Amanda Hickman & Erin Long on the Heart Behind Animal Rescue

Rich & Wendy 0:00
Hey, everyone is rich Bennett. Can you believe it? The show is turning 10 this year. I am so grateful for each and every one of you who've tuned in, shared an episode, or even joined the conversation over the years. You're the reason that this podcast has grown into what it is today. Together, we've shared laughs, tears, and moments that truly matter. So I want to thank you for being part of this journey. Let's make the next 10 years even better. Coming to you from the Freedom Federal Credit Union Studios, Hartford County Living presents Conversations with Rich Bennett. 

No, no, no, no, no, no. It's truth is. 

Rich Bennett 1:00
So, man, 

Amanda Hickman 1:00
why did 

Rich Bennett 1:01
you decide you wanted to 

Michelle Hayes 1:02
come to the second director's 

Rich Bennett 1:03
office? If you made society. 

Amanda Hickman 1:05
Short answer is I love animals more than I love people. 

Rich Bennett 1:09
no, we don't want short answer. We went to low answer. 

Michelle Hayes 1:11
Well, 

Amanda Hickman 1:13
have a medium, a happy medium. So I was in public service for 13, 14 years. 

Rich Bennett 1:19
I 

Amanda Hickman 1:20
Municipal government. And I really enjoyed what I did there. I love the service aspect of it. But I studied nonprofit management. And I volunteered for other nonprofits and 

held leadership roles all throughout my career and my, you know, volunteerism and all of that. So I took a break, took a break for two years from government and waited. I was specifically for something, that entire duration for something I could be passionate about, something I could serve, something I could support. And this came up. And I was like, that's where I want to be all the way. So, yeah. 

Rich Bennett 2:00
Wow, how long you've been there now? 

Amanda Hickman 2:03
and a half months, four months. 

Rich Bennett 2:04
Three 

Amanda Hickman 2:05
Yeah, it's been, 

Rich Bennett 2:06
that's it. 

Amanda Hickman 2:07
Feels like much longer. 

Rich Bennett 2:11
because when Jen 

Michelle Hayes 2:12
Well, 

Rich Bennett 2:12
left, you guys had one, was it one or two other 

Michelle Hayes 2:16
executive. 

Amanda Hickman 2:17
One centaur. Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 2:19
One. 

Amanda Hickman 2:19
Okay. 

Rich Bennett 2:20
So 

Michelle Hayes 2:20
now 

Rich Bennett 2:20
now you, 

Michelle Hayes 2:21
you come on board and 

Rich Bennett 2:23
you're the, because it's a big difference from government to this, what 

Amanda Hickman 2:28
was your, what was your, it is, 

Rich Bennett 2:28
you 

Amanda Hickman 2:29
when 

Rich Bennett 2:29
walked in there, what was your first week 

Amanda Hickman 2:31
like, 

Rich Bennett 2:32
kind of overwhelming? Or 

Amanda Hickman 2:33
no, it was, I mean, it was a little bit of a whirlwind, but really when you look at like the structure of a nonprofit, compared to the structure of government, they're one and the same. They, they, their format, their template is the same. So walking in with a board and a staff of that size, my previous staff was 50 people. So walking into 47 was the same. 

Rich Bennett 2:55
Right. Okay. 

Amanda Hickman 2:56
But no, it's really not that different. The structure is very similar. And I came in, thankfully, with kind of a blank slate with staff. So I got the best. Like I got, I was most excited about Aaron. I got to meet Aaron. I know, but I was because 

marketing and development are, you know, imperative to the success of any nonprofit. So I was really, really glad and excited that they had someone, you know, dedicated to a marketing. So she probably hates me sometimes, but I give her a lot, I give her a lot of attention. 

But it's, that to me is just, it's paramount. It's all the way up at the top of priorities for our success. So yeah, I mean, it's been fun so far. There's been challenges, for sure, 

Michelle Hayes 3:52
I love 

Amanda Hickman 3:53
external. 

Michelle Hayes 3:54
I love that you say that owning a marketing agency. So many nonprofits choose other avenues. 

Apart from any type of marketing, it's so refreshing to hear you say that marketing is so important. 

Amanda Hickman 4:12
It is 

Michelle Hayes 4:13
because I feel like sometimes I say it and they're like, oh, what do you know you're a small business? you're not in the nonprofit space. We are. We cater to nonprofits. 

Amanda Hickman 4:21
Like 

Michelle Hayes 4:21
But to a nonprofit say that, thank you so much. so happy 

Amanda Hickman 4:26
It 

Michelle Hayes 4:26
to 

Amanda Hickman 4:26
is 

Michelle Hayes 4:27
hear that. 

Amanda Hickman 4:28
Because everything that we do is fundraising, right? everything that we do, everything that we say, everywhere we are, it has everything to do with potential fundraising and branding. 

Michelle Hayes 4:40
So 

Amanda Hickman 4:40
So it's, it's everything. So she's like my 

Rich Bennett 4:45
little. 

Amanda Hickman 4:46
I need to keep her 

Michelle Hayes 4:48
safe. Yes, 

Amanda Hickman 4:49
yes. 

Erin Long 4:49
Rich. 

Rich Bennett 4:49
I don't know how you can be able to answer this one because you have 

Michelle Hayes 4:53
Here's 

Rich Bennett 4:53
if you've been with them 

Erin Long 4:55
now 18 

Rich Bennett 4:56
18 years. Okay, so I'm not going to ask you a same question. I asked Amanda 

All the changes that have gone on at the humane society 

You're I mean Amanda comes on. You're the only one left from the staff 

Erin Long 5:15
Yeah, 

Rich Bennett 5:15
from so 

What is 

Erin Long 5:18
it 

Rich Bennett 5:19
that kept 

Erin Long 5:19
Wow 

Rich Bennett 5:19
you there? 

Told you it was going to be a different question 

Michelle Hayes 5:27
No, 

Erin Long 5:28
yeah, I that's a 

Rich Bennett 5:29
Think 

Erin Long 5:29
difficult question, but 

It's difficult. I mean, but fundamentally it's because my heart is 

All in 

Rich Bennett 5:42
yeah, that's how I was going to say, 

Erin Long 5:44
you know You could say I could say oh, I love animals and everybody says that and I do absolutely I do, but The truth is I mean I came from the for-profit world and It just was not I was like in my mid to late twenties and I was like I can't do this for the rest of 

Rich Bennett 6:05
life right 

Erin Long 6:05
my I you know, I it's just not fulfilling for me and When I came to the Baltimore area and kind of learned about the shelter and everything I didn't know what I was getting into, but I really I know it's been a road. It's been a long winding road but 

it's just it's So fulfilling and I come home every night and I'm exhausted, but like 

Rich Bennett 6:31
It's a good 

Amanda Hickman 6:32
exotic in a good way. 

Erin Long 6:33
Good. 

Rich Bennett 6:33
Yeah, 

Erin Long 6:34
all right Yeah, and there's always something to do and I'm you know, and it is exhausting 

Michelle Hayes 6:38
All 

Rich Bennett 6:41
right, so 18 years, how many pets have you adopted from 

Erin Long 6:44
that? 

Michelle Hayes 6:46
That's a 

Erin Long 6:47
quest Finger 

Rich Bennett 6:49
A

 

lot 

Erin Long 6:54
and I used to adopt a lot of 

Senior dogs, so I didn't have them for very long So it it's been a lot But would I change 

Rich Bennett 7:06
that 

Erin Long 7:06
anything? No, of course not it's my life and my husband's life 

Rich Bennett 7:11
to Amanda Have you adopted any 

Amanda Hickman 7:14
yet? 

Rich Bennett 7:15
None yet, 

Amanda Hickman 7:16
none yet 

Rich Bennett 7:16
How hard is that because I mean Tearing there I 

Love animals and I get attached to them easily and then when you see them Go off of another family. It's like it would there are like kids 

I'm sure that's happened if it hasn't happened to you you yet, man I'm sure will but 

Amanda Hickman 7:39
it will 

Rich Bennett 7:39
Certain animals you get attached 

Michelle Hayes 7:41
to Hardest 

Rich Bennett 7:45
don't start crying on me. 

Erin Long 7:47
Oh, I'm not I'm not no I know I'm recalling you know, I start seeing all the animals you know that I fostered flash before my eyes and you know, it's 

I'm I just know they're gonna go make somebody else as happy as they made me You know and I can't keep them all or else we'd be talking about something 

Amanda Hickman 8:07
There's a podcast 

Erin Long 8:07
different. 

Right, but yeah, that's 

Amanda Hickman 8:13
is 

Erin Long 8:13
essentially what it You know, they've made me really happy. I know what a great pet they are advocated for them and then they can go on and Live their life with somebody new and then there's so many more 

Amanda Hickman 8:24
us 

Erin Long 8:24
waiting for 

Amanda Hickman 8:24
You 

Erin Long 8:25
know that need help 

Rich Bennett 8:27
and 

Michelle Hayes 8:27
correct me if I'm 

Rich Bennett 8:28
wrong wrong, but when it 

Michelle Hayes 8:29
to 

Rich Bennett 8:29
comes You guys are the 

Michelle Hayes 8:31
Just 

Rich Bennett 8:32
in the county right? 

Amanda Hickman 8:34
Well, we're the only 

Rich Bennett 8:37
True animal shelter, 

Amanda Hickman 8:38
true animal shelter There are a number of rescues And I 

Rich Bennett 8:41
right 

Amanda Hickman 8:41
know there are other veterinary offices who kind of dabble in it as well But we're the only open admission shelter. So we accept everything and 

Rich Bennett 8:50
There's only three in Maryland, right? Who you 

Amanda Hickman 8:55
guys? 

Michelle Hayes 8:56
For 

Rich Bennett 8:56
the humane society 

Amanda Hickman 8:57
You 

Rich Bennett 8:58
guys Baltimore 

Amanda Hickman 8:59
Baltimore yeah, 

Rich Bennett 9:01
Carol can I thought we're dealing with humane 

Amanda Hickman 9:02
up 

Rich Bennett 9:03
societies 

Amanda Hickman 9:03
Cecil County as I believe a 

Rich Bennett 9:05
humane society is it okay? 

Amanda Hickman 9:07
Outside of that though. I'm really not sure there has to be more 

Rich Bennett 9:10
Know 

Erin Long 9:11
I 

Rich Bennett 9:11
there are several hundred throughout the country 

Erin Long 9:14
Yeah, 

Rich Bennett 9:15
all right, so trick question why don't you in a trick question? If you if the humane society 

and I know it's not gonna happen better I don't think it will ever happen we'd have to shut their doors tomorrow 

What kind of effect would 

Amanda Hickman 9:33
it? 

