In this new podcast episode, I’m talking with Ellie Hansen, the host of the Dog Research Exposed Podcast. Our conversation starts with Ellie’s journey into the pet industry. It all began 16 years ago when she opened a pet bakery in Billings, MT.
With the tremendous support of the local community, her business has flourished, expanding to two locations that she still operates today. In addition to the bakery, Ellie’s business now also includes a self-serve dog wash and a full-service grooming salon.
I loved learning about her business, but the bulk of our conversation in this episode revolves around animal testing. This subject sparked Ellie’s interest when she stumbled on a video on Facebook several years ago.
This inspired her to connect with a rescue organization dedicated to rehoming beagles that had been subjected to laboratory testing. When Ellie brought her first rescue beagle home and around her shop in Billings, her friends and customers were shocked to discover that dogs are still being used for testing purposes.
Motivated by her beagle Marty’s resilience and the interest she felt from the community around her, Ellie focused on advocacy work for laboratory test animals, using her book and podcast as platforms to raise awareness.
I asked Ellie for something we can implement in our own day-to-day lives to make an impact for this cause. She helped me to discover how important it is to make sure that every home cleaning product or beauty product you buy is cruelty-free. Look for the leaping bunny symbol and tell your friends to do the same.
I want to warn you that parts of this interview may be difficult to listen to due to the mention of animal abuse. However, I hope you will take the time. While it may be challenging for us to hear about the abuse, it pales in comparison to what so many innocent animals are subjected to every day.
To delve deeper into this issue and discover actionable steps that can significantly impact the cause, please visit dogresearchexposed.com
The Unseen World of Animal Testing and the Power of Cruelty-Free Choices
Ellie Hansen is an award-winning writer, animal advocate, founder and CEO of Lovable Pets, Inc., a holistic pet supply company located in Billings, MT. She holds a B.A. degree in Mass Communications and Public Relations from Bloomsburg University. Ellie’s published works include two books and magazine articles focusing on profound human relationships with dogs.
In 2015, Ellie adopted two beagles who were used for much of their lives for pharmaceutical research in undisclosed U.S. laboratories. Both dogs were severely traumatized and needed extensive rehabilitation to acclimate to their new lives outside the laboratory.
Witnessing their resilience and uncovering the facts about dogs used for research inspired Ellie to write her second book “Laboratory Dogs Rescued: From Test Subjects to Beloved Companions”. Ellie is also the producer and host of the “Dog Research Exposed Podcast” dedicated to disseminating information related to ending this cruel and outdated practice of using dogs in chemical and biomedical research worldwide.
OVERVIEW OF THIS EPISODE:
- What inspired Ellie to work in the pet industry
- The challenge of growing a pet business in a smaller city
- How Ellie got involved with laboratory dog advocacy
- Why Ellie’s first rescued dog changed everything
- The goal of the animal testing advocacy
- How pet industry entrepreneurs can support the cruelty-free cause
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
WHERE TO FIND ELLIE:
- Website: dogresearchexposed.com
- Instagram: @ellie.hansen.74
- Facebook: @stopdogresearchpodcast
- Instagram: @EllieLuvsDogs
- YouTube: Dog Research Exposed Podcast
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