The Animal Files Podcast brings you the real stories behind animal cruelty cases, rescue missions, and the laws that protect — or fail — our animals.
Powered by Animal Victory Disaster and Abuse Fund, each episode uncovers the truth and calls for change.
For over a combined 30 years, we have been dedicated to combating animal abuse, each of us playing our part. Most recently, Paul is telling compelling stories on camera to raise awareness, and Janelle is working behind the scenes, managing petitions and outreach efforts, with one shared goal: Prosecute animal abusers.
Over the past year, we have maintained a continuous connection to discuss the overwhelming flood of abuse stories from various topics that were submitted for publication.
What do we do with all of this information? How do we know what to focus on? Animals don’t have rights. How do we fight the system? How do we tell the people about what is going on?
It was during one of those brief, silent moments over the phone that it occurred to us to start broadcasting our conversations with other people, about what we know and the obstacles we face. We decided we would combine and discuss our stories to reach both of our audiences — to connect with more animal lovers, engage more advocates, and ultimately provide more help for animals.
Our experience with over 342 petitions and hundreds of videos published will expose the truth, uncover the real stories behind animal cruelty, highlight the rescue missions, and draw attention to the real people who are helping the animals.
And we will call it “The Animal Files.”
To create awareness of real animal abuse cases to help society understand the horror of their suffering and to emphasize the urgent truth: lasting change is long overdue and we need EVERYONES help.
To create a world where animals are treated with kindness, compassion and respect.
Our podcast focuses on dogs and cats, as they are the closest companions to humans and the most frequently reported abused animals—in that order.
In 2024, an estimated 89.7 million dogs and 73.8 million cats live in households across the United States, according to data from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
Dog Ownership:
Cat Ownership:
These figures highlight the importance of our mission to protect and advocate for these beloved animals.
Neglect is the most common form of cruelty. It includes the failure to provide basic needs such as:
food & water
shelter
veterinary care
grooming
safety
Most cruelty cases in the U.S. fall under passive abuse, where animals simply don’t receive the care required to survive.
This is one of the largest drivers of suffering for dogs and cats.
In the U.S., an estimated 70 million dogs and cats are homeless at any given time, yet only about 6–8 million enter shelters each year — meaning most never find help. Globally, stray and homeless dogs and cats may number in the hundreds of millions.
When animals are not spayed or neutered, litters pile up, and people become overwhelmed — leading to widespread neglect and abandonment.
Overpopulation causes:
abandonment
surrender to shelters
dumping
hoarding situations
unintentional neglect from overwhelmed owners
And the downstream consequences:
homeless animals struggling to survive
overcrowded shelters are drowning in intakes
higher euthanasia rates
preventable suffering on a massive scale
This category alone is responsible for millions of animal deaths every year.
Intentional or active abuse includes deliberately harming an animal.
It is often linked to:
power and control dynamics
domestic violence (pets harmed to punish family members)
psychological disorders
displaced aggression
organized cruelty, such as dogfighting
These cases involve direct acts of cruelty — beating, burning, torture, and killing — and often overlap with broader patterns of human violence.
This category represents commercial exploitation, and it is one of the most chronic and pervasive cruelty problems.
These operations create:
lifelong confinement
severe neglect
untreated medical issues
psychological trauma
high mortality rates
Animals are bred for profit, not care, producing a constant supply of sick, unsocialized, and unwanted puppies, which further fuels the overpopulation crisis.
Read more about neglect below.
With over 30 years of combined experience advocating for animals, we will utilize our social media platforms and newsletters to promote our podcast to raise awareness and drive change.
We will share powerful stories of animals affected by cruelty, expose systemic failures, and highlight rescues to inspire action.
By collaborating with advocacy groups, encouraging petition signatures, and providing education on recognizing and reporting abuse, we aim to empower animal lovers to share their knowledge, apply their unique skills, and unite with us in the fight to protect animals.
Through consistent, honest content and mobilizing support, we will to create a world where animals are protected and respected.
With over 30 years of combined experience advocating for animals, we will utilize our social media platforms and newsletters to promote our podcast to raise awareness and drive change.
We will share powerful stories of animals affected by cruelty, expose systemic failures, and highlight rescues to inspire action.
By collaborating with advocacy groups, encouraging petition signatures, and providing education on recognizing and reporting abuse, we will empower society to join our fight.
Through consistent, honest content and mobilizing support, we aim to create a world where animals are protected and respected.
Neglect is the most common form of cruelty. It includes the failure to provide basic needs such as:
food & water
shelter
veterinary care
grooming
safety
Most cruelty cases in the U.S. fall under passive abuse, where animals simply don’t receive the care required to survive.
This is one of the largest drivers of suffering for dogs and cats.