It's not an option. 

Rich Bennett 9:36
I 

Amanda Hickman 9:36
Well, 

Rich Bennett 9:37
know it's 

Amanda Hickman 9:37
an option. 

Rich Bennett 9:37
not 

Amanda Hickman 9:37
No option. 

Rich Bennett 9:38
Yeah, yeah 

Erin Long 9:39
It scares me because like one thing I want your listeners to understand is Humane Society is Very broad term it's You know, we're not part of the Humane Society of the United States to read. We're completely independent, so we don't get money from them or anything like, or the ASPCA. We're 

Rich Bennett 9:59
No, you got 

Erin Long 10:00
completely

 independent. And we do have the contract with Harper County. 

So we're under contract to take care of all the strays, all of the unwanted animals that folks are surrendering. 

Amanda Hickman 10:15
All of the seized animals, 

Rich Bennett 10:16
Right. 

Amanda Hickman 10:17
which I mean, I'm sure Aaron knows, but we've run numbers and we've been looking at the data non-stop since I started. That's been a very big push for me. I need to have an understanding and comprehension of what we do and data speaks. But I mean, 52% right now of our intakes are from animal control. 

Rich Bennett 10:38
Why? 

Amanda Hickman 10:39
So those are strays that were brought to them that they had to pick up their surrenders from owners, and then it's those that are seized as well. So they have to be removed. 

Rich Bennett 10:53
Which 

Amanda Hickman 10:53
I don't 

Rich Bennett 10:53
to 

Amanda Hickman 10:53
know 

Rich Bennett 10:53
me, 

Amanda Hickman 10:53
what would happen. 

Rich Bennett 10:54
A pit owner problem. I mean, there should not be that many strays or animals that need to be seized by their owners. 

Amanda Hickman 11:03
Well, and some of those, it's neglect. It's 

Rich Bennett 11:05
Right. 

Amanda Hickman 11:05
abuse. It's it's all of it. It's everything. 

Erin Long 11:09
I was going to say for as many animals as we get, there's that many stories, I think. 

Amanda Hickman 11:13
Yeah. Yeah. 

Erin Long 11:14
And reasons why they've come to us, and probably 99% of the time is not the animal's fault. 

Rich Bennett 11:21
Right. 

Erin Long 11:23
getting back to your question, I mean, that sense fear, like through me, because I mean, 

Rich Bennett 11:28
For me, 

Erin Long 11:29
when I was like out in a lobby this morning a little bit, and the amount of people that came in, they were looking for food from our food pantry. They were looking 

for resources, information about our next vaccine clinic. Then somebody else came in and was looking at dogs. And was looking for a dog that would get along with his cat. And there are intakes that are coming in through the front door. Animal controls pulling up on the of the building. And there's a cat coming in through 

Rich Bennett 11:59
Yeah. 

Erin Long 11:59
animal control. I mean, if that all stopped, 

Amanda Hickman 12:03
I don't know where. Yeah, I don't know 

Erin Long 12:04
Where 

Amanda Hickman 12:04
where the 

Erin Long 12:05
would they 

Amanda Hickman 12:05
hell they're. 

Erin Long 12:05
go? 

Rich Bennett 12:06
Right. 

Amanda Hickman 12:06
There would be just like widespread 

Rich Bennett 12:10
K. 

Amanda Hickman 12:11
abandonment, yeah. Well, and you would see the effect in other counties as well. I mean, when Baltimore had to shut down very briefly, we did see the migration of some of those animals up here. So they would be everywhere. It would not. Again, it's not an option. We can't 

Rich Bennett 12:27
You just mentioned something too about the food. Because I know you guys are always 

Amanda Hickman 12:32
always. 

Rich Bennett 12:32
accepting donations, whether it be food, whatever. But people can come in and get 

Amanda Hickman 12:38
you. 

Rich Bennett 12:38
food 

Amanda Hickman 12:38
Absolutely. 

Rich Bennett 12:38
from 

Erin Long 12:39
Yeah, we have a pet food pantry. The only requirement is you have to be a citizen, a resident of Harvard. 

Rich Bennett 12:45
Right. 

Erin Long 12:46
And it's no questions 

Amanda Hickman 12:47
asked. 

Erin Long 12:48
Come in. You're just come to the front desk. It's discreet. And 

Michelle Hayes 12:52
just tell 

Erin Long 12:52
that 

Michelle Hayes 12:52
them they-- 

Erin Long 12:53
you have two dogs in a cat. Defeat that you need help. 

Rich Bennett 12:57
Wow, I didn't. 

Erin Long 12:57
And we'll hand you some food to get you through. It's part of our 

Amanda Hickman 13:02
It's intervention. 

Erin Long 13:02
intervention. 

Amanda Hickman 13:03
It's intervention, thank you. I was 

Erin Long 13:03
looking for the right word. 

Rich Bennett 13:04
It's 

Erin Long 13:05
part of our intervention program. So we believe that the pet's best place is in the home with their family. And nobody should ever have to make that decision because they can't afford to feed their pet. 

Rich Bennett 13:17
Right. 

Erin Long 13:17
So we're there 

Michelle Hayes 13:19
to 

Amanda Hickman 13:19
them 

Michelle Hayes 13:19
help 

Amanda Hickman 13:20
get their-- 

Erin Long 13:20
time. 

Michelle Hayes 13:21
That's awesome. 

Rich Bennett 13:22
Oh, yeah, I didn't 

Michelle Hayes 13:23
That's 

Rich Bennett 13:23
realize. 

Michelle Hayes 13:23
great. 

Amanda Hickman 13:24
I think, correct me if I'm wrong. Last year, we saw an increase in those visits by 53%. 

Rich Bennett 13:31
Wow. 

Amanda Hickman 13:32
So there were 1,700 bags, I think, of food. I don't think-- I know 1,700 was the number that were distributed last year. So if that is the 

Rich Bennett 13:43
Holy-- 

Amanda Hickman 13:43
one thing that keeps someone from having to surrender an animal, we get them through the week until they get paid 

Michelle Hayes 13:50
fantastic. 

Amanda Hickman 13:50
again, 

Michelle Hayes 13:50
Yeah, I was 

Amanda Hickman 13:51
then, 

Michelle Hayes 13:51
just thinking the number of pets that that kept out 

Amanda Hickman 13:54
them. 

Michelle Hayes 13:54
of The shelter environment and kept with their families. Not only is that helping the pet, but that's helping having a child at home myself, well, a teenager. Excuse me, Brian, if you're 

Rich Bennett 14:05
You're 

Michelle Hayes 14:06
listening. 

Rich Bennett 14:06
feeding your child? 

Michelle Hayes 14:08
No. 

Amanda Hickman 14:08
No. 

Michelle Hayes 14:10
But I know the mental health aspect on him. He came to me the other day. Hey, I want to go over to my aunt's house because she's a dog. And I miss-- I miss Benzo. I miss playing with my Benzo. And he's a adorable, little wonderful puppy. But the mental health aspect of that on the population is a whole. 

and losing the animal because you can't feed the animal 

Amanda Hickman 14:37
have 

Michelle Hayes 14:37
has to negative impact. That I mean that's amazing that you guys can help with 

Erin Long 14:43
that. Absolutely and I think on the 

Michelle Hayes 14:45
that. 

Erin Long 14:45
other 

Michelle Hayes 14:45
Just 

Erin Long 14:45
side 

Michelle Hayes 14:45
slide 

Erin Long 14:45
of 

Michelle Hayes 14:45
over 

Erin Long 14:45
that is we're always accepting donations. 

Rich Bennett 14:48
Yes, 

Erin Long 14:49
always 

Rich Bennett 14:50
and always need 

Erin Long 14:51
small bags of food are usually best um but any brand as long as it's with an expiration as long as it's unopened we get that question a lot. You know I my dog I open my bag a dog food and my dog said no can you take it and unfortunately we can't but yes so it's got to be unopened. 

Rich Bennett 15:09
Right yeah and with the donations I know you guys because it's like you guys can 

Michelle Hayes 15:16
fun 

Rich Bennett 15:16
be one point but the following week hurt 

Amanda Hickman 15:20
and absolutely 

Erin Long 15:21
yep 

Rich Bennett 15:22
and I know with with our the lines whenever we have meetings and it comes up well we should make a donation to Humein sir there's nobody 

Michelle Hayes 15:30
questions 

Rich Bennett 15:31
there are like uh yeah 

it there I mean there's 

Michelle Hayes 15:35
do 

Rich Bennett 15:35
some non-profits that it's just automatic. you 

Erin Long 15:39
Thank 

Rich Bennett 15:39
yeah 

Michelle Hayes 15:40
yeah 

Rich Bennett 15:41
I still got 

Michelle Hayes 15:42
to get on. 

Rich Bennett 15:43
There though 

Amanda Hickman 15:44
other. 

Rich Bennett 15:45
I drove by there the 

Michelle Hayes 15:47
I 

Rich Bennett 15:47
even told my wife I said I still got to get to Humane Society and go inside. She goes you better not come home with a 

Michelle Hayes 15:56
problem 

Rich Bennett 15:56
that's why I haven't got it yet 

Amanda Hickman 15:59
right 

Michelle Hayes 15:59
that's my issue since we recently lost our oldest cat I keep going 

that puppy looks really 

Amanda Hickman 16:07
cute. 

Michelle Hayes 16:09
And we're saying he's having three cats I mean 

Amanda Hickman 16:13
it's 

Michelle Hayes 16:13
my cat I'm just tab. You know we can have a puppy. 

Rich Bennett 16:19
But the anything is and I mean some people know this but a lot of people don't. It's not just dogs and cats. 

Erin Long 16:27
Oh good 

Amanda Hickman 16:28
no 

Erin Long 16:28
yeah 

Rich Bennett 16:29
I mean you have some strange critters. 

Erin Long 16:33
We hat yeah we we've gotten everything from 

Amanda Hickman 16:37
snakes. 

