In this episode, I speak with Jenna Miller, Chair of the Board of Trustees at Spirit of the Dog Rescue, an independent charity run entirely by volunteers.
With more than fifteen years of experience in animal care and rescue, Jenna offers an honest look at what really happens behind the scenes — far beyond the social media snapshots and success stories we usually see.
We talk about what it takes to run a rescue responsibly, the emotional weight of decision-making, and the systems that often fail both people and dogs.
Jenna shares what surrendering a dog actually involves, how rescues decide who they can help, and the ongoing battle to balance compassion with sustainability.
This is a conversation about reality, not rescue romanticism.
It is about fatigue, bureaucracy, and the moments that make it all worth it. It is about humans trying to do right by dogs in a system that is stretched to breaking point.
If you are moved by this conversation and would like to support the work being done by Spirit of the Dog Rescue, you can learn more or make a donation here:
Website: www.spiritofthedog.org.uk
Donate: www.spiritofthedog.org.uk/donate
Instagram: @spiritofthedogrescue
Facebook: Spirit of the Dog Rescue
Follow Jenna’s work and stories: @dogrescuediaries