior Consultant Jenna Pellerito about dog behavior, what to look out for when looking for a dog trainer, how to keep our pets happy with enrichment, and the importance of Fear Free Training. About Jenna Pellerito CBCC-KA, ABC-DT Jenna Pellerito is a Canine Behavior Consultant and Dog Trainer who has been in and out of the animal welfare field for 7 years. Outside of working in shelters, Jenna primarily consults behavior cases full time, both in Columbia, SC and virtually worldwide, where she works hands on with clients and their dogs to help them overcome severe behavioral issuesShe also has a vibrant social media presence where she talks about the importance of teaching dogs with compassion, mutual understanding and backed by science. For more information on Jenna, visit her website www.TheFutureIsForceFree.com or follow her on social media @thefutureisforcefree. Have ideas for future Unleashed episodes? Email us at EPASoutreach@elpasotexas.gov! Don't forget to follow us on social media: TikTokInstagramFacebook

Living in the vibrant Chihuahuan Desert, we are no strangers to seeing wildlife. In this month's episode of EPAS Unleashed, we talk with Nicole Roque from Texas Parks and Wildlife about our diverse ecosystem, how we can not only live amongst but coexist with our local wildlife, and how to protect ourselves, our pets and our wildlife. About Nicole Roque Nicole Roque has serves as the Community Outreach Specialist at Hueco Tanks State Park and Historic Site in El Paso, Texas. She has worked within the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for about six years, beginning her career as an AmeriCorps VISTA at the Franklin Mountains State Park focused on creating opportunities for underserved communities in the outdoors. Since beginning her journey at Hueco, she has developed a personal passion for cultural and heritage interpretation as well as community engagement. She is driven by the joy of sharing the wonders of the outdoors and culture in her community. Outside of work she enjoys cats, nature bathing, doodles, aerial arts, and letting the sun filter through her eyelids. Have ideas for future Unleashed episodes? Email us at EPASoutreach@elpasotexas.gov! Don't forget to follow us on social media: TikTokInstagramFacebook

May is National Mental Health Awareness month and we sat down with Executive Director, Isidro Torres with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) El Paso branch to talk about mental health, mental illness, resources for the community and of course, how pets can help support mental health and wellness. During the month of May, NAMI's national Mental Health Awareness campaign was all about "Taking the Moment" and prioritizing talking about mental health without feeling guilty or ashamed. While stigma around mental health persists, one thing remains true—our pets never judge us and are always there to support us with unconditional love! Learn more about NAMI El Paso and the resources they have available to the borderland community at www.namiep.org. Have ideas for future Unleashed episodes? Email us at EPASoutreach@elpasotexas.gov! Don't forget to follow us on social media: TikTokInstagramFacebook

Temperatures are rising and we're feeling the heat—the heat of being inundated with puppies and kittens, and the prevalence of disease in our region. In this month's episode of EPAS Unleashed, we sit down with our guest, Dr. Priscilla Rubio from TLC Animal Hospital to talk about how YOU can help 'Beat The Heat.' This episode covers the importance of vaccinating your pets, spaying and neutering, and how by taking these actions as a responsible pet owner, you can make our community a healthier place for pets. What topics do you want to hear next? Reach out and let us know your thoughts! Have ideas for future Unleashed episodes? Email us at EPASoutreach@elpasotexas.gov! Don't forget to follow us on social media: TikTokInstagramFacebook

EPAS Education Coordinator, Jessica Navarro sits down with Wayside Waifs to talk about their No More Bullying program and how it increases empathy amongst elementary school students toward both humans and animals. Thanks to a partnership following a recent fellowship, El Paso Animal Services will be bringing this program to the El Paso community! Learn more about the No More Bullying program in this month’s episode. If you're an educator that would like to learn how you can bring the No More Bullying program into your classroom, reach out to us at EPASoutreach@elpasotexas.gov. Check out Wayside Waifs' podcast, 'Wayside Tails' on Apple Podcasts and the iHeartRadio app! Have ideas for future Unleashed episodes? Email us at EPASoutreach@elpasotexas.gov! Don't forget to follow us on social media: TikTokInstagramFacebook

Happy Howlidays from all of us at El Paso Animal Services! In this month's episode of EPAS Unleashed, we sit with Dr. Priscilla Rubio from TLC Animal Hospital to answer your questions about pet safety around the holidays—everything from what can and CAN'T pets eat, what plants are dangerous, and other ways you can avoid an emergency trip to the vet that nobody wants. Thank you to all of our listeners for tuning in to our very first year of our podcast. We want to cover the topics you want to hear, and help make this podcast even better in 2024—reach out to let us know what topics you are interested in hearing! Have ideas for future Unleashed episodes? Email us at EPASoutreach@elpasotexas.gov! Don't forget to follow us on social media: TikTokInstagramFacebook

