I’m honored to host a truly remarkable guest, Zach Skow, whose life story and work exemplify the transformative power of sobriety and compassion. Zach is more than just a survivor; he is a beacon of hope and change. As the founder of Marley's Mutts Dog Rescue and the visionary behind the Pawsitive Change Program, Zach has leveraged his passion for animals to foster healing and redemption. His innovative approach, which pairs rescue dogs with inmates, facilitates life-changing bonds and promotes mutual healing and growth. Zach's journey is also deeply personal. As someone who has maintained sobriety, he embodies the resilience and commitment we celebrate on this podcast. His experiences, challenges, and triumphs in the realm of sobriety provide profound insights and inspiration to us all. Today, we'll learn how exploring sobriety has fueled his mission and how the unconditional love of dogs can lead to profound personal transformation.

[04:23] Before getting sober, Zach's life was completely dedicated to drugs and alcohol. He spent a lot of time making sure he had enough drugs and alcohol to get through the day.
[05:40] He spent a lot of time in the solitude of self-hatred.
[07:51] He also had terminal depression and he now wonders how he got through it.
[08:04] Zach shares the moment that propelled him into sobriety. He was in acute liver failure and everything was going wrong. He needed a transplant and was trying to cope with his own mortality.
[11:04] Things were so bad, he couldn't control anything except for the suicidal thoughts that he was obsessed with.
[13:36] He was at rock bottom and didn't even recognize himself, but his dogs knew he was still there.
[15:57] One glance from his dogs during this terrible time in his life, made all the difference. He stayed up with the dogs, watched the sunrise, journaled, and committed to doing better.
[16:38] Everyday of his life since then has been dedicated to helping dogs. He found a profound purpose outside of himself.
[17:23] Having a purpose outside of himself allowed him to embrace sobriety. He also had to stay sober for 6 months to get a liver transplant. He had to walk, change everything about his diet, and find a will to live.
[18:44] When your energy and mind and spirit are elsewhere, you are required to be present.
[19:28] He also attended 12-step groups and got tools that he needed to stay sober.
[21:03] He also discovered that he liked himself.
[23:30] At first, sobriety was just the means to get a liver transplant, now it's the most important thing in Zack's life.
[27:02] Dogs really made a difference in his recovery, especially in the beginning. You need to introduce structure into a dog's life, so they can be adopted. A person in recovery also needs structure.
[30:22] Marley's Mutts was born out of Zach's struggle to get a liver transplant. He was working with the dogs while waiting for the transplant. After six months, he didn't need the transplant anymore.
[33:02] He started an animal rescue. Marley's Mutts has been around since April of 2009. They have 30 employees, over 100 dogs, and have found homes for more than 10,000 dogs.
[34:55] Zach talks about the four programs that are part of Marley's Mutts including the Pawsitive Change Program.
[35:04] The Pawsitive Change Program came about when one of his buddies adopted a dog after coming out of prison. The dog ended up changing the former inmate's life.
[37:09] There's something about a dog that represents love, compassion, and home. Bringing dogs into the prison really helps with rehabilitation.
[39:13] Zach shares a story about a dog named Smokey who would bite people. Smokey was paired up with an inmate named Jason. Smokey was afraid, Jason introduced him to the world in a new way and kept his needs in mind.
[41:47] Smokey and Jason ended up being rehabilitated.
[43:18] Every prison should have a Pawsitive Change Program.
[45:05] Build your dog's routine into your own healthy routine.

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