Featured Guests
Here you can learn more about the wonderful organizations & guests featured on AnimalZone!
One Dane At A Time



Erika Calle, Founder
Tehachapi, CA, USA
Featured in Season 3, Episode 2. The mission of One Dane at a Time is not only to take in Danes in need and place them in forever homes, but also to educate the public on the specific needs of this amazing breed and to raise awareness about spay/neuter and responsible ownership.
Operation Blankets of Love



Eileen and Brad Smulson, Founders
Granada Hills, CA
Featured in Season 5, Episode 3. Eileen never had a pet before in her life. Inspired by one little dog named Ginger, she founded OBOL, offering hope to thousands of stray, sick, neglected, abused, and homeless animals. OBOL is a non-profit animal welfare and emergency relief organization providing pet food, supplies, and comfort items to shelters, rescues & struggling pet owners throughout the state of CA and beyond.
Paw Works



Brittany Vizcara, Operations Supervisor
Thousand Oaks, CA, USA
Featured in Season 1, Episode 6, Season 2, Episode 1, and Season 4, Episode 6. Paw Works was founded with the clear mission: to help make Ventura County “No Kill” by forming a rescue organization designed to place unwanted animals from county and city shelters in permanent homes.
Peace of Mind Dog Rescue



Monica Rua & Carie Broecker, Co-Founders
Pacific Grove, CA, USA
Featured in Season 3 Bonus Episodes, Episode 5. Peace of Mind's mission is to be a resource and advocate for senior dogs and senior people on California’s Central Coast, focusing on helping dogs and people from Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito counties
Pet Paintings By Zoë



Zoë Elliot
Santa Barbara, CA, USA
Featured in Season 2, Episode 2. Working in 5 mediums: Graphite, Charcoal, Digital, Acrylic, and Oils, Zoë Elliott specializes in surreal, heartfelt paintings of your pet. Examples include a meditating Golden Retriever and your pet presented as Victorian Royalty.
Pet Partners Of Southern California



Shellie & Ted, Regional Representatives
Southern California, CA, USA
Featured in Season 3, Episode 4. Volunteers in the Therapy Animal Program interact with a wide variety of clients including veterans with PTSD, seniors living with Alzheimer’s, patients in recovery, people with intellectual disabilities, and those approaching end of life.
Popovich Comedy Pet Theater



Gregory Popovich, Comedian
Las Vegas, NV, USA
Featured in Season 6, Episode 13. In fabulous Las Vegas, we meet the creator of Popovich Comedy Pet Theater, Gregory Popovich, and his spectacular rescue animals, who are also the stars. Gregory’s family-friendly show at the V Theater in Planet Hollywood includes rescued cats, dogs, a pony, a pig, a parrot, and many more domestic pets that have been saved from area shelters. He is also the author of two books about training cats and dogs and the star of two films, the most recent is Popovich Road To Hollywood.
RESQCATS



Jeffyne Telson, President
Santa Barbara, CA, USA
Featured in Season 1, Episode 1 & 3, Season 2, Episode 13, Season 3, Episode 10 & 12, Season 4, Episode 11, and Season 5, Episode 10. RESQCATS is a non-profit cat sanctuary located in Santa Barbara, California, dedicated to the rescue, care and adoption of abandoned cats and kittens.
Rock Cats Rescue: The Amazing Acro-Cats



Samantha Martin, Founder
Brooks, GA, USA
Featured in Season 2, Episode 11. The Amazing Acro-Cats supports the mission of Rock Cats Rescue by promoting animal welfare, educating audiences on feline foster and rescue, and demonstrating the benefits of clicker training.
Santa Barbara Bird Sanctuary



Jamie McLeod, Director
Summerland, CA, USA
Featured in Season 1, Episode 12 and Season 2, Episode 2. Santa Barbara Bird Sanctuary, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, was founded in 2004 by Director Jamie McLeod, who recognized the need for a rescue dedicated to unwanted and displaced companion parrots.
Santa Barbara Humane



Kerri Burns, CEO
Santa Barbara, CA, USA
Featured in Season 1, Season 2, Season 3, Season 4, Season 5, and Season 6. Santa Barbara Humane is dedicated to the welfare of animals & strives to provide a safe haven for homeless dogs and cats until we are able to find forever homes for them. Campuses in Santa Maria & Santa Barbara.
Shadow's Fund



Jill Anderson Rackley, Co-Founder
Lompoc, CA, USA
Featured in Season 3, Episode 9 and Season 3 Bonus Episodes, Episode 4. Shadow’s Fund is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to helping the most vulnerable shelter dogs. Senior dogs, dogs labelled as “pit bulls” and dogs with a treatable injury or illness are often passed over for adoption.
The Cypress Inn



Nancy Tran, Food & Beverage Manager
Carmel, CA, USA
Featured in Season 3, Episode 3. Formerly owned by iconic actress Doris Day, The Cypress Inn has been a pioneer in pet-friendly accommodations, firmly believing that pets of all shapes, sizes and breeds are an integral part of the family.
The Pet Psychic



Laura Stinchfield
Carpinteria, CA, USA
Featured in Season 1, Season 2, Season 3 Bonus Episodes, Season 4, Season 5, Season 6, Season 7 and upcoming Season 8. Laura uses telepathy to have two way conversations with alive animals, deceased animals and people, and anyone who cannot speak for themselves.
The Pet Rescue Expert



Larissa Wohl
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Featured in Season 1, Season 2, Season 4, Season 5, Season 6, & Season 7. Larissa Wohl is a dynamic journalist best known for her energetic and relatable personality. Currently she can be seen on Hallmark Channel’s “Home & Family” as the resident pet rescue expert.
The Pet Specialists, Cardiologist



Dr. Michael Lesser, DVM ACVIM
Del Rey Oaks, CA, USA
Featured in Season 3, Episode 2. As a board-certified cardiologist, Dr. Lesser's expertise includes non-invasive techniques such as echocardiography, color flow Doppler ultrasound, electrocardiography and non-invasive blood pressure monitoring.
Thrive Animal Rescue



Cece Durante-Bloum, Co-Founder
Del Mar, CA, USA
Featured in Season 3, Episode 7. Founded by Cece Durante-Bloum and Georgia Spogli, Thrive Animal Rescue, comes to the aid of abandoned and discarded dogs of all breeds, ages and situations by providing medical aid, compassionate love and support.