Welcome to Pawtastic Friends-The Paw Talk. In this podcast, host Tom Fox will visit with Michael and Melissa Novelli, co-founders of Pawtastic Friends, as well as those who work with them at Pawtastic Friends. Michael and Melissa are dedicated to helping shelter and rescue dogs in the Las Vegas area become more adaptable, through enrichment training and activities such as yoga and aquatics training, as well as obedience and agility. This podcast is sure to tug on your heartstrings; just listen to how sweet this one dog is! Tune in now to hear more from Michael and Melissa Novelli as they discuss their passion for helping pups in need. Get ready for an exciting episode of Pawtastic Friends: The Paw Talk!
In this episode, we feature Chance, Shakira and Hope.
The annual fundraiser ‘Hope for the Holidays,’ organized by Pawtastic Friends, is a cherished community event aimed at supporting rescue dogs and raising awareness for breast cancer. Tom is particularly enthusiastic about the event’s family-engaging features, such as Santa Claus taking pictures with dogs and local vendors, which not only entertain but also foster a strong community spirit. Michael also highlights the family-friendly nature of the fundraiser, emphasizing its role in educating children about dog rescue and celebrating the positive impact of such initiatives. Melissa underscores the importance of matching rescue dogs with the right families, sharing inspiring stories like Hope’s successful adoption to emphasize the joy these connections can bring. Collectively, their perspectives reveal a deep commitment to both animal welfare and community engagement, making ‘Hope for the Holidays’ a heartwarming and impactful event.
Quotes:
“Unfortunately, you know, some of these dogs get to, like, five, six, seven years old, and people don’t want to give them a chance. And you know what? You should. They have a lot of life left and a lot of love to give you.” – Melissa Novelli
“It can be an important part of the process if the family already has a dog, because I really think it helps both the dog that’s already been adopted and then the one, you’re adopting to, to really help socialize so people not want to think about that and use the facility to do that.” Michael Novelli
“Well, and that’s why we have some education classes before about explaining rescue to kids families. And everybody thinks it’s cool to go buy a dog at a pet store. But the rescues are full of wonderful dogs.” – Michael Novelli
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