Erin Long 16:38
or we have yes 

Rich Bennett 16:41
I don't have a feeling 

Amanda Hickman 16:42
you. We 

Erin Long 16:43
had a cow a pregnant cow. Cow. Black and white. I don't know what I don't know my cows. But 

Michelle Hayes 16:50
it was a new cow. And 

Erin Long 16:53
it did it did calves and delivered a calf. We've had 

Rich Bennett 16:57
where we mean where the hell did you keep that thing 

Amanda Hickman 17:00
in the barn. I would 

Erin Long 17:01
barn. The 

Amanda Hickman 17:01
assume in the 

Erin Long 17:01
barn yeah we kind of made like an enclosure that it could go outside 

Rich Bennett 17:06
do 

Erin Long 17:06
and 

Rich Bennett 17:06
it. Oh, 

Erin Long 17:06
Nothing 

Rich Bennett 17:06
okay. 

Erin Long 17:07
else. But yeah we've got a barn and we've got we've had you know pigs and goats and peacocks and chickens 

Rich Bennett 17:15
peacocks 

Erin Long 17:16
oh yeah 

Michelle Hayes 17:16
oh 

Erin Long 17:17
oh yeah 

Michelle Hayes 17:17
you didn't know that. 

Rich Bennett 17:19
No 

Michelle Hayes 17:19
I knew they had peacocks. 

Rich Bennett 17:20
I didn't know. 

Michelle Hayes 17:21
Ryan wants to go volunteer we filled out like the information and stuff we're just waiting for like 

Erin Long 17:26
yeah for the orientated. 

Amanda Hickman 17:27
Okay. 

Michelle Hayes 17:27
The email to say like come volunteer. Because he's like mom we volunteer with me and like yeah, we can't take anything. 

Amanda Hickman 17:36
But 

Michelle Hayes 17:37
yeah that was. Top of his list for volunteering. 

Amanda Hickman 17:40
That's awesome. 

Michelle Hayes 17:40
He 

Rich Bennett 17:40
the rabbit's all the time. 

Erin Long 17:42
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 17:43
they seem to multiply a lot I guess. 

Erin Long 17:44
Which 

Rich Bennett 17:45
The pig I've only 

Michelle Hayes 17:47
pig. 

Erin Long 17:48
Yeah we got this from 

Rich Bennett 17:49
time. Oh 

Erin Long 17:49
time to 

Rich Bennett 17:50
I know. I'm still trying to convince my wife even the birds 

and you get roosters something I found out about roosters though. They don't know how to tell time. 

Erin Long 18:02
I think they tell excellent time. They just they're not on our 

Amanda Hickman 18:05
It's 

Erin Long 18:05
time. 

Rich Bennett 18:05
Oh 

Amanda Hickman 18:05
their 

Rich Bennett 18:05
they are. 

Amanda Hickman 18:06
own 

Rich Bennett 18:06
Not 

Amanda Hickman 18:06
time. 

Rich Bennett 18:06
on our 

Amanda Hickman 18:07
time. 

Rich Bennett 18:08
The afternoon I'm hearing this rooster go off I'm like what? Dude come on now. 

Erin Long 18:12
Oh yeah. 

Amanda Hickman 18:13
My 

Michelle Hayes 18:14
neighbor has like 

Erin Long 18:15
five a. 4.35 a. It's not even light yet in the roosters singing his morning. 

Rich Bennett 18:21
Somebody needs to buy them some watches. 

Erin Long 18:23
Right. 

Rich Bennett 18:25
So I want this strangest critter 

Michelle Hayes 18:28
you. 

Erin Long 18:31
Oh like last year we got a hissing cockroach. 

Rich Bennett 18:36
Don't come 

Erin Long 18:37
I 

Rich Bennett 18:37
on. 

Erin Long 18:37
am not kidding you 

Michelle Hayes 18:39
as it was a 

Amanda Hickman 18:40
thing. 

Erin Long 18:40
It was someone 

Rich Bennett 18:41
Yeah 

Erin Long 18:41
yeah. 

Rich Bennett 18:42
those things are huge. 

Erin Long 18:43
And oh I didn't go look at it. Believe me I did not go seek it out to go look at it. That would 

Michelle Hayes 18:49
be 

Erin Long 18:50
bizarre. 

Michelle Hayes 18:52
And it got adopted. 

Erin Long 18:53
I think it went to a rescue. 

Michelle Hayes 18:55
For hissing cockroaches. 

Erin Long 18:57
Honestly yes I think it was. It's losing it over here by the way. 

Michelle Hayes 19:04
I'm really kind of scared to google that. 

Amanda Hickman 19:06
I can't 

Erin Long 19:07
wait to someone that like a reptile 

Amanda Hickman 19:08
wearing. 

Erin Long 19:08
saying she's 

Amanda Hickman 19:09
Well, 

Rich Bennett 19:09
that. 

Amanda Hickman 19:09
they sell 

Michelle Hayes 19:09
Oh, okay. 

Amanda Hickman 19:10
And like, seen them. Like, 

Erin Long 19:12
yeah, they've 

Amanda Hickman 19:12
they're in the little, I don't know what they're for. I think they're food. 

Michelle Hayes 19:16
I've seen them as food, but I've never heard of 

Amanda Hickman 19:18
I 

Michelle Hayes 19:18
them. 

Amanda Hickman 19:18
don't know what eats. 

Michelle Hayes 19:19
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 19:20
for food. No, those things get so big 

Amanda Hickman 19:22
They're 

Rich Bennett 19:22
you throw a shoe at them, they throw it back. 

Michelle Hayes 19:24
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 19:25
Oh, yeah. They're. 

Michelle Hayes 19:26
Hissing cockroach. 

Rich Bennett 19:28
Yeah. And they're loud. 

Michelle Hayes 19:30
Oh, 

Amanda Hickman 19:31
yeah, 

Rich Bennett 19:32
I know. Yeah. Yeah. Oh God, alright. All for that. Ew. 

Michelle Hayes 19:34
I 

Erin Long 19:35
know. 

Rich Bennett 19:35
know. Yeah. 

Erin Long 19:35
I 

Rich Bennett 19:35
Okay. 

Michelle Hayes 19:36
Fish. 

Rich Bennett 19:37
What's the second strangest thing? 

Amanda Hickman 19:39
The 

Michelle Hayes 19:39
big fish. When I was a kid that you guys had, and that was cool. 

Rich Bennett 19:44
What was it? 

Michelle Hayes 19:45
It was a good one. I don't know, my dad wanted to bring it home, and Mom said no. We had a giant snuffy turtle in the basement. 

Rich Bennett 19:52
Well, I know you guys get turtles. Do you want to? 

Erin Long 19:54
Turtles um, 

Michelle Hayes 19:56
oh no, we rescued Pava from a from a summer camp. He lived in the basement, never stayed down there, it was a whole thing. 

Rich Bennett 20:03
A turtle? 

Michelle Hayes 20:04
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 20:04
Oh. He 

Michelle Hayes 20:05
was a snuffy 

Rich Bennett 20:05
turtle. 

Erin Long 20:07
I mean, 

Amanda Hickman 20:08
anything 

Erin Long 20:09
can 

Amanda Hickman 20:10
you 

Erin Long 20:10
think would have as a pet. I do remember one time there's a picture of me somewhere holding a baby deer, 

Rich Bennett 20:17
oh. 

Erin Long 20:17
That I think somebody brought. I don't know. I don't know, I don't remember if it was maybe animal control brought it 

Rich Bennett 20:21
up. 

Erin Long 20:21
in, but 

Rich Bennett 20:21
Probably. 

Erin Long 20:21
the DnR ended 

Rich Bennett 20:22
Yeah. 

Erin Long 20:23
But um, yeah, it's, 

Rich Bennett 20:27
I 

Erin Long 20:27
think of like a some kind of monitor lizard game in one time. 

Rich Bennett 20:30
Really? 

Michelle Hayes 20:31
Oh, 

Erin Long 20:31
yeah. 

Rich Bennett 20:32
Wow. 

Erin Long 20:32
She was yeah, that was kinda, I was glad that day, that I wasn't an animal care, and I didn't have to 

Rich Bennett 20:38
it. 

Erin Long 20:38
take 

Rich Bennett 20:38
You 

Erin Long 20:38
care 

Rich Bennett 20:38
know, 

Michelle Hayes 20:38
of 

Rich Bennett 20:38
can you rephrase the part where you said you take any kind of pets because I have a funny feeling on anybody listening, you're gonna have a lot of wives try to. 

Michelle Hayes 20:49
The problem is, 

Amanda Hickman 20:52
the 

Michelle Hayes 20:55
husbands will come home. 

Rich Bennett 20:59
I, 

Amanda Hickman 21:01
and 

Michelle Hayes 21:01
I, I, 

so 

Rich Bennett 21:12
the last time you were, I think the last time you were on, I was like, was it, or maybe Dorn? 

Erin Long 21:17
It might have been Dorn, I'm not sure. 

Rich Bennett 21:19
Explain the veteran program or is it a veteran puppy, the veteran program you guys have? 

Erin Long 21:24
Well, 

Rich Bennett 21:24
Cause 

Erin Long 21:25
yes, we actually have two now. So 

Rich Bennett 21:26
what? 

Erin Long 21:27
since I was on before, we now have our hometown heroes program. 

And any first responder, so whether you're active, retired, military, police, EMS, we have a list, and you can come in, and I think it's, your adoption is waived, but I think it's any animal that's a year and above. Don't quote me on that, but I think 

Rich Bennett 21:51
you're old. 

Erin Long 21:52
Yes, you're old and over. So no kittens, no puppies, but your adoption fee is completely waived. Yeah. 

And then we we worked with a organization called Pets for Patriots. 

Rich Bennett 22:04
Yes. 

Erin Long 22:05
And they're a wonderful organization. You have to first apply with them. It's completely free. Apply with them and get approved and then come to our shelter and you get a percent off, but if you're already military, it's we waive 

Rich Bennett 22:21
Right. 

Erin Long 22:22
it. 

Rich Bennett 22:22
Yeah. 

Erin Long 22:22
Yeah. All that's in the community that provide discounted services for Pets for Patriots. 

Rich Bennett 22:29
I didn't realize that either. 

Erin Long 22:31
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 22:31
Yeah. That's right because you 

Michelle Hayes 22:33
guys 

Rich Bennett 22:34
not 

Michelle Hayes 22:34
are 

Rich Bennett 22:34
a veterinarian clinic 

Erin Long 22:37
or no we're not. 

Rich Bennett 22:37
Okay. All right. That's our 

Michelle Hayes 22:39
thought. 

Erin Long 22:39
We do have a surgical suite. You know, stay in Newter and 

Rich Bennett 22:42
Right. 

Erin Long 22:43
do some procedures on 

Amanda Hickman 22:45
our 

Erin Long 22:45
feet. We don't, um, 

Rich Bennett 22:47
don't 

Amanda Hickman 22:48
provide 

Erin Long 22:49
provide. 

