The PM Podcast: "You See Their Joy"

Guest: Tim Woodward, Executive Director, Animal Rescue Corps

Host: Jay Frost
Date: December 6, 2025

Episode Overview

This heartfelt episode explores the untold stories behind animal rescue missions led by Tim Woodward, Executive Director and founder of Animal Rescue Corps (ARC) and a 2025 CNN Hero. In a candid conversation with host Jay Frost, Woodward shares how ARC works with law enforcement to address large-scale animal cruelty, the challenges and rewards of their work, the emotional and psychological impact on both animals and rescuers, and the vision for expanding rescue operations nationwide. Listeners gain insight into the realities of animal suffering, the resilience of survivors, and practical steps for community members to fight cruelty.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Origins of Animal Rescue Corps

• Tim describes his journey from animal lover to advocate during his time at In Defense of Animals (01:49).
• The formation of ARC in 2010 was a response to law enforcement’s limitations in handling animal cruelty due to lack of experience, money, equipment, and shelter space (02:56).
  • "The need was clear… We designed Animal Rescue Corps to be that partner to law enforcement." – Tim Woodward (02:56)
• ARC steps in to extract, triage, and care for animals, and to handle evidence collection during operations.

2. How Animal Cruelty Cases Are Discovered

• Early work involved ARC performing their own investigations and undercover work, but, as reputation grew, referrals began coming from the community and law enforcement (05:48–07:34).
• ARC also assists in “cooperative surrenders,” where overwhelmed or ill caretakers relinquish animals without legal complications.

3. Hoarding Versus Overwhelm: Understanding Cruelty Cases

• Tim distinguishes between pathological animal hoarding (a mental disorder) and well-meaning individuals who become overwhelmed due to lack of resources (07:43–09:37).
  • "Mentally, they still can't let those animals go… But there are also people who just become overwhelmed by trying to help.” – Tim Woodward (07:43–09:37)

4. The Reality on the Ground: Vivid Scenes from Rescues

• Tim provides a visceral description of the physical environments encountered: homes with inches of impacted feces, ammonia levels high enough to be life-threatening, and utter neglect (10:04–12:30).
  • "You can't imagine how anyone or anything would live in these spaces… The darkness, the stench, the fact that there's no breathable air." – Tim Woodward (10:24–12:30)
• Rescuers use protective gear; those living in such conditions are at severe health risk, even if acclimated.

5. Animal Resilience: Healing and the Return of Joy

• Tim discusses how animals recover emotionally and physically after removal from cruelty (13:43–15:01).
  • "You watch them go through about three days of decompression... then they come into the moment and start healing. You see joy come into their life." – Tim Woodward (00:00, repeated 15:01)
• The transformation of traumatized animals is an emotional highlight for the team—especially when they are placed in loving homes.

6. Compassion Fatigue: The Emotional Toll on Rescuers

• Tim acknowledges the psychological weight of the work, emphasizing the importance of a supportive team and self-care (17:26–19:37).
  • "Compassion fatigue is a real thing… but each case is its own reward." – Tim Woodward (17:40–17:59)

7. The Scope of Animal Cruelty: A Nationwide Issue

• Animal cruelty exists everywhere; the type varies regionally, from dog fighting to puppy mills to neglect (19:45–21:46).
• There’s a generational and cultural shift, with communities and law enforcement more proactive than ever.

8. ARC’s Vision for the Future

• ARC remains a small but mighty organization, with ambitions to expand:
  • Establishing more rescue centers in other regions.
  • Building more field teams to respond to disasters and cruelty cases in multiple locations simultaneously.
  • Expanding partnerships and offering training to other organizations (22:07–25:14).
  • "Eventually perhaps there would be three or four ARC rescue centers around the country … to support their own law enforcement." – Tim Woodward (22:54)

9. Community Action: How Listeners Can Help

• Tim advises vigilance and persistence in reporting suspected cruelty, and the importance of professionalism and education when interacting with authorities (25:58–30:15).
  • Learn what constitutes “adequate” food, water, and shelter under law.
  • Request welfare checks; engage animal control, police, or sheriffs as appropriate.
  • "Persistence is important and remaining professional… ultimately they're going to respect the fact that you care about this animal." – Tim Woodward (26:06)
• Vets can be powerful advocates—they are recognized as qualified to establish cruelty.

10. Sustaining the Work: Motivation and Legacy

• Tim reflects on the ongoing motivation: the immediate rewards of each rescue, the connection with animals, and now, finally, the sense that ARC is a sustainable institution (30:44–34:14).
  • “In every single case, there’s several animals… And seeing them transform… that’s an immediate reward.” – Tim Woodward (31:18)
  • “Now…with the CNN recognition, it feels like we are sustainable. If something happens to me tomorrow, Animal Rescue Corps will continue. It will continue to grow.” – Tim Woodward (33:32)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the animals' transformation:
  “You see eyes that were just kind of dead and confused before, like, begin to brighten and the excitement that they begin to get when you come and sit with them.” – Tim Woodward (00:28 / 15:01)

• On what keeps him going:
  “We don’t have to end all animal cruelty to feel good about changing the lives of these animals today. That’s always inspiring and rewarding.” – Tim Woodward (31:42)

• On ARC’s drive:
  “Once you see pictures of animal suffering, it’s very hard not to try to pursue that.” – Tim Woodward (31:14)

• Advice for concerned neighbors:
  “Educating yourself about… what’s wrong and being able to talk about that in a professional way… Even when [law enforcement] are not immediately receptive, remaining professional, because you’re going to call them back and you’re going to keep calling.” – Tim Woodward (26:32)

• On the generational shift:
  "Now I think... we're creating the change that will help address that and if not, eliminate it, reduce it to the greatest degree possible." – Tim Woodward (21:07)

Important Segment Timestamps

| Segment Description | Timestamp | |---------------------------------------------|--------------| | Tim describes animal recovery and joy | 00:00–00:28, 15:01 | | ARC’s founding vision and function | 01:49–05:36 | | Hoarding and overwhelmed caretakers | 07:34–09:37 | | Vivid scenes from worst rescue cases | 10:04–12:30 | | Compassion fatigue and self-care | 17:26–19:37 | | Animal cruelty as a nationwide problem | 19:45–21:46 | | Future vision for ARC and partnerships | 22:07–25:14 | | Advice for neighbors and reporting cruelty | 25:58–30:15 | | Motivation and legacy | 30:44–34:14 |

Summary Takeaways

• Animal Rescue Corps offers a lifeline in some of the country’s darkest cases of animal cruelty, acting where local resources cannot.
• The emotional transformation of rescued animals is profound and serves as an ongoing motivation for Tim and his team.
• Tim’s vision includes building ARC into a sustainable, nationwide network that supports local partners and law enforcement.
• Listeners are encouraged to be vigilant, persistent, and professional in reporting cruelty; every action can change an animal’s life.

For more information, visit animalrescuecorps.org.