I'm no good. I take in good advice. And I'm self-careless. So don't tell me twice that lately I've been so stuck in my head that I forget just about everything my therapist said. Maybe I'm self-helpless.

Hey, everyone. Welcome to self-helpless. I'm Delaney Fisher. And today, in honor of all the

national and international observances coming up throughout the month of August to raise awareness

about homeless animals and animal welfare, including Homeless Animals Day, Adopt-A-Dog

Month, International Cat Day, and several others. I am joined by the

Senior Vice President of Communications for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Lisa Lange,

to discuss what to consider when you're thinking about adding an animal to your family, how to

ensure you're adopting the animal in the most ethical way possible, and lots of tips for

taking great care of animals

once they're in our home. So many of you already know that we are experiencing an enormous

overpopulation crisis and animal shelters across the country. Animals are being turned away

left and right and left on the streets, especially in big cities like Los Angeles. And we are getting to the root

of why this is happening, but more importantly, what we can do about it and the simple solutions

that can solve this in our homes, communities, and beyond that. So much of the information Lisa

shares in this episode is just mind-boggling because it's stuff that isn't willingly given to the general

public from the sources that we're talking about today. And it's all things we really need to know.

I mean, most of us are around animals in one way or another. And I was very surprised at how much

I didn't know as someone who has cared for animals my entire life.

So all of this info will definitely help us and the animals around us in a multitude of ways.

And by the way, I have made just about every misstep you can possibly make when it comes to having

animals.

Pretty much everything mentioned that can be harmful or problematic. I have

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