Rich Bennett 22:49
Yes. Yeah, that's it. Yeah, that's that's all I'm trying to say. 

All right. 

So with the humane society, 

what are some of the biggest misconceptions out there to people? 

Should I get a recliner and sit back for this? 

Erin Long 23:12
Yeah. How long do we have? 

I think, well, I think the first one is that they think we're animal control. You know, that we're you came out and took my dog. Well, no, we do work with very closely with. 

Rich Bennett 23:32
Sure. 

Erin Long 23:32
They're sheriff's, thank you. The sheriff's office, the animal control unit, and they are enforcing laws. The animal laws, they're like Amanda said earlier, they're picking up the straze and they're sometimes having to seize animals and there's court cases and things like that, and that's all of them. They do that. We are the holding facility. So we provide the care the animals while they're waiting. 

Rich Bennett 23:58
for 

Erin Long 24:00
Yeah, that's a huge misconception right there. And I mentioned before, people think that we get money from the Cerema Glockland commercials that some of that money comes our way. 

Rich Bennett 24:11
You 

Erin Long 24:12
know that you see the ASPCA, yeah. So we don't, so it's really, really important. I can't underscore that enough that it's important that people donate locally, you know, that your dollars stay right 

Michelle Hayes 24:25
here in Cocoa. 

Erin Long 24:25
It's important for county to help 

Michelle Hayes 24:27
heart for county. 

Erin Long 24:29
So that's another, you know, 

Rich Bennett 24:31
murder some of those. I know, 'cause I know there are a lot of misconceptions and even myths. 

Erin Long 24:37
So many. I 

Rich Bennett 24:39
should have, I should have, if 

Michelle Hayes 24:41
I 

Amanda Hickman 24:41
if I 

Michelle Hayes 24:41
could, 

Amanda Hickman 24:41
could, Baptist, 

Rich Bennett 24:42
I should have just sent you that question so you could have just written them down. 

Erin Long 24:46
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 24:47
But 

Erin Long 24:47
I mean, you could 

Rich Bennett 24:49
I 

Erin Long 24:49
really 

Rich Bennett 24:49
know. 

Erin Long 24:49
write a 

Rich Bennett 24:50
Yeah. 

Erin Long 24:50
book. The difference between, you know, what we are, we're an open admission shelter. There's limited admission shelters that they take until, know, they're full and then they can stop taking in takes. 

Rich Bennett 25:05
you 

Amanda Hickman 25:06
Or they can be selected in there. Right from the get go. So certain 

Rich Bennett 25:11
Wow. 

Amanda Hickman 25:11
rescues, for instance, 

Rich Bennett 25:12
Yeah. 

Amanda Hickman 25:12
they're sourcing animals based on, you know, the longevity of the animal. What their expectation is for the animal. 

Rich Bennett 25:20
Mm-hm. 

Amanda Hickman 25:20
So 

Rich Bennett 25:20
Right. 

Amanda Hickman 25:21
they can, you know, go to different shelters or work with other partner rescues and specifically pull an animal that they know will be successful in their program. We don't get to do that. We take every animal that comes in. No matter what. 

Erin Long 25:37
And I think that leads into two people don't understand 

our relationship with, with rescues. 

Amanda Hickman 25:43
Mm-hm. 

Erin Long 25:44
Um, that because we have limited space and because, you know, when we're full, there's five more animals that are... 

Amanda Hickman 25:52
Mm-hm. 

Erin Long 25:53
We have surrender appointments, under-scheduled, they're waiting to come in. So we do try and place animals with rescues and out of our programs and people don't really understand why. You know, why would you not try and adopt that animal out? Or, you know, because time really is of the essence. 

Rich Bennett 26:10
Mm-hm. 

Erin Long 26:11
Um, and it is a delicate kind of, I call it a dance. You know, 

Rich Bennett 26:15
Yeah. 

Erin Long 26:16
we're constantly, you know, they're getting adopted. They're being placed in rescues 

Amanda Hickman 26:20
and 

Erin Long 26:21
on their stray holds and we're working desperately to try and find the owner, 

Michelle Hayes 26:24
rescues. 

Erin Long 26:25
you 

Michelle Hayes 26:25
They're 

Erin Long 26:25
know, entracing microchips and things like that. So it is just all day, every day that 

Amanda Hickman 26:30
it's a series of gears. Like it, it's just going and going and going and going. Every which 

Erin Long 26:34
I kind of call it, it's like the dosy 

Amanda Hickman 26:36
way? Oh, 

Erin Long 26:36
doe. I 

Amanda Hickman 26:36
I 

Erin Long 26:36
mean, 

Amanda Hickman 26:36
mean, 

Erin Long 26:36
really, you're swing your part in a round 

Rich Bennett 26:38
it... 

Erin Long 26:38
and, you know, 

Rich Bennett 26:38
Yeah. 

Erin Long 26:38
and all 

Rich Bennett 26:39
It's just 

Erin Long 26:39
day. Um, and I think, you know, people have gotten frustrated in the past. You know, "Oh, I saw a dog on your website yesterday. What do you mean? It's not 

Amanda Hickman 26:47
the 

Erin Long 26:47
arrest!" The rescue, you know, because that's what we got to do. 

Rich Bennett 26:50
Yeah. 

Amanda Hickman 26:51
I literally just had that happen yesterday, I felt horrible. So we had a puppy, um, surrendered, uh, that we were so excited to have them adopted out. Um, came back to us, no fault of our own. I immediately had reached out to a very good friend of mine that was really, really wanting one of these puppies previously to say, "Hey, one's back. She's here right now. If you can get here soon, she'll, you know, hopefully still be available but I can't hold her for you." She was on her way, and by the time I made it from my office out front to say, "Hey guys, someone's on their way. They'll be here in 35 minutes. She was out the door." 

Rich Bennett 27:30
Wow. 

Amanda Hickman 27:31
So it changes so quickly, but I mean, we don't put a hold. We don't hold these animals. You know, they have to go, 

Rich Bennett 27:39
Right. 

Amanda Hickman 27:40
you know, to the first qualified who comes in and is able to adopt 

Rich Bennett 27:45
them. And you guys deal with a lot of foster homes as 

Amanda Hickman 27:49
where 

Rich Bennett 27:49
well 

Amanda Hickman 27:49
they 

Rich Bennett 27:52
pick them up or whatever. Or do you even know how many different foster homes you 

Amanda Hickman 27:56
with? 

Rich Bennett 27:56
work 

Amanda Hickman 27:56
Oh, I don't know if it's stopping my head. 

Erin Long 27:59
Yeah. I don't know how many fosteres we're always looking 

Amanda Hickman 28:02
ones. 

Erin Long 28:02
for new 

Rich Bennett 28:03
Well, I would 

Erin Long 28:04
Oh 

Rich Bennett 28:04
think so 

Erin Long 28:04
wait. 

Rich Bennett 28:05
because it's like the, if you didn't have Fausters, you would have to close the doors to not allow anymore animals to come in because you would be overrun. 

Erin Long 28:16
You can't do 

Amanda Hickman 28:16
Absolutely. 

Erin Long 28:16
that. 

Rich Bennett 28:16
You can't do that. Right? 

Erin Long 28:17
We're open admissions. So 

Amanda Hickman 28:18
Mm-hmm. 

Erin Long 28:19
we... 

Amanda Hickman 28:20
We're 

Erin Long 28:20
So, you know, yeah, our fosters are, 

Amanda Hickman 28:23
going to... 

Erin Long 28:23
they're pulled out. They're part of our life-saving strategy because like... 

Kittens, you know, as you know, you know, a neonatal kitten, its eyes aren't even open for the first, like, ten days of its life. You know, in a shelter, with an animal that has no immune system, you know, it's loud, it's, you know, there's disease, you know, let's face it. You know, if that's not the place for kittens, so having fosters, trained fosters that are ready and willing to take kittens, I mean, that is, that's huge, especially this time of year, it's kitten season. We started a brand-new weekend fosters program, so folks can just try fosters for, you know, Friday night through Sunday night or Monday morning, and just take home a, a deserving shelter pop and, you know, 

Michelle Hayes 29:13
many of those are fails because 

Amanda Hickman 29:14
how 

Michelle Hayes 29:14
I feel 

Erin Long 29:15
there 

Michelle Hayes 29:15
like, 

Erin Long 29:15
have been 

Michelle Hayes 29:16
and 

Erin Long 29:16
some, 

Michelle Hayes 29:16
I've been, "House, did that," we'd be like, "Oh, this isn't going to go bad." 

Amanda Hickman 29:21
And 

Erin Long 29:22
that's okay, 

Michelle Hayes 29:23
we, 

Amanda Hickman 29:23
we like that. 

Erin Long 29:24
that's okay. Yeah, it's totally fine, but it allows us to know more about that animal, about how, 

Michelle Hayes 29:30
Yeah, 

Erin Long 29:31
because a lot of the animals that come in our stray, we don't know anything about them. 

Amanda Hickman 29:35
yeah, yeah. Every time we do some sort of off-site, or any sort of event with any of the animals, like we have our office-pause visits now, which are fantastic, but it gives us an opportunity to gain insight into the animal, into their behavior, everything about them, you know, we really have no idea. And then that goes into their, you know, whole bio, you know? 

Michelle Hayes 29:58
Yeah, 

Amanda Hickman 29:59
It does, does well with this, really enjoys that, you know, it, it's just, it's exposure for them, and we get to learn about them. 

Rich Bennett 30:08
You're listening to the conversations with Rich Bennett. We'll be right back. 

I want to give a huge shout out to a key player behind the scenes of the show, Freedom Federal Credit Union. You know, running a podcast involves more than just microphones and stories. It requires solid financial management. And that's where Freedom Federal Credit Union comes in. They're not just a credit union. They're a community partner that I trust deeply. Their support helps us keep bringing you the stories you love episode after episode. And what really sets Freedom Federal Credit Union apart is their dedication to local businesses. They offer everything from business loans to incredible resources, ensuring companies like mine thrive. And it's all wrapped in top notch customer service. So if you're a business owner looking for a financial institution that supports your goals and invests in our community, I can't recommend Freedom Federal Credit Union enough. Swing by their site at freedomfcu. org or give them a call at 

1-800-440-4120. 