In the U.S., an estimated 70 million dogs and cats are homeless at any given time, yet only about 6–8 million enter shelters each year — meaning most never find help. Globally, stray and homeless dogs and cats may number in the hundreds of millions.
When animals are not spayed or neutered, litters pile up, and people become overwhelmed — leading to widespread neglect and abandonment.
Overpopulation causes:
abandonment
surrender to shelters
dumping
hoarding situations
unintentional neglect from overwhelmed owners
And the downstream consequences:
homeless animals struggling to survive
overcrowded shelters are drowning in intakes
higher euthanasia rates
preventable suffering on a massive scale
This category alone is responsible for millions of animal deaths every year.
Intentional or active abuse includes deliberately harming an animal.
It is often linked to:
power and control dynamics
domestic violence (pets harmed to punish family members)
psychological disorders
displaced aggression
organized cruelty, such as dogfighting
These cases involve direct acts of cruelty — beating, burning, torture, and killing — and often overlap with broader patterns of human violence.
This category represents commercial exploitation, and it is one of the most chronic and pervasive cruelty problems.
These operations create:
lifelong confinement
severe neglect
untreated medical issues
psychological trauma
high mortality rates
Animals are bred for profit, not care, producing a constant supply of sick, unsocialized, and unwanted puppies, which further fuels the overpopulation crisis.
We will also highlight the people and organizations making a difference around the world, working tirelessly in their communities to help animals in need.
The Animal Files is a project of the Animal Victory Disaster and Abuse Fund—a non-profit dedicated to helping animals in crisis and disasters. Fortunately the mission of The Animal Files Podcast meets the criteria of their mission. Your tax-deductible donations are the only way we can fund the promotion of this podcast, highlighting systemic issues and failures that enable cruelty and shedding light on the urgent need for reform. 
Approximately 65% of donations for this project will be allocated to small, credible, sustainable dog and cat rescue/rights organizations within the United States that lack a large platform to promote their work and receive funding. The remaining funds will support the podcast’s infrastructure and operations.
Those looking for a tax deduction while supporting our podcast, along with hundreds of small dog and cat rescues, creates a beneficial situation for all.
The Animal Files will dedicate approximately 65% of its donations to helping dogs and cats. These donations or supplies will go to credible, sustainable small non profit dog and cat rescue/rights organizations, or individuals, who do not have a platform to promote their cause and receive funding.
Sometimes, we are asked why we share animal abuse videos and graphic animal pictures, and some people express concerns that animal abusers might get ideas from them. 
While some may question our motives, there is no scientific research suggesting that watching abuse videos from animal advocates directly leads to animal abuse by viewers. In fact, most research indicates the opposite: exposing the public to the realities of animal cruelty aims to increase awareness, empathy, and advocacy efforts to prevent abuse.
Witnessing actual abuse can shock people into recognizing the severity of the problem and motivate them to take action, such as signing petitions, contacting authorities, or spreading the message. Outrage often leads to action!
If we didn’t see them, we wouldn’t know this abuse exists —
Consequently, if we don’t share these experiences, how will you know what’s happening? How will we create change?
We understand that watching these videos can be horrific, and you are not obligated to view them if they cause distress.
We’ve realized that cute, fuzzy pictures of dogs and cats do not accurately reflect the harsh reality of the cases we report, and authorities must see the factual evidence.
As animal abuse petitioners, news reporters, influencers, and podcasters, our primary goal to report the news as accurately as possible, using the evidence we receive to help society understand the horror of their suffering and to emphasize the urgent truth: lasting change is long overdue.
I hope this information is helpful. Please continue to join us by listening in and joining the conversation. We will continue to welcome your suggestions and insights on how we can collaborate to create a better world for animals. 
Your support means everything to us. Without YOU, the animals lose.
The Animal Files
Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Donation Policy
Effective Date: December 16, 2025
About The Animal Files
The Animal Files is a podcast and media project operated by Animal Victory Disaster & Abuse Fund, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 88-3617975) (“AVDAF,” “we,” “us,” or “our”).
The podcast is produced to educate, inform, and advocate for the protection of animals through storytelling, investigative discussion, and public awareness.
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Whether it’s a one-time or monthly gift, you will provide the support needed for abused children seeking justice as well as the help needed to raise the bar for animal welfare in the courtroom.
Be their CHAMPION today.
Whether it’s a one-time or monthly gift, you will provide the support needed for abused animals seeking justice as well as the help needed to raise the bar for animal welfare in the courtroom.
Be their CHAMPION today.
Whether it’s a one-time or monthly gift, you will provide the support needed for abused animals seeking justice as well as the help needed to raise the bar for animal welfare in the courtroom.
Be their CHAMPION today.
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