Did you know that there is extensive research that proves there's a strong link between family violence and animal abuse? People abused by people often abuse animals, and people who abuse animals also often abuse people—it's an endless cycle. In this month's episode of EPAS Unleashed, we sit with Anabel and Marissa from the EmpOURment Project at the El Paso Center Against Sexual and Family Violence to talk about the link between human and animal violence, different types of violence and abuse, what to look out for, and how to seek out help or offer support. Also, be sure to check out their podcast, La Voz De La Gente on Spotify! If you find yourself in a situation where you need help or support, or would like to provide support to a loved one, call the CASFV hotline at (915) 593-7300, which is available 24/7. Have ideas for future Unleashed episodes? Email us at EPASoutreach@elpasotexas.gov! Don't forget to follow us on social media: TikTokInstagramFacebook

You've probably heard the popular saying, "Adopt Don't Shop." In this month's episode of EPAS Unleashed, we talk about why you should make adoption your ONLY option, how breeding is not only (in most cases) illegal in the borderland, the impact it has on pet overpopulation, and how you can help. Every year, millions of animals end up in shelters across the country, while backyard breeders and puppy mills sell puppies and kittens by the thousands solely for profit, and not for the well-being of their animals. We talk to our Animal Protection Supervisor, Alberto Ortiz and Veterinary Technician, Wesley Walker about the detriment backyard breeding has to animal health and welfare, the importance of spaying, neutering and adopting, and what the community can do to stop these illegal practices right here in El Paso. If you're inspired by this episode, go to www.AdoptEP.org for more information on how you can make a difference! Have ideas for future Unleashed episodes? Email us at EPASoutreach@elpasotexas.gov! Don't forget to follow us on social media: TikTokInstagramFacebook

Our guest this month said it best, “From East Coast to West Coast, ear tips save lives!” This month’s episode of EPAS Unleashed, we chat with host of The Community Cats Podcast, Stacy LeBaron about community cats, TNR, and how a community can come together to save lives while also reducing the cat population in neighborhoods. We cover a lot of information in this episode, and reference some great resources for anyone looking to start, or enhance, TNR efforts! You can find links to some of those resources below: The Community Cats Podcast: https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/ Trapper Tips & Tricks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtXyr... Neighborhood Cats: https://www.neighborhoodcats.org/ Thank you, Stacy for joining us, and be sure to check out her podcast and resources by searching The Community Cats Podcast! Have ideas for future Unleashed episodes? Email us at EPASoutreach@elpasotexas.gov! Don't forget to follow us on social media: TikTokInstagramFacebook

Anyone can foster, and we mean ANYONE! But don't take it from us, one of our amazing fosters and volunteers Josette sits down with us to talk about how she finds the time to make a difference in shelter pets lives, even with a full time job and pets of her own. We hope this inspires you to consider fostering with your local shelter or rescue, too! If you're local to El Paso and want to try fostering a pet, visit our website for more information on our Foster program: www.ElPasoAnimalServices.org/foster. Have ideas for future Unleashed episodes? Email us at EPASoutreach@elpasotexas.gov! Don't forget to follow us on social media: TikTokInstagramFacebook

June is National Foster Appreciation Month, and in this month's episode of EPAS Unleashed, we chat with our Foster Coordinator, Valentin Garcia about all-things fostering! All your foster questions are answered here, and learn a bit about how this program came to be. Thank you to all of the amazing people that open their homes to a shelter pet in need! About Valentin Garcia Valentin joined El Paso Animal Services about thirteen years ago when he started as an Animal Care Attendant. He worked his way up through the department through various divisions, including Animal Protection and Operations, before becoming our Foster Coordinator in 2016. Valentin helped build the Foster program from being just a handful of staff taking home bottle-fed kittens at the end of the night, to a program that organizes and oversees over 2,000 animals in foster care. Have ideas for future Unleashed episodes? Email us at EPASoutreach@elpasotexas.gov! Don't forget to follow us on social media: TikTokInstagramFacebook

May is National Chip Your Pet Month, and in this month's episode, we speak with our Community and Pet Support Supervisor, Renee Rojas to talk about the importance of pet microchipping, and the resources that El Paso Animal Services offers to help keep pets at home with the families that love them. If you're in El Paso and your pet needs a microchip, we offer FREE microchipping services every month! Visit our website www.ElPasoAnimalServices.org/calendar for more information. About Renee Rojas Renee Rojas began working with El Paso Animal Services eleven years ago, even before the shelter reform plan was implemented and majority of pets that came into the shelter were unfortunately not making it out alive. She's seen and has been apart of amazing changes over the years, and has helped pets in a variety of roles including Animal Protection Officer, Pet Retention Supervisor, Population Management and now Community and Pet Support Supervisor. Have ideas for future Unleashed episodes? Email us at EPASoutreach@elpasotexas.gov! Don't forget to follow us on social media: TikTokInstagramFacebook

In this episode of EPAS Unleashed, we sit down with our Volunteer Coordinator, Jessica Hernandez to learn about the volunteer program at El Paso Animal Services, how the community can help, and upcoming events. Whether you're a dog lover, a cat lover, want to help from home, are 8 years old to 99 years old, we have something you can help with! If this episode inspired you to volunteer, visit our website www.ElPasoAnimalServices.org/volunteer to get started. About Jessica Hernandez Jess first started working for the City of El Paso over 10 years ago, but beginning her career with Parks and Recreation. But during the pandemic, many Parks and Recreation employees were able to shift over to work at the El Paso Animal Services shelter since recreational facilities were closed down. Jess began working with EPAS walking dogs, really filling the hole that volunteers left during that trying time. She started officially with the volunteer program in 2021 and became our Volunteer Coordinator in 2022. Have ideas for future Unleashed episodes? Email us at EPASoutreach@elpasotexas.gov! Don't forget to follow us on social media: TikTokInstagramFacebook

