Smiles Dog Training

05/22/2026

05/07/2026

The people who care for animals in shelters and rescues experience post-traumatic stress at rates five times higher than the general workforce — and yet, almost no research has looked at how to support them.

A new pilot study published in Human-Animal Interactions by Dr. Melissa Trevathan-Minnis and colleagues set out to change that. They evaluated a 10-week virtual support group designed specifically for animal shelter and rescue workers and volunteers — and the results are striking.

What they found:
🐾 Significant reductions in grief vulnerability, perceived stress, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress
🐾 Significant improvements in overall mental health
🐾 100% of participants said they would recommend the group to a colleague

But the qualitative findings are where it really lands. Participants described what the group gave them:

- A like-minded community across geographic lines
- Validation for grief that often goes unrecognized in this work
- Tools for boundary-setting and self-care
- A renewed connection to purpose
- Permission to step back without shame

The "caring-killing paradox," disenfranchised grief, moral stress — these aren't abstract concepts for shelter and rescue workers. They're daily realities, and they're driving high rates of turnover (around 28% nationally, compared to 3.3% in the general workforce).

This study offers something rare: an evidence-based, scalable, low-cost intervention model for a population that has been overlooked for too long.

📖 Read the open-access study:

Trevathan-Minnis, M., Morris, N., Johnson Binder, A., & Pelar, C. (2026). Assessing the impact of a support group on people who work and volunteer in animal rescues and shelters: A pilot study. Human-Animal Interactions, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1079/hai.2026.0022

💬 If you work or volunteer in animal welfare — what kinds of support have meant the most to you?

05/04/2026

The long and short of it is that I have spent most of 2026 battling health issues (my own, my family, and Tidus too), burnout, grief in its many forms, and compassion fatigue. All while this ::waves at the US facism rolling ahead:: is happening.

It has made me a very inefficient professional, and I just wanted to thank everyone for their patience and flexibility while I get things sorted. I am reevaluating my capacity and boundaries around my business, as well as my role in the pet professional community, going forward.

04/23/2026

A milk replacement for puppies is being recalled nationwide, and officials are urging pet owners to discontinue its use immediately, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://fox5sandiego.com/news/pet-owners-urged-to-stop-using-recalled-puppy-milk-replacement/

01/07/2026

12/08/2025

11/12/2025

Don't miss out! 🐶✨

Join us TONIGHT at 6:30 pm AZ time for a FREE presentation by Valley fever expert, Dr. Lisa Shubitz! Come learn about how your dog could develop Valley fever, how to identify common symptoms of this disease, and what researchers at the VFCE are working on to improve the prognosis of this disease.

You can scan the QR code in the flyer below, or you can join using this link: https://arizona.zoom.us/j/82726646561

11/12/2025

10/14/2025

09/23/2025

If you’ve ever said “I’d love to help, but I don’t know where to start”, this is for you. We’re co-hosting a Buddy Day at with 😍 and you’re invited!

What to Expect:
At our event, we’re making it easy for you to dive into volunteering. We’ll have an AZK9 table set up, where you can get insights into volunteer roles. 

Activities:
Get ready for a day filled with fun! Meet adorable adoptable dogs, take them for a walk, or simply hang out in the cozy coffee area beside the house. This event is all about showcasing the variety of ways you can make a difference while volunteering.

Bake Sale:
There will be a bake sale at the rescue until 11:30am with delicious goodies made by volunteers and 100% of the funds raised benefit the rescue.

Date: October 11th, 2025
Time: 11am (orientation starts at 11am)
Location: AZK9 Rescue, 7615 W. Acoma Drive Peoria, AZ 85381

Mark your calendars and bring a friend (or come make new ones)! 

*While we appreciate the enthusiasm of young volunteers, please note that our policy restricts participation to individuals aged 12 and above. Additionally, we require that minors be accompanied by an adult during the event. As a safety measure, we kindly request that children not handle dogs during the volunteering activities. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in maintaining a safe and enjoyable environment for everyone involved!

09/21/2025

Six people in the US have died of rabies since last September, and the CDC is tracking 14 potential rabies outbreaks in 20 states. Unvaccinated dogs are the leading cause of human rabies deaths worldwide, but thanks to the success of vaccination campaigns, dogs with rabies are uncommon in the US, and infected bats are the primary vector. Emergency physician Leana Wen explains who should consider pre-exposure prophylaxis, what to do in the case of possible contact with a rabid animal, and how to prevent rabies exposure. https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/18/health/rabies-animal-vaccine-disease-health-wellness