History Repeats Itself: What Animal Welfare Gets Right… and Wrong (Episode 306)

What if the challenges we’re facing in animal welfare today aren’t new at all?

In this episode of Keep it Humane, we sit down with Audrey Lodato—Senior Director of Regional Programs at Best Friends Animal Society and creator of the animal welfare history blog Barking at the Knot—to uncover how the past continues to shape the present.

From the early 1800s “War Against Dogs” to the fear-driven policies surrounding rabies and hydrophobia, Audrey walks us through how societal pressures, public health concerns, and even misinformation helped build the foundation of modern animal control. We explore how practices like intake-driven systems and strict impound policies didn’t just appear—they evolved from a very different time.

But this isn’t just a history lesson.

We connect those origins to today’s biggest challenges: rising intake, public accountability, humane education gaps, and the ongoing push for transparency in shelter operations. The conversation digs into what needs to change—and what we may still be getting wrong.

We also look ahead, exploring how technology and AI could reshape sheltering by improving decision-making, reducing length of stay, and helping more animals find positive outcomes.

Plus, a quick look at what’s coming next with Best Friends’ national conference in Utah—and a live AI demo that might just change how you think about shelter operations.

If you’ve ever wondered why we do things the way we do in animal welfare… this episode connects the dots.