In this month's episode of EPAS Unleashed, we talk about Prevention of Animal Cruelty Month, a day in the life of an Animal Protection Officer, and how you can help keep your community's pets safe from cruelty or neglect. To find out more about our 'Go Orange for Animals' campaign and how you can help, visit our website www.ElPasoAnimalServices.org/news. About Gina Ramirez Gina Ramirez is the Animal Protection Field Manager at El Paso Animal Services. She's been with the department over 18 years and has seen it grow from being the 'pound' to being a community resource. About Investigator David Ramirez Officer David Ramirez has been with the El Paso Police Department for over 20 years, but joined the Animal Cruelty Investigations Unit in 2022. Have ideas for future Unleashed episodes? Email us at EPASoutreach@elpasotexas.gov! Don't forget to follow us on social media: TikTokInstagramFacebook

If you have baby fever, or you just love kittens and thought about fostering, this episode is for you! We get down to the nitty gritty of fostering neonatal kittens, kitten season and TNR (trap-neuter-return) with this month's special guest, Nicole Wisneskie from Best Friends Animal Society. To find more information about kitten season and fostering, visit our website www.SaveTheKittensEP.com. About Nicole Wisneskie and the Shelter Embed Project Nicole is an Operations Manager with Best Friends Animal Society who is currently embedded in operations at El Paso Animal Services for the next year to assist the department with enhancing lifesaving programs. She comes to El Paso from Los Angeles, and is a Licensed Veterinary Technician who specializes in neonates, foster programs and medical programming. The Best Friends National Shelter Embed Program allows Best Friends staff to work side-by-side with animal welfare agencies across the country to help them implement proven lifesaving strategies and help scale programs to the next level to increase community resources and save more lives. Have ideas for future Unleashed episodes? Email us at EPASoutreach@elpasotexas.gov! Don't forget to follow us on social media: TikTokInstagramFacebook

In this month's episode of the EPAS Unleashed Podcast, we're talking to our sole resident veterinarian, Dr. Tony Chacon, about National Spay/Neuter Awareness Month or National Prevent A Litter Month, the importance of spaying or neutering your pet, the health and behavior benefits, and some common misconceptions associated with fixing your pet. To find spay/neuter resources in the El Paso community, visit our partners www.EPVMA.org. About Dr. Tony Chacon Dr. Chacon is a borderland native, growing up in Anthony and started his education at NMSU and then moved to the United Kingdom to attend the Royal Veterinary College. After graduation, he began working as a veterinarian in private practice, but after the pandemic, decided to move back home to be closer with family. He started at El Paso Animal Services in September 2022. Have ideas for future Unleashed episodes? Email us at EPASoutreach@elpasotexas.gov! Don't forget to follow us on social media: TikTokInstagramFacebook

On our last episode, we talked about National Train Your Dog Month. This bonus Q&A episode, we took your questions to one of our Training & Enrichment Coordinators, Mason Castillo. Tune in later this month where we'll talk with our Veterinarian, Dr. Tony Chacon about Spay/Neuter Awareness Month and the many benefits of making sure your pet is spayed or neutered. Have ideas for future Unleashed episodes? Email us at EPASoutreach@elpasotexas.gov! Don't forget to follow us on social media: TikTokInstagramFacebook

Kicking the year off with our very first episode of EPAS Unleashed! January is National Train Your Dog Month, so this month we are talking to El Paso Animal Services' very own Animal Training & Enrichment Coordinator, Mason Castillo about what animal training is, the importance of puppy socialization, and learning animal behavior. El Paso Animal Services offers great resources to new pet parents and foster parents to help ease the transition of welcoming a new pet into your family. Visit our website for a list of resources mentioned in this month's episode! About Mason Castillo Mason Castillo is a certified Shelter Behavior Affiliate with the IAABC and Bite Prevention Educator, a professional member of the PPG and holds numerous certifications in animal behavior. Mason was a graphic designer by trade, but after volunteering at the El Paso Animal Services shelter seven years ago, he fell in love with animal welfare and changed career paths to focus on animal training, enrichment and behavior. Have ideas for future Unleashed episodes? Email us at EPASoutreach@elpasotexas.gov! Don't forget to follow us on social media: TikTokInstagramFacebook

Hello animal lovers! We are excited to introduce our new podcast, EPAS Unleashed! Every month we'll bring you new episodes covering various topics, including pet tips, lifesaving news, special guests and more. We are making this for you, our community, and would love to cover topics you'd find interesting—reach out to us if you have an idea! Email us at EPASoutreach@elpasotexas.gov. Have ideas for future Unleashed episodes? Email us at EPASoutreach@elpasotexas.gov! Don't forget to follow us on social media: TikTokInstagramFacebook