EPAS Unleashed Q&A - Training & Enrichment Coordinator

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:

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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:

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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:

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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:

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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:

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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:

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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:

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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:

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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:

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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:

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