Michelle Hayes 31:22
>> Now, I want to ask you a question just kind of rewinding a little bit. You said to a qualified individual or family, explain a little bit what you mean about 

Amanda Hickman 31:31
>> So there is an Erin can probably touch on it a little bit more, but there is an application process. So you don't just get to come in and say, you know, 

Rich Bennett 31:38
that. >> I want that 

Amanda Hickman 31:39
right, I want that no matter what. 

Because we know we've absolutely had some owners come in and try to reclaim their animal that has been taken away for a reason. 

Michelle Hayes 31:50
at. 

Amanda Hickman 31:50
>> So there is a process for it, doesn't take long, I mean, yeah, there has to be. We have to make sure we're not, you know, adopting out an animal to someone who shouldn't have an animal. 

Rich Bennett 32:03
>> Somebody is going 

Amanda Hickman 32:04
>> And it's going 

Rich Bennett 32:04
to 

Amanda Hickman 32:04
to 

Rich Bennett 32:04
be 

Amanda Hickman 32:04
be a reason for 

Rich Bennett 32:05
an 

Amanda Hickman 32:05
that. 

Rich Bennett 32:05
animal. 

Amanda Hickman 32:05
>> 

Erin Long 32:05
I 

Amanda Hickman 32:05
Right, 

Erin Long 32:06
think it also is, you know, some people come in and they have this idea, you know, I'm a lab person 

Amanda Hickman 32:13
and I want 

Erin Long 32:13
that lab and you know, we have our counselors have conversations and find out a little bit more about their lifestyle. And guess what, the lab we have not going to be a good fit and we 

Rich Bennett 32:27
is 

Erin Long 32:27
know that. And you know, so we are 

Amanda Hickman 32:29
have 

Erin Long 32:29
having to We 

Amanda Hickman 32:30
the 

Erin Long 32:31
have to have conversations, maybe the 

Amanda Hickman 32:32
lab. 

Erin Long 32:32
lab we know doesn't like cats, the cat at home. 

But we're going to try and suggest, but this dog over here lived with kids and cats and we think this would be a much better fit for you. >> And yeah, that's the kind of counseling that we're doing is figuring out, 

Amanda Hickman 32:52
>> 

Erin Long 32:52
you know, maybe you're an active person. 

Michelle Hayes 32:53
That's awesome. 

Erin Long 32:55
You know, or maybe you're a couch potato and, you know, but you're looking at a dog that has so much energy, you know. 

Rich Bennett 33:01
>> That's a lot. 

Erin Long 33:02
Right, so we're having those kinds of conversations during adoption counseling. And we love it when people come in with just an open mind. And we've had great success when they kind of take our suggestions and because our staff, they 

Michelle Hayes 33:18
They 

Erin Long 33:18
know 

Michelle Hayes 33:18
do. 

Erin Long 33:18
the--

Michelle Hayes 33:19
They do like that. 

Right. 

Amanda Hickman 33:21
You know, 

Michelle Hayes 33:21
walking, 

Erin Long 33:21
walking them, they're feeding 

Amanda Hickman 33:22
eating, 

Erin Long 33:23
them, they're giving them enrichment and they just, they do, and they know them inside and out. 

Rich Bennett 33:28
You guys get 

Michelle Hayes 33:28
more cats, and dogs, right? 

Erin Long 33:30
We do. 

Mm-hmm. 

Michelle Hayes 33:32
Okay. 

Rich Bennett 33:33
With, and there's a ton of feral cats. 

Erin Long 33:36
We know that. 

Rich Bennett 33:38
And it seems like almost 

Michelle Hayes 33:39
week, 

Rich Bennett 33:40
every 

Michelle Hayes 33:40
we go 

Rich Bennett 33:40
weeks, two 

Michelle Hayes 33:40
two 

Rich Bennett 33:41
weeks, getting 

Michelle Hayes 33:42
Something 

Rich Bennett 33:42
something front 

Michelle Hayes 33:42
from 

Rich Bennett 33:43
of 

Michelle Hayes 33:43
the home 

Rich Bennett 33:43
the house 

Michelle Hayes 33:43
department about 

Rich Bennett 33:44
about 

Michelle Hayes 33:44
another 

Rich Bennett 33:44
another 

Michelle Hayes 33:45
animal 

Rich Bennett 33:45
animal f*cking. 

Michelle Hayes 33:45
of one of the breeds. 

Rich Bennett 33:46
in--

Somebody 

Michelle Hayes 33:47
Somebody 

Rich Bennett 33:47
brings 

Michelle Hayes 33:48
brings 

Rich Bennett 33:48
in a pet. You guys do testing all that? For, to make sure they don't have rabies? 'Cause I know cats carry them a lot or can because of all the feral cats. 

Amanda Hickman 33:59
Do you want to go over the process? I don't know how detailed we want to get with that. 

There's 

Erin Long 34:04
test 

Amanda Hickman 34:04
no 

Erin Long 34:05
for rabies. 

Amanda Hickman 34:05
Yeah, it's a post mortem. Testing? 

Rich Bennett 34:10
So--

Oh, I didn't do that? 

Amanda Hickman 34:11
Yeah, 

Erin Long 34:12
Which it's really important 

Amanda Hickman 34:14
it 

Erin Long 34:14
to keep 

Amanda Hickman 34:15
is. 

Erin Long 34:15
your pets vaccines up to date. 

Rich Bennett 34:17
Right. 

Amanda Hickman 34:17
and this is why, 

Erin Long 34:19
Yeah, 

Amanda Hickman 34:19
yeah. 

Rich Bennett 34:19
What do you vaccinate them when they come in? 

Amanda Hickman 34:22
We 

Erin Long 34:22
Absolutely. 

Amanda Hickman 34:22
do, right away. 

Rich Bennett 34:23
So, and, but you have no idea if they've ever been vaccinated or not, 

Erin Long 34:27
Nope. 

Rich Bennett 34:27
but you gotta be safe, okay. 

Erin Long 34:30
So, yeah, yeah. Yeah, but we also test cats can get FIV, which is the immunodeficiency virus, and they get FELV, which is feline leukemia. We're doing those tests. We're doing, if we feel like a dog might have heartworm, we're doing the heartworm testing. So, yes, we're doing all those infectious disease tests. 

Rich Bennett 34:53
it, it's not funny, but growing 

Michelle Hayes 34:55
Growing up 

Rich Bennett 34:55
up, 

Michelle Hayes 34:56
is, 

Rich Bennett 34:56
it seems like the biggest things you have 

Michelle Hayes 34:58
to have to worry 

Rich Bennett 34:58
about, about with your 

Michelle Hayes 35:00
dog's liver, cat, heartworm, 

Rich Bennett 35:03
ticks, 

Erin Long 35:04
flas, 

Michelle Hayes 35:05
flas. 

Rich Bennett 35:06
Now it's all that Mupis arthritis. 

Michelle Hayes 35:11
Buttigiegie. 

Erin Long 35:13
Leptosporosis, distemper. 

Rich Bennett 35:16
Holy 

Erin Long 35:16
Bortatella. 

Rich Bennett 35:16
cat. 

Erin Long 35:17
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 35:20
Tele. 

Bortatella. 

Erin Long 35:22
Bortatella. 

Michelle Hayes 35:23
mean, 

Amanda Hickman 35:24
Nutella. 

Michelle Hayes 35:24
they shouldn't 

Amanda Hickman 35:24
(laughing)

Erin Long 35:24
I 

Michelle Hayes 35:25
have that. 

Amanda Hickman 35:27
(laughing)

Erin Long 35:28
Anunciate Erin Olanon. 

Rich Bennett 35:30
Now you probably did, right? I probably just heard the telepart, and I'm thinking. I don't, 

Michelle Hayes 35:35
I mean. 

Rich is trying to eat 

Amanda Hickman 35:36
healthy. (laughing)

Rich Bennett 35:37
Nutella's not healthy. 

Amanda Hickman 35:38
so he's really. 

Michelle Hayes 35:39
No, you're, 

Amanda Hickman 35:41
(laughing)

Yeah. 

Michelle Hayes 35:41
um, 

Rich Bennett 35:42
Oh. 

Michelle Hayes 35:42
Somiamine, Nutella. 

Erin Long 35:43
I think just to tie it all together though, like one of the services we are now providing, this will be our third year doing it as our public vaccine clinic. 

Rich Bennett 35:51
Right. 

Erin Long 35:53
So, they are amazing, and like everybody is so happy to see us when we come out. We don't have a set schedule, we don't have a set location. We're just trying to hit every pocket of the 

Amanda Hickman 36:04
counting, so 

Erin Long 36:04
we do have one coming up June 28th, which is going to be at the Jared'sville Fire Company. And vaccines are $10 

each, so rate 10 to 10 

Amanda Hickman 36:18
board. 

Erin Long 36:19
So, you can vaccinate cuts out) for 

Amanda Hickman 36:20
your (audio 

Erin Long 36:21
30 

Rich Bennett 36:21
bucks. 

Right. 

Erin Long 36:22
We're doing 20 

Michelle Hayes 36:22
bucks. 

$25, 

Erin Long 36:23
Are 

Michelle Hayes 36:23
000. 

Erin Long 36:23
microchips. 

Rich Bennett 36:24
Really? 

Erin Long 36:25
Um, yeah. Yeah. And it's, yeah, from 10 to two. And then we do them three 

Amanda Hickman 36:30
times a year. 

Erin Long 36:32
So, 

Amanda Hickman 36:33
nothing 

Erin Long 36:34
there's 

Amanda Hickman 36:34
else to do to 

Erin Long 36:34
come out, and we vaccinate dogs, cats, and ferrets. 

Rich Bennett 36:39
We put microchips and, oh, micro, I mean. 

Michelle Hayes 36:41
Vaccination. 

Erin Long 36:42
Yes, yeah, ferrets get rabies vaccines. 

Michelle Hayes 36:45
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 36:45
Actually, can you put a microchip 

Erin Long 36:47
out? 

I think you can. 

Rich Bennett 36:48
I guess you can put a microchip in anything, but I would. 

Michelle Hayes 36:50
I mean, they have fur, you can put it under, so. 

Amanda Hickman 36:53
I don't think it's very often. Or 

Rich Bennett 36:54
No. 

Amanda Hickman 36:55
at least they don't make their way to us that often, 

Erin Long 36:57
No. 

Amanda Hickman 36:57
so. 

Rich Bennett 36:57
Right. Well, I mean, 

Amanda Hickman 36:58
little 

Rich Bennett 36:58
'cause they're cuts out)

Amanda Hickman 36:59
(audio cute. 

Erin Long 37:00
They are 

Michelle Hayes 37:01
one. 

