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Pawtastic Friends - The Paw Talk

Pawtastic Friends: The Paw Talk – Linus, Katniss and Kanan

Welcome to Pawtastic Friends-The Paw Talk. In this podcast, host Tom Fox visits with Michael and Melissa Novelli, co-founders of Pawtastic Friends and 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, activities such as yoga and aquatics training, obedience, and agility. This podcast is sure to tug on your heartstrings; just listen to how sweet this one dog is! Tune in to hear more from Michael and Melissa Novelli as they discuss their passion for helping needy pups. Get ready for an exciting episode of Pawtastic Friends – The Paw Talk! In this episode, we feature Linus, Katniss, and Kanan.

Michael and Melissa Novelli return to discuss the inspiring stories of rescue dogs Linus, Katniss, and Kanan. Linus, a senior dog, benefits from aquatic exercises to help with joint pain and muscle strength. Katniss has found a loving foster home where she thrives but needs to be the only dog. Kanan, now happily adopted, had an extended stay in boarding before finding his forever home. The episode concludes with valuable guidelines for dog owners on making the holiday season less stressful for pets, including food safety tips and advice on avoiding anxiety-inducing situations. Additionally, the hosts highlight the importance of donations and available swag on the Pawtastic Friends site to support their life-changing rescue center.

Quotes:

“If they are afraid, don’t put them in the situation. Don’t set them up to fail.” Michael Novelli

“I think it’s important that, you know, there’s lots of ways to celebrate and you can celebrate, you know, with dog toys. I don’t think rawhides. No, rawhides, toys. You should supervise them.” Melissa Novelli

“And I’m one with the snacks. But, you know, how about making them their own little holiday dinner, like some boiled chicken and some steamed carrots and some steamed green beans and maybe some pumpkin.” – Melissa Novelli

“So like I said, there’s always ways to celebrate. You just have to be smart about.” – Melissa Novelli

Resources:

Pawtastic Friends

Donate to Pawtastic Friends

Pawtastic Friends on Instagram

Pawtastic Friends on Facebook

Pawtastic Friends-Hope for the Holiday

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Pawtastic Friends - The Paw Talk

Pawtastic Friends: The Paw Talk-Jax, Nova and Rome

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 heart strings, 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 Jax, Nova and Rome.

Michael and Melissa Novelli are back to discuss the inspiring journeys of three rescue dogs: Jax, Nova, and Rome. Melissa shares heartwarming details about Jax, a lovable three-year-old pit bull, describing his sweet disposition and the joy he brings to everyone he meets. The importance of their Boarding Buddies program, which provides quality time, and essential walks for rescue dogs, is also emphasized. Michael then discusses Nova, a high-energy 13-month-old brown lab who loves swimming and is currently with their partner, Crazy for Paws. As Nova waits for her forever home, the importance of spaying and neutering pets to control the pet population is highlighted. Finally, Melissa shares the happy tale of Rome, a rescue dog who recently found his forever home after receiving confidence-building training, showcasing the impact of their facility and programs. In a heartwarming conclusion, the episode announces a special fundraiser in honor of Melissa’s birthday, inviting listeners to contribute to the ongoing support of rescue dogs. Listeners are encouraged to adopt rather than shop for pets, to sponsor dogs, and to share the message to reach a broader audience.

Quotes

“He is kind of like one of those guys that just happy go, lucky, goes with the flow.” – Melissa Novelli

“It’s not just a simple dog walk. It’s just that you’re helping this dog on its journey.” – Melissa Novelli

“When you get those happy stories like that, it makes it all worthwhile.” Michael Novelli

 

Resources

Pawtastic Friends

Donate to Pawtastic Friends

Pawtastic Friends on Instagram

Pawtastic Friends on Facebook

Pawtastic Friends-Hope for the Holiday

Categories
Pawtastic Friends - The Paw Talk

Pawtastic Friends: The Paw Talk – Queen, Cheba and Fanta

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 and 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, activities such as yoga and aquatics training, obedience, and agility. This podcast is sure to tug on your heartstrings; listen to how sweet this one dog is! Tune in to hear more from Michael and Melissa Novelli as they discuss their passion for helping needy pups. Get ready for an exciting episode of Pawtastic Friends – The Paw Talk! In this episode, we feature Queen, Cheba, and Fanta.

The annual fundraiser ‘Hope for the Holidays,’ organized by Pawtastic Friends, is a cherished community event to support rescue dogs and raise 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. Their perspectives reveal a deep commitment to animal welfare and community engagement, making ‘Hope for the Holidays’ a heartwarming and impactful event.

