Oct 8, 2026 · 32 min · 7 segments
Host Cara Achterberg sits down with Emily Holland, Executive Director of Animal Harbor in Winchester, Tennessee, to discuss innovative, compassionate approaches to animal welfare in rural communities…
Emily HollandGuest
Cara AchterbergHost
I mean, I wish we could clone you and plop one down outside of every municipal shelter [laughs] because, I mean, you do so many amazing programs.
Talk for a minute, I know that's not our topic today, but, like, just 'cause it's such a great program and I would love for other people to emulate it, especially 'cause it doesn't cost you anything much, right? It's not a, an expense.
But talk about what your community pack walks are, 'cause I just think they're brilliant.
[laughs] Like, we're in our second summer in Tennessee, so I think people are waiting for the later dates to, to join us, but we still have, like, tried and true people that come out that may not come to the shelter.
It's a community pack walk, so basically our, our dogs that are, are walking I would say 60, 75% minimal good on a leash, 'cause we, you know, volunteers are walking with other dogs that are still working on leash training.
But we try to bring our best dogs, right, our best leash walkers to these events, so then the public that maybe may not be as versed in volunteering or walking dogs don't get discouraged or overwhelmed or, "Gosh, the shelter dog." You know, we, we want it to be a positive thing for the community, and- Any experience level can come.
So the dogs that we choose to go to the pack walks are generally pretty well on a leash and friendly with other dogs, and they present really well.
So usually anywhere from, depending on how many people that come, so the people just, the people in the community meet us at the park.
You have a walking partner, so if you ever get overwhelmed or your experience level is ground level and you bit off more than you can chew, there's gonna be somebody there that can support you.
So we try to support the community in that and make it just as good of an experience for them as the dogs.
Our volunteers are really passionate about it, though, so that, that really helps.
I mean, I wish we could clone you and plop one down outside of every municipal shelter [laughs] because, I mean, you do so many amazing programs.
Talk for a minute, I know that's not our topic today, but, like, just 'cause it's such a great program and I would love for other people to emulate it, especially 'cause it doesn't cost you anything much, right? It's not a, an expense.
But talk about what your community pack walks are, 'cause I just think they're brilliant.
[laughs] Like, we're in our second summer in Tennessee, so I think people are waiting for the later dates to, to join us, but we still have, like, tried and true people that come out that may not come to the shelter.
It's a community pack walk, so basically our, our dogs that are, are walking I would say 60, 75% minimal good on a leash, 'cause we, you know, volunteers are walking with other dogs that are still working on leash training.
But we try to bring our best dogs, right, our best leash walkers to these events, so then the public that maybe may not be as versed in volunteering or walking dogs don't get discouraged or overwhelmed or, "Gosh, the shelter dog." You know, we, we want it to be a positive thing for the community, and- Any experience level can come.
So the dogs that we choose to go to the pack walks are generally pretty well on a leash and friendly with other dogs, and they present really well.
So usually anywhere from, depending on how many people that come, so the people just, the people in the community meet us at the park.
You have a walking partner, so if you ever get overwhelmed or your experience level is ground level and you bit off more than you can chew, there's gonna be somebody there that can support you.
So we try to support the community in that and make it just as good of an experience for them as the dogs.
Our volunteers are really passionate about it, though, so that, that really helps.
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