Rich Bennett 37:01
I have 

Michelle Hayes 37:01
They smell. 

Amanda Hickman 37:03
(сafety)

Rich Bennett 37:05
You get them, was it de-glanded? Decented? Yeah, just like with skunk. Well, I'm sorry. 

Here we're not allowed to have pet skunks 

Michelle Hayes 37:13
Gunk's 

Rich Bennett 37:13
or 

Michelle Hayes 37:13
are fox. 

Rich Bennett 37:13
foxes, so. Yeah, you can take that distinct gland out. 

Michelle Hayes 37:17
Nah, I'm good. 

Rich Bennett 37:18
Well, my f**k. 

Amanda Hickman 37:18
His 

Michelle Hayes 37:19
I 

Amanda Hickman 37:19
stomach. 

Michelle Hayes 37:19
don't wanna 

Rich Bennett 37:20
He 

Michelle Hayes 37:20
pee. 

Rich Bennett 37:20
always tried to jump in the 

Michelle Hayes 37:21
Yeah, 

Rich Bennett 37:21
bathtub 

Michelle Hayes 37:21
still with 

Rich Bennett 37:21
with me. 

Michelle Hayes 37:21
me. 

Rich Bennett 37:23
It was funny, 'cause I never put out, I never kept it in the cage. I put out a litter box, and she would run all around 

Michelle Hayes 37:31
house 

Rich Bennett 37:31
the 

Michelle Hayes 37:31
and then 

Rich Bennett 37:32
However, 

Michelle Hayes 37:32
whatever. 

Rich Bennett 37:32
I would get somehow or another. She would climb under the bathroom door and jump 

Amanda Hickman 37:38
and 

Rich Bennett 37:38
up 

bathtub with me. And then when I would sleep I had to be careful because if I rolled over I would hear it squeal because he would clutch. 

Erin Long 37:47
Oh, 

Rich Bennett 37:48
she was adorable when she was cute. But I'm not allowed to have one of that me there now, so. All right, 

Michelle Hayes 37:55
don't look at me that's not my fault. 

Rich Bennett 37:58
So, a lot of people in the 

Amanda Hickman 38:00
community. 

Michelle Hayes 38:00
You

 guys, 

Rich Bennett 38:03
whether it be volunteering or fundraisers. 

Erin Long 38:06
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 38:07
And I'm thinking of a couple now. I don't even know how long they've been doing it. The Davis's. 

Amanda Hickman 38:14
Hey, who's 

Rich Bennett 38:14
it, Kate, 

Amanda Hickman 38:15
and 

Rich Bennett 38:16
Kate, Katie 

Erin Long 38:16
Oh 

Amanda Hickman 38:16
Jason? 

Erin Long 38:17
my 

Rich Bennett 38:17
Yeah. 

Erin Long 38:17
gosh. 

Rich Bennett 38:18
Okay. 

Michelle Hayes 38:19
We got to forgot 

Rich Bennett 38:20
during Christmas time. What's it called? 

Erin Long 38:22
the pause 

Rich Bennett 38:22
Dectapals. 

Michelle Hayes 38:23
How long has 

Rich Bennett 38:24
that been going on now? 

Erin Long 38:25
That has been going on. I think this was this past Christmas was like the eighth or 

Rich Bennett 38:31
Really? 

Erin Long 38:31
ninth year. Yeah. And that was all them, Jason, you know, root 24 

Michelle Hayes 38:37
and right. Right. 

Erin Long 38:38
And 

Michelle Hayes 38:39
Lincoln 

Erin Long 38:39
now and Bella and Katie used to work at the shelter many, 

Rich Bennett 38:44
ago. 

Erin Long 38:44
many moons 

Rich Bennett 38:45
Oh, really? 

Erin Long 38:45
She did. 

Rich Bennett 38:46
Okay, what explains why the tie, you know, okay? 

Erin Long 38:51
you know, they're all about giving back 

Rich Bennett 38:52
Mm hmm. 

Erin Long 38:53
and they have three fur babies of their own. And yeah, they just they both know so many people, so many business owners and they encourage local businesses to give back. So whether it's a donation box on their counter or whether they're hosting an event or, the employee's paying to wear jeans on a Friday or 

Rich Bennett 39:14
But, 

Erin Long 39:14
something, you know, whatever it is, you know, it's all part of Dectapals and this past Christmas, they donated like $10, 000. And, you know, Amanda and I see where that money goes. 

Rich Bennett 39:29
Right. 

Erin Long 39:29
And what the good that it's doing, whether it's feeding the animals, it's keeping the heat on in the winter time and the AC on in the summertime, it's enrichment for the animals. Or they don't get bored. It's medical procedures and medicines that are life saving it. I could go on 

Michelle Hayes 39:46
and on, but, 

Erin Long 39:48
yeah. 

Rich Bennett 39:50
Didn't you guys maybe you only did it once or maybe you still do it. Didn't you do something where it was like sleep with the animals? Did you have a fundraiser where people could spend the night there? 

Michelle Hayes 40:03
I mean, that sounds like fun. Can you do that? 

Erin Long 40:05
Hold on fun. Like, I know some of our staff have spent the night like. Right. They get a snow storm and they set up Cots and, you 

Michelle Hayes 40:11
Can 

Erin Long 40:11
know, 

Michelle Hayes 40:11
I 

Erin Long 40:11
sleep 

Michelle Hayes 40:11
pre-volunteer 

Erin Long 40:11
in the. 

Michelle Hayes 40:12
me 

Erin Long 40:12
I 

Michelle Hayes 40:12
and. 

Amanda Hickman 40:12
For 

Erin Long 40:12
know. 

Michelle Hayes 40:13
that like, 

Rich Bennett 40:14
do 

Michelle Hayes 40:14
we'll 

Rich Bennett 40:14
it 

Michelle Hayes 40:14
with 

Rich Bennett 40:14
first. Maybe 

Michelle Hayes 40:15
some 

Erin Long 40:15
Oh, 

Michelle Hayes 40:15
other. 

Rich Bennett 40:16
please, I saw it do, but I 

Michelle Hayes 40:17
Cause 

Rich Bennett 40:17
cause. 

Michelle Hayes 40:17
we're 

Rich Bennett 40:18
What they're 

Michelle Hayes 40:18
nervous. 

Rich Bennett 40:18
supposed 

Michelle Hayes 40:18
Spend 

Rich Bennett 40:18
to do is like spending, spending 

Michelle Hayes 40:19
the night. 

Rich Bennett 40:20
the night with the animals and they camped out with. 

Erin Long 40:22
That's 

Michelle Hayes 40:22
Obviously 

Erin Long 40:23
interesting. 

Michelle Hayes 40:23
with the kittens, if I need, 

Erin Long 40:24
right? 

Michelle Hayes 40:25
Like, I'm cool with that. 

Rich Bennett 40:26
Keep in Things 

Amanda Hickman 40:27
the. 

Rich Bennett 40:28
with home. 

Michelle Hayes 40:28
I mean, I would. 

Rich Bennett 40:29
Well, I know 

Michelle Hayes 40:29
you if they need to keep warm like, come on. 

Rich Bennett 40:32
Might want to keep you locked up in 

Michelle Hayes 40:34
I 

Rich Bennett 40:34
there. 

Michelle Hayes 40:34
got my kittens. They were six weeks old. Mom. Like. Had to own them. 

Erin Long 40:38
Mm hmm. 

Michelle Hayes 40:39
She was pregnant again. So yeah, it was a whole thing. She was feral. 

Rich Bennett 40:43
It 

Michelle Hayes 40:43
It. Hold. 

Rich Bennett 40:45
was. 

Erin Long 40:45
Right. So 

Michelle Hayes 40:46
we got two litter mates. 

Amanda Hickman 40:48
Spay a newt or you're 

Michelle Hayes 40:51
So 

Amanda Hickman 40:51
in. 

Michelle Hayes 40:52
then the kittens were rescued. Mom got rescued and 

Amanda Hickman 40:55
a 

Michelle Hayes 40:55
whole thing. Thank God for Stacy. If you're listening, good job. 

Erin Long 40:59
We 

Michelle Hayes 41:00
finally got everybody. Everybody is now spayed and neutered and adopted out. But the two of them there were six weeks old and we kept them in the bathroom. And we had to like lay in there with them because they were so tiny. Like oh my god. 

Rich Bennett 41:12
Oh 

Michelle Hayes 41:12
god. Hey. 

Rich Bennett 41:12
my 

Michelle Hayes 41:13
They're so fun. Now they act like dogs. 

Rich Bennett 41:16
How often do you guys ever get mainkins in? 

Amanda Hickman 41:18
Hmm. 

Erin Long 41:19
we have 

Rich Bennett 41:20
Well, 

Erin Long 41:20
not a lot 

Rich Bennett 41:21
got you guys have had everything 

Erin Long 41:23
we've had everything. Not me not a lot. 

Rich Bennett 41:25
For said if I ever get another dog, there's only one certain kind I would get, but I didn't have any doubts about that. It's not a big offense. One of my English boo 

Erin Long 41:33
dogs. 

Rich Bennett 41:33
Oh believe me whenever 

Michelle Hayes 41:35
get 

Rich Bennett 41:35
they 

Michelle Hayes 41:35
one, 

Rich Bennett 41:36
I think maybe you're telling somebody or whatever, but it never fails, whenever I think somebody scouring your sights strictly looking for English boo dogs, because it seems like I get an email, right. Look what they have at 

Amanda Hickman 41:51
range. 

Rich Bennett 41:51
the 

Amanda Hickman 41:53
I 

Erin Long 41:55
know. 

Rich Bennett 41:57
Rub it in. 

Erin Long 41:58
Yeah. I think there are people definitely checking out our stats are showing that I think people are at work. You know, looking at the animals that we have, hey, I have no judgment here. I think that's great. 

Rich Bennett 42:09
How many 

Michelle Hayes 42:10
actually, how many 

Rich Bennett 42:11
do you guys 

Amanda Hickman 42:12
have, 

Rich Bennett 42:13
staff, 45 

Michelle Hayes 42:14
45 

Rich Bennett 42:15
staff, where's that staff in volunteers. 

Amanda Hickman 42:16
No staff. 

Rich Bennett 42:17
Really? 

Amanda Hickman 42:18
We have, I have to double check with Chelsea. Believe about 250 active 

Rich Bennett 42:22
volunteers. 