Quotes:

“She’s got that sweet personality, she’s energetic, but she’s also got that spicy side.” – Melissa Novelli

“This facility costs about $250,000 a year to run. And we do it on fundraisers and the generosity of people.” – Michael Novelli

Resources:

Pawtastic Friends

Donate to Pawtastic Friends

Pawtastic Friends on Instagram

Pawtastic Friends on Facebook

Pawtastic Friends-Hope for the Holiday

Categories
Pawtastic Friends - The Paw Talk

Pawtastic Friend: The Paw talk – Chance, Shakira and Hope

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

Resources:

Pawtastic Friends

Donate to Pawtastic Friends

Pawtastic Friends on Instagram

Pawtastic Friends on Facebook

Categories
Pawtastic Friends - The Paw Talk

Pawtastic Friends: The Paw Talk – Otto, Marchy and Alex

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 Otto, Marchy and Alex.

Otto and Marchy have both captured Melissa’s heart with their endearing personality and eagerness to learn during their training at a rescue facility. Tom asks about the dog’s potential. Both Michael and Melissa praise Otto and Marchy’s transformation from reluctance to engagement, emphasizing his need for a caring adult home that can provide him with adventures and companionship. Their experiences at the rescue facility, witnessing Otto and Marchy’s progress firsthand, shape their perspective that love, care, and engaging activities can profoundly impact the lives of rescue dogs, highlighting Otto and Marchy as perfect candidates for a fur-ever family.

Quotes:

“At first, he just wanted to go to the door to leave the arena. And then afterwards, he really connected with Jenny and the engagement of watching him be a dog and play with ball and, you know, tug toys and going up and down the ramp and the a-frame and seeing him really absorb all the information she was sharing with him, it was just so awesome.” – Melissa Novelli

“It’s so fun to watch them actually play and, you know, come out of their shell and to really shine their personalities.” – Melissa Novelli

“We don’t charge anybody. We’re just looking to raise some money to, you know, fund our enrichment training center.” – Michael Novelli

Resources:

Pawtastic Friends

Donate to Pawtastic Friends

Pawtastic Friends on Instagram

Pawtastic Friends on Facebook

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Pawtastic Friends - The Paw Talk

Pawtastic Friends: The Paw Talk – Hercules, Angelina and Prince

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 Hercules, Angelina and Prince.

We also introduce the Fostering Initiative Project, a pioneering effort designed to engage the public in fostering homeless animals. This project organizes monthly foster fairs and offers various fostering opportunities, aiming to save animals’ lives by finding temporary and eventually permanent homes with loving families. Tom highlights the importance of fostering for providing dogs with love, structure, and consistency, benefiting both the animals and rescues by helping them understand the dogs better for future adoptions. Michael echoes this sentiment, emphasizing that fostering offers a much better environment compared to boarding and appreciates the initiative’s growth through events that encourage public participation. Melissa underscores the project’s significance in addressing the crisis of homeless animals, promoting various types of fostering, and organizing educational fairs to boost community involvement and support. Together, their perspectives highlight fostering as a transformative solution for both animals and the community.

Quotes:

“Well, we know where the talker in the group is.” – Michael Novelli

“Fosters are incredible because fosters give the dog love, they give the dog structure, they give the dog consistency as it would be in a forever home.” – Melissa Novelli

“Is the dog the best fit? Is the family the best fit? And that’s with adoption or fostering. You know, we want to set everybody up for success.” – Melissa Novelli

Resources:

Pawtastic Friends

Donate to Pawtastic Friends

Pawtastic Friends on Instagram

Pawtastic Friends on Facebook

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Pawtastic Friends - The Paw Talk

Pawtastic Friends: The Paw Talk – Dolce, Willis and Nava

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 Dolce, Willis and Nava.

In this episode of Pawtasti Friends: The Paw Talk, Tom Fox chats with Michael and Melissa Novelli about their work with rescue dogs at Pawtastic Friends. They discuss the journeys of several dogs, including Dolce, Willis, and Nava, highlighting the rehabilitation, and fostering processes. The Novelli’s also share the success of their Foster Initiative Program and recent recognition from county officials for their contributions to the community.

Quotes:

“Each trainer works with the dogs to help them rebuild confidence and trust in humans.” – Melissa Novelli

“It might not be the type of dog that you first meet, like Willis, and you’re like, oh, you’re so cute. And then you overwhelm him and surprise him, and he’s not ready for that. It’s too much stimulation. But if you’re willing to come and meet him once and let him come up to you and work at his pace and then gradually move on and each session gets better, then he’s well, well rounded.” – Michael Novelli

“We’re facing this crisis in the community and somebody’s got to do something and that somebody is us and our Pawtastic Friends team.” – Melissa & Michael Novelli” 

Resources:

Pawtastic Friends

Donate to Pawtastic Friends

Pawtastic Friends on Instagram

Pawtastic Friends on Facebook

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Pawtastic Friends - The Paw Talk

Pawtastic Friends: The Paw Talk – Fanta, Valentino and Will

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 Fanta, Valentino, and Will.

