Hosts Caroline and Paula from Lifeline of Galveston County discuss the philosophy and practice of open adoptions: reducing barriers so more pets find homes, accepting returns without judgment, and focusing on long-term care.

They share data about stray animals and shelter limits, explain why bilingual services matter, and tell how Spanish-language communication helped in a complex case (Austin) to reach the best outcome for the dog and family.

The episode highlights practical adoption counseling, follow-up support, and the staff’s passion for making a meaningful difference in the community.

Join Caroline and Kate from Lifeline of Galveston County as they return to the podcast from their cat cafe room to recap 2025. From viral social posts that led to adoptions to lessons learned about simplicity, trends versus storytelling, and the emotional rewards of rescue work, they share successes like kitten rescues, adoption updates, and the impact of social media on saving lives.

Listen in for behind-the-scenes insights on content strategy, the value of adoption follow-ups, and personal reflections on resilience, creativity, and the joy of finding homes for every pet.

In this powerful episode of The Lifeline Podcast, Caroline sits down with Lakeisha and Vivian from Best Friends Animal Society’s Houston Team to explore how real change happens in animal welfare from the inside out. 🚨

Get an unfiltered look into what it takes to build life-saving programs, partner with local shelters, and move entire communities toward the No Kill 90% benchmark. From navigating politics and policy to mobilizing volunteers and staying grounded in the mission, Lakeisha and Vivian share personal stories and professional insights that will inspire anyone who cares about animals.

🎧 What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How Best Friends approaches community-based animal rescue

• What collaboration really looks like between nonprofits and municipal shelters

• Why empathy and grit matter in high-stakes advocacy work

• The everyday realities of striving toward a No Kill nation

Whether you’re in the trenches of rescue work or just want to understand how lasting change happens, this is one conversation you don’t want to miss.