250 volunteers. Let me rephrase that 250 active volunteers. And you're always 

Amanda Hickman 42:35
looking for more volunteers. Always. Volunteers and fosters. I mean, really. I feel like. We 

Rich Bennett 42:40
Oh, 

Amanda Hickman 42:41
need more and always donations always, but like we were just talking about this recently. Medical fosters. Like those that are able to handle the 

Rich Bennett 42:50
this. 

Amanda Hickman 42:51
pookas. And, you know, those that have so she didn't bring him. We have 

Erin Long 42:57
fun here. 

Amanda Hickman 42:58
Yeah. Aaron is fostering one of our dogs. He's absolutely adorable. And she could speak to his his medical. 

His list. 

Erin Long 43:10
but he's got an autoimmune disease. Something we don't know what it is, but he's came to us as a 

Amanda Hickman 43:16
Holist, 

Erin Long 43:16
puppy. And he was like three months old. August and he has had a whole list of things just going wrong. This poor guy and so yeah, like Amanda said, we're looking for people that are not afraid to, 

Amanda Hickman 43:30
yeah, to take care of 

Erin Long 43:32
Give 

Amanda Hickman 43:32
them. 

Erin Long 43:32
medicine, orally. 

Amanda Hickman 43:33
Yeah. 

Erin Long 43:34
Maybe subcutaneous fluids. If you know how to do that, 

Amanda Hickman 43:37
Correct. 

Erin Long 43:38
yeah, yeah, for some of the medical 

Rich Bennett 43:40
Yeah. 

Erin Long 43:40
animals. Or if we have animals that have just had a major surgery and, you know, there's, you know, their sutures need to be clean and, you know, and they need, maybe they can't walk and they need to be in a confined area. Yeah, someone that's willing to 

Amanda Hickman 43:53
do 

Erin Long 43:54
those cases on. 

Rich Bennett 43:55
So I take it. The animals, the dogs name is puka. Okay. I thought you were talking about certain kind of animals. 

Erin Long 44:03
Oh. 

Amanda Hickman 44:03
Oh, 

Michelle Hayes 44:03
Yeah. 

Amanda Hickman 44:04
yeah. is 

Michelle Hayes 44:04
I was like, 

Amanda Hickman 44:04
this? Like what 

Michelle Hayes 44:04
what 

Amanda Hickman 44:05
breed 

Michelle Hayes 44:05
breed 

Amanda Hickman 44:05
is 

Erin Long 44:05
is 

Amanda Hickman 44:06
this? 

Erin Long 44:06
puka. It's 

Amanda Hickman 44:06
Okay. He 

Michelle Hayes 44:06
a 

Erin Long 44:06
a kind of 

Michelle Hayes 44:07
look like 

Amanda Hickman 44:07
puka. 

Erin Long 44:07
little 

Amanda Hickman 44:09
Speaking which. 

Rich Bennett 44:11
of 

Amanda Hickman 44:11
This 

Rich Bennett 44:12
Because you answered this last 

Michelle Hayes 44:14
last. 

Rich Bennett 44:14
time, but you, maybe it was you, maybe it's you that do it. I don't Because every week when I get these, 

Michelle Hayes 44:21
know. 

Rich Bennett 44:22
the press release for the animal or 

Erin Long 44:26
pets. Oh, the pets of the week. Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 44:27
Who names them? 

Amanda Hickman 44:28
Oh, staff. 

Erin Long 44:29
Effort. Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 44:30
Yeah. Okay. 

Erin Long 44:30
So whether it's the the front desk staff when, you know, an animal's coming through, you know, the front desk, they name them, then sometimes the the medical staff in the back. 

Rich Bennett 44:40
Okay. 

Erin Long 44:41
But yeah, they get pretty creative. 

Michelle Hayes 44:43
Oh, yes. They. Oh, yes. They 

Rich Bennett 44:44
Yes. 

Michelle Hayes 44:44
have. 

Erin Long 44:46
They. Well, when you're naming 30, 400 animals. 

Rich Bennett 44:48
Yeah. 

Erin Long 44:49
And last year, I guess you do have to start 

Rich Bennett 44:52
3400. 

Erin Long 44:52
3400 came in in 2024. Yeah. And then, yeah, I'm sure they. 

Yeah. They're looking at their, you know, their takeout 

Amanda Hickman 45:02
Yeah. 

Erin Long 45:02
cups and, you know, 

Amanda Hickman 45:04
anywhere for 

Erin Long 45:04
Anywhere. 

Amanda Hickman 45:04
inspiration. 

Erin Long 45:06
TV shows and candy bars and, yeah. 

Rich Bennett 45:11
Yeah. All right. So, I mean, did this questions for you? Because Aaron, you're not allowed to answer because you've been there the longest. 

That is your, your executive director there. What's the biggest thing that you would like to do? Or add on change or whatever to make it better, if you can even make it better. I don't, I mean, it's already best out there. But that you would like with the human society. 

Amanda Hickman 45:40
I mean, operationally, I feel like we do function very, very It is a very well oiled machine. My goal is to open up our clinic to provide pet spam neuter services. So low cost spam neuter to the general public. 

I think, I think we have an obligation to do that. 

Rich Bennett 46:05
Yeah. 

Amanda Hickman 46:05
I think we see the community and those that are struggling. To take their animals to the vet. 

Rich Bennett 46:11
Yeah. 

Amanda Hickman 46:11
You know, they can't afford to 

Rich Bennett 46:12
Some 

Amanda Hickman 46:12
take 

Rich Bennett 46:12
people 

Amanda Hickman 46:12
them in for vaccinations, right. You know, nonetheless, taking them in to have them fixed. So, you know, then of course they end up as a stray, they end up having litters. And then we see the all fall of that. So I think if we make that affordable for the folks who need it, 

Rich Bennett 46:31
can. 

Amanda Hickman 46:31
we'll be tackling that issue at the front lines. 

Rich Bennett 46:39
I like

Amanda Hickman 46:41
that volunteering. There is an application for that. That's 

Michelle Hayes 46:44
a mind. 

Amanda Hickman 46:45
it is online. So, you know, it goes through our internal process. We have a volunteer coordinator who reviews those and then approves and then she would reach out. You would go through an orientation and then within that orientation, kind of determine where you think you would best want to volunteer because it's not just, I know everybody thinks, "I want to go volunteer through. If you mean society, you just want to work with the animals, it's not just that. I mean we need volunteers for everything. If you have a skill set and you want to fill in in the admin area because you want to do data entry or you want to help us, you know, with letters or emails, anything like that. We need that too. So, there's, you know, that process and then donations. There are a million different ways that you can donate. And it's goods, it's financial, a state 

planning. Time, absolutely. I mean anything in kind is fantastic but you can donate directly on our website. 

Rich Bennett 47:50
Which 

Amanda Hickman 47:50
You 

Rich Bennett 47:50
is. 

Amanda Hickman 47:50
can call harvardchildter. org. Very 

good. You can come in and drop things off, you can mail, host your own fundraiser. I seeing that. I love seeing the kids, which I wasn't prepared for. When I first started, I didn't realize, like, how engaged the youth are. It's really impressive and they're wonderful. They run their own, you know, donation drive at their school or part of their girl scout, boy scout troops. They do their own thing. They're amazing. And then they bring it all in. And you're like, moly! How did you account?" You're like ten. And you did all of this. It's 

incredible. So yeah, there are a lot of options. 

There. Yeah, what else. What am I missing? There's so much more. Don't eat a car. I forgot about 

Erin Long 48:47
"Ah! 

Amanda Hickman 48:47
that. Yes, 

Erin Long 48:48
Holy 

Amanda Hickman 48:48
you can donate an old car. 

Erin Long 48:52
Boat or... 

Amanda Hickman 48:52
yeah, it goes to auction. And then receive 

Rich Bennett 48:56
Oh I thought... 

Amanda Hickman 48:57
the proceeds. 

Rich Bennett 48:57
Because the dogs and the cats love to just climb over... 

Amanda Hickman 48:59
No. 

Michelle Hayes 49:01
I mean that's... 

Rich Bennett 49:03
Oh no, it's funny that you've seen it because when you mentioned, like, you would like love to do the spain neuter thing, but sometimes people just don't have a way of bringing their pets in. And we've talked about this with the healthy department, that had real life prosthetics on. 

Michelle Hayes 49:20
People have a hard 

Rich Bennett 49:21
time finding 

Michelle Hayes 49:23
or can't have 

Rich Bennett 49:24
transportation 

Michelle Hayes 49:24
transportation. 

Rich Bennett 49:27
And I was... I was thinking about this the other day. I don't know of any non-profit out there where that's all they do provide free transportation to people that would need 

Amanda Hickman 49:40
it. 

Rich Bennett 49:40
Going to whether it be the Humane Society or something like that. But even if you had... if somebody would donate a car or a bus, you know maybe a bus might be too much, but you have to 

Amanda Hickman 49:53
wear those... 

Rich Bennett 49:54
You 

Michelle Hayes 49:54
care 

Rich Bennett 49:54
can take 

Michelle Hayes 49:55
of these 

Rich Bennett 49:55
can't... 

Michelle Hayes 49:55
people that 

Rich Bennett 49:56
can't get in there. 

Amanda Hickman 49:58
If we pick out the animals, drop 

Rich Bennett 49:59
them. Yeah! 

Amanda Hickman 50:00
Yeah. 

Michelle Hayes 50:01
And the side note-rich shifting gears is a non-profit and they are working on a system for foster youth to be able to have that transportation. 

Amanda Hickman 50:11
It's great. 

Rich Bennett 50:12
Strictly for foster youth, 

Michelle Hayes 50:15
and those who have aged 

Amanda Hickman 50:16
of the 

Michelle Hayes 50:16
out spectrum so that younger adult demographic, but they're their early stages, so stay tuned for more, but they are working on that as one of the services they provide. 

Rich Bennett 50:26
Oh, that's awesome. 

Michelle Hayes 50:27
So heads up. It's coming. 

Rich Bennett 50:29
Good! 

Michelle Hayes 50:29
We work with them. Shameless plug. 

Rich Bennett 50:32
No, 

Michelle Hayes 50:33
It 

Rich Bennett 50:33
that's good. 

Michelle Hayes 50:33
is coming. 

Rich Bennett 50:34
That's something that's... and I can't tell you how many people I've talked to all the time. That's one of the biggest struggles. Is people just cannot afford 

Amanda Hickman 50:44
it 

Rich Bennett 50:45
in there? That's what you guys need, like a pickup truck or a box truck. 

Damn, that's a good fundraiser. I'm gonna get a box truck down 

Michelle Hayes 50:55
here. 