Rescue dogs often require extensive training to build their confidence and trust, making the search for their forever homes both critical and challenging. Michael and Melissa Novelli, share a deep understanding of the dedication and patience needed by potential owners. They emphasize the importance of homes that allow dogs like Fanta and Eli, who have had no prior training, to grow at their own pace with continuous support, using Will’s transformation from a dog with severe separation anxiety into a happy pet as an inspiring example.

Michael highlights the unique challenges faced by rescue dogs, such as Eli’s deafness and partial blindness, stressing the need for a supportive environment and the significance of bonding with dogs like Valentino, who requires time and space to trust humans. Melissa underscores the necessity of ongoing commitment from adopters, particularly for special needs dogs, praising dedicated owners like Danny for their unwavering dedication, which helps rescue dogs thrive. Together, their perspectives illuminate the transformative power of love, patience, and continued training in providing rescue dogs with the stability and happiness they deserve.

Quotes:

“A very, very patient homeowners, you know, that are going to be dedicated and committed, that aren’t going to let these dogs down again.” – Michael Novelli

“It’s not just, hey, I’m going to send my dogs to training. They have to share the videos. They have to do promote the dogs, because at the end of the day, the common goal is to get the dog adopted.” Melissa Novelli

“Fanta and Eli have special needs and require basic training to build confidence and trust.” – Mellisa Novelli

 Resources

Pawtastic Friends

Donate to Pawtastic Friends

Pawtastic Friends on Instagram

Pawtastic Friends on Facebook

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Pawtastic Friends - The Paw Talk

Pawtastic Friends: The Paw Talk – Pita, Nora and Lexus

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 Pita, Nora and Lexus.

Michael and Melissa Novelli discuss the training progress of two dogs, Pita and Nora, both from the Nevada SPCA, highlighting their behavior and training improvements at the Pawtastic Friends Training Center. They also share the success story of Lexus, the 673rd dog to find a furever home through the program. The episode covers the unique annual block party fundraiser and an upcoming Foster Initiative Project aimed at educating the community on fostering homeless animals. The hosts emphasize the importance of building trust, confidence, and obedience in dogs to prepare them for adoption.

Quotes:

“Her profile picture, she has one ear up and one ear down. It’s great. It’s just great. I was like, how can you not adopt this dog?” – Mike Novelli

“They’re building skills that are going to prepare them for their forever home.” – Melissa Novelli

“What’s great about this program, too, Tom, is a lot of times people will go to a shelter and they might adopt a dog. They don’t really know much about it. And sometimes the shelter staff might not know that much about it, but when they come here, we can give them all that information.” –  Melissa Novelli

“At the end of the day tomorrow, fostering saves lives and it’s free.” – Melissa Novelli”

Resources

Pawtastic Friends

Donate to Pawtastic Friends

Pawtastic Friends on Instagram

Pawtastic Friends on Facebook

Categories
Pawtastic Friends - The Paw Talk

Pawtastic Friends: The Paw Talk – Honey Lemon, Donnie and Nava

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 Honey Lemon, Donnie, and Nava.

The Annual Block Party Fundraiser is a vibrant event hosted by Pawtastic Friends Enrichment Training Center in Las Vegas, aimed at raising funds and awareness for their rescue dog initiatives.

Tom Fox, an ardent supporter of this event, cherishes the community engagement it fosters and appreciates the efforts made to improve the lives of rescue dogs.

Coming from a background of advocating for sustainable support programs, Michael sees the value in the block party as a tool to rally support locally and nationally for their rescue center and their initiatives like the foster program. Similarly, Melissa regards the fundraiser as the centerpiece of their yearly activities, emphasizing its vital role in garnering community support.

With the proceeds going towards vital initiatives such as the foster program, Melissa and her team aim to provide extensive training and aftercare for rescue dogs and their adoptive families, ensuring successful adoptions and secure futures.

Quotes:

“I would probably say no small kids, because she is very active, and she might run them over, be like a bowling alley.” – Michael Novelli

“We like to hear, too, when the transporters are like, I turned down the street and they knew where they were. They were getting all excited. They knew where they were going to pawtastic friends. So, I mean, this place is, you know, it’s a light for a lot of these dogs.” – Melissa Novelli

“I have an idea… our foster initiative project is going to be a new program that we will be implementing with our partners, rescue partners, and shelter partners.” – Michael Novelli

“Watch your dogs when they’re playing with toys. Very important.” – Melissa Novelli

Resources:

Pawtastic Friends

Donate to Pawtastic Friends

Vote for Pawtastic Friends at Wreaths of Hope

Pawtastic Friends on Instagram

Pawtastic Friends on Facebook