Rich Bennett 50:56
it up with dog food, dog and cat animal 

Amanda Hickman 50:59
Fill 

Rich Bennett 50:59
food. Fill it up with 

food. 

Michelle Hayes 51:03
I mean, people 

Rich Bennett 51:03
do food drives where they, 

Amanda Hickman 51:04
mm-hmm. 

Michelle Hayes 51:05
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 51:05
Fill up the truck. Fill up the truck. I think that'd be a good fundraiser, do for you, man. Or 

Michelle Hayes 51:12
even if you're having a networking group, have everybody bring a small bag of food? That's where my mind goes. Is we have so many business networking groups around Harford Gowney. I mean, we go to at least one a week if not two or three. Why doesn't everybody just bring a bag of food one week? It's not hard. It's when you're going to go buy your cat your dog your you know whatever animal Just buy a second bag. It's not expensive. It's just a little bit extra. And it goes a long 

Amanda Hickman 51:41
guys 

Michelle Hayes 51:41
way with you 

Rich Bennett 51:43
We did that thorn thorn cove When we did 

people we asked for people to bring in like canned food and non-perishables and we would donate them to the 

Amanda Hickman 51:57
food pantry 

Rich Bennett 51:58
And we filled I think we filled up the truck. I want to say three times 

Michelle Hayes 52:02
That's awesome 

Rich Bennett 52:03
And in fact the one so the one food pantry Was overstock 

Michelle Hayes 52:08
So 

Rich Bennett 52:08
we couldn't take any more there 

You know, oh, that was that year when I played sand. I thought the year of COVID was probably one of my best years That's the most 

Michelle Hayes 52:18
up 

Rich Bennett 52:18
kids Up until 

Michelle Hayes 52:20
last year 

Rich Bennett 52:20
Cause it did a lot 

Amanda Hickman 52:22
virtual 

Rich Bennett 52:22
of Too but I don't do the one for the humane society. Somebody else does sand for that 

Amanda Hickman 52:32
He but that's not it's not us that handles um. Who is that I wasn't on 

Rich Bennett 52:38
yet. I think it's David Oh what was it does it 

Erin Long 52:42
For the for who 

Rich Bennett 52:43
for for he he was a heat for you or whatever 

Erin Long 52:48
yes. 

Rich Bennett 52:48
Yeah, 

Erin Long 52:48
Yes. Yes, they did. Yes. They do. There's down at um Daust Beer Hall 

Rich Bennett 52:53
Yeah. 

Erin Long 52:54
Yes. They get their own. 

Rich Bennett 52:55
Yeah, David does it 

Erin Long 52:56
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 52:56
because 

Erin Long 52:56
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 52:57
I told him I said, dude, I got that you you can dye your hair white. I got the dye for it Because it wouldn't mean to do it, but I can't because I'm already 

Michelle Hayes 53:05
there Right 

Rich Bennett 53:05
booked in But 

Michelle Hayes 53:08
it's wonderful to tell small children that I know Santa and um 

Amanda Hickman 53:13
And you can speak to him 

Till early 

Rich Bennett 53:18
It's it's cool with my neighbor's my old neighbor's granddaughters 

Michelle Hayes 53:23
I'm about to get a new niece or nephew like Maybe before Christmas and oh 

Rich Bennett 53:31
that 

Michelle Hayes 53:31
be 

Rich Bennett 53:31
could 

Michelle Hayes 53:31
Santa 

Rich Bennett 53:32
come Christmas time 

You know they don't really 

Michelle Hayes 53:41
know oh no wait a couple years. I'm gonna use that 

Rich Bennett 53:44
What those are the best photos though 

Amanda Hickman 53:47
Yeah, 

Rich Bennett 53:48
it is oh 

Especially if it's if it's a girl Because you save that and the father can use that for when that first boy comes in a 

Michelle Hayes 53:58
half It's 

Rich Bennett 54:00
my dog 

So see that look I'm saying this face yeah, you're looks gonna be a lot worse. You do anything wrong 

Amanda Hickman 54:10
Oh 

Rich Bennett 54:11
yeah maybe that's why 

Michelle Hayes 54:12
my mom just uses my newborn photos. I look like an old man 

Still got married 

And that's how I'm when it's great 

Rich Bennett 54:28
You 

Michelle Hayes 54:28
should see she posted it on my Facebook timeline my birthday 

Rich Bennett 54:32
That's

 um wait, I'll tell you after we finish recording you guys have anything to add 

Erin Long 54:40
The only thing I would add um 

You know if you're a business and you're listening and you would like to get involved. We have event sponsorships 

We've got 

Amanda Hickman 54:55
Oh

, 

Erin Long 55:02
this 11 this year will be 11 Okay Yeah, Puts Rapaz September 4th this year at mountain branch just 

Michelle Hayes 55:09
river 

Erin Long 55:10
down the The recording studio here um and yeah, we we uh we've got sponsorships. We've got golf Presums Um it just uh 

Michelle Hayes 55:23
don't wear the pineapple bathing That's not that kind of for some rich 

This is why he has me oh 

This is why he keeps me here 

Rich Bennett 55:45
I didn't know upside down pineapples were a thing when I bought the bathing suit, okay 

Michelle Hayes 55:51
Did you find out a fun way 

Rich Bennett 55:52
to you continue to you 

Michelle Hayes 55:55
golf 

Amanda Hickman 55:57
for some golf for some golf for some and then um 

Erin Long 56:00
Yeah, the torrent. It's yeah, it's 

Amanda Hickman 56:02
much 

Erin Long 56:02
pretty 

Amanda Hickman 56:02
I'm excited for 

Erin Long 56:03
one 

Amanda Hickman 56:03
it 

Erin Long 56:04
of our biggest fundraisers. Yeah I'm excited for it too. Um and so we's fun. Uh, Tito's vodka's our top sponsor. Love Tito's they love dogs are the vodka for dog people. 

Rich Bennett 56:16
And they're not that's not even a local company either, is 

Erin Long 56:18
Mm-hmm, 

Rich Bennett 56:18
it? 

Erin Long 56:19
they're based in Austin, Texas. 

Rich Bennett 56:20
That's amazing. 

Erin Long 56:22
They. 

Rich Bennett 56:22
All the 

Amanda Hickman 56:24
they're reaching 

Rich Bennett 56:25
there. Yeah they're reaching. I mean, they support a lot people. 

Erin Long 56:28
A 

Rich Bennett 56:29
of 

Erin Long 56:29
lot 

Rich Bennett 56:30
it. 

Erin Long 56:30
A lot. So by Tito's vodka because they support. 

Amanda Hickman 56:34
Mm-hmm, 

Erin Long 56:35
they 

Amanda Hickman 56:35
you're 

Erin Long 56:35
support, if 

Amanda Hickman 56:36
a humane society, yes. 

Erin Long 56:37
Support the Humane society. And um, yeah we have our pup crawl coming up June 14th. And that's going to be in downtown Belair. Tickets are on sale now. We do have a couple of sponsorships left for that one. Um and then we have our other signature event is a bingo. Um and we typically have that one in February. 

Rich Bennett 56:59
Where's 

Erin Long 57:00
in? The 

Rich Bennett 57:00
that 

Erin Long 57:00
cash bingo. That's up at level. Fire 

Rich Bennett 57:02
Oh, 

Erin Long 57:02
hall. 

Rich Bennett 57:02
okay. 

Erin Long 57:03
Yeah, yeah. 

Rich Bennett 57:04
And that sells out too, doesn't 

Erin Long 57:05
That's that 

Rich Bennett 57:06
it? In that place. 

Erin Long 57:06
sells out. It's yeah, I can get about 300 to 315 in there. Yeah. Yeah. We we sell it out. Yeah. So lots of fun ways to get involved. Um if you're a teacher, um and you would like to do some humane education lessons, we are available to come out and talk to your students. It doesn't matter whether they're kindergartners. It doesn't matter if they're high school students, we can come out and kind of tailor the presentation, whether it's talking about you know, dog bite prevention, animal cruelty, just what we do at the shelter and how to be a responsible pet owner we can do that. Um 

Rich Bennett 57:47
okay 

Amanda Hickman 57:47
okay 

Michelle Hayes 57:47
okay 

Amanda Hickman 57:48
yeah we could go on 

Erin Long 57:48
on. Yeah, I could 

Amanda Hickman 57:49
and 

Erin Long 57:49
go on and on. 

Rich Bennett 57:51
Have a lot of events coming up because you can't make the pet festival 

Michelle Hayes 57:54
got

Rich Bennett 57:54
because you 

Erin Long 57:56
I 

Rich Bennett 57:58
know I'm not loved. 

Erin Long 57:59
I 

Rich Bennett 57:59
I 

Erin Long 57:59
know what 

Rich Bennett 58:03
know. Well you guys already had 

Erin Long 58:05
the second. 

Rich Bennett 58:05
that schedule 

Erin Long 58:06
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 58:06
so I'll let 

Amanda Hickman 58:06
just 

Erin Long 58:07
Yeah, the 

Amanda Hickman 58:07
like

Erin Long 58:07
second, second Saturday. 

Rich Bennett 58:08
It's always Father's Day weekend. 

Erin Long 58:10
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 58:10
Aaron always good to see you. Thank you for I mean, 

Michelle Hayes 58:15
you've 

Rich Bennett 58:15
done there and staying there. Amanda nice 

Michelle Hayes 58:18
you. 

Rich Bennett 58:18
meeting 

Michelle Hayes 58:18
Thank you 

Rich Bennett 58:19
for coming on board. 

Amanda Hickman 58:20
Thanks for having me. 

Rich Bennett 58:21
And uh oh, 

Amanda Hickman 58:22
this was fun. 

Rich Bennett 58:26
I told somebody I told somebody before that they need to come on more and more. But all I hear is you know, when she's even a guy, I don't want to talk to Richie. 

Erin Long 58:37
I always have 

Amanda Hickman 58:39
I

Erin Long 58:39
fun when said

Michelle Hayes 58:41
yeah, but see she laughs at my Joe. 

Rich Bennett 58:44
Whatever. 

Rich Bennett 58:46
Thank you for listening to the conversations Rich Bennett. I hope you enjoyed today's episode and learned something from it as I did. If you'd like to hear more conversations like this, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode. And if you have a moment, I'd love it if you could leave a review. It helps us reach more listeners and share more incredible stories. Don't forget to connect with us on social media or visit our website at 

conversationswithrichbandit.com for updates, giveaways, and more. Until next time, take care, be kind and keep the conversations going.