G-8GW6WNVDCH 2301875706914928 New Orleans Dog Rescue Songs with The Canine Crooner - Animal Posse

Episode 82

New Orleans Dog Rescue Songs with The Canine Crooner

Published on: 21st August, 2026

Songwriter Craig Cortello—The Canine Crooner—shares how his dog‑inspired music is raising funds and lifting spirits across Louisiana’s rescue community. He talks about the Dog Tails album, the legend of Scrim, and the joy of performing at dog‑friendly shows. Hear song clips, learn how his music supports local rescues, and connect with Craig at CanineCrooner.com or on Instagram at @caninecrooner for upcoming shows and donation links.

About Animal Posse 🐈

Welcome to Animal Posse! We share heartwarming stories and crucial insights to make a real difference for animals in need. As a project of the Unwanted Feline Organization, we are a community of animal lovers dedicated to rescue, advocacy, and education. This podcast does not provide medical, veterinary, or professional advice.

Like, Share, and Subscribe to save lives through community, one rescue at a time!

📌 Disclaimer

This show is for entertainment and general discussion only. The experiences, opinions, and information shared by our guests are their own, do not reflect the position of the show and are not intended as veterinary advice. This content should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis, treatment, or guidance. Always consult a licensed veterinarian regarding your pet’s health or any medical concerns.

Transcript
Dixie:

Welcome back to the show, everybody.

2

:

Today we've got something special,

something different, a conversation

3

:

that blends New Orleans music, animal

rescue, and the kind of heartwarming

4

:

storytelling that reminds us why

dogs are really man's best friend.

5

:

Our guest is Craig Cortello.

6

:

He is a songwriter, musician,

and the Canine Crooner.

7

:

Craig's Dog Tails album has become

a beloved soundtrack for many animal

8

:

lovers across Louisiana and the Gulf

Coast, with proceeds supporting rescues

9

:

like the Louisiana SPCA, North Shore

Humane Society, and Zeus' Rescue.

10

:

His music has been featured on WGNO,

WWL, WLOX, WWOZ, Offbeat Magazine,

11

:

Pup and Purr, and even the New Orleans

Public Library's Crescent City Sounds.

12

:

And today we're gonna be diving

into the stories behind the songs

13

:

and the rescues that they support.

14

:

Speaker 3: hi, Craig

15

:

Dixie: thank you for coming on the show.

16

:

Welcome.

17

:

You bet.

18

:

Good

19

:

Craig: to be here.

20

:

Dixie: I am looking forward to

hearing all about The Canine Crooner.

21

:

Yeah So what you do is very unique.

22

:

You are using music to help animals and

rescues, and so you're building awareness-

23

:

… raising money, and you're creating a very

unique soundtrack for the rescue culture

24

:

in the New Orleans area and in Louisiana.

25

:

Craig: That's right.

26

:

Yeah.

27

:

I, It's been a pleasure.

28

:

I've connected with so many wonderful

people in animal rescue, many of

29

:

whom have been on your show before.

30

:

Dixie: Oh, that's good to know.

31

:

What inspired you to create music

specifically honoring dogs and

32

:

supporting rescue organizations?

33

:

Craig: Yeah, I think the genesis of this

was really there was, we had lost our

34

:

dog at the end of the first year of the

pandemic back in:

35

:

Tara, and we adopted a puppy about 10

weeks later, a, a border collie rescue.

36

:

And I th- about six months

later, I was sitting on the

37

:

porch with my dog, rainy day.

38

:

We have a little covered patio in the

backyard, and that's really good creative

39

:

time for a musician to sit on the porch

on the bench and come up with new ideas.

40

:

And I just had a song come to me

that was a dog song not really just

41

:

kinda looking in that direction, but

it just inspired in that direction.

42

:

And I think with looking back on it, we

had been through so many emotions with

43

:

dogs in the last six months, right?

44

:

We lost a dog in December, adopted

one in January and we'd forgotten

45

:

how much work a puppy was.

46

:

So all the joy of having a

puppy and all the terror of

47

:

having a border collie puppy.

48

:

And I think six months in, there

were just so many emotions bubbling

49

:

up that it just came to the surface.

50

:

And that day, I started working on a song

which eventually became "Angels With Four

51

:

Paws and a Tail," which was on the album.

52

:

And that just started kind of a sequence

of writing more songs that were like that.

53

:

Dixie: I have a clip from your song-

Yeah … Angel With Four Paws And A Tail.

54

:

Speaker 6: Angels with

Four Paws and a Tail

55

:

Dixie: Tell us a little

bit about that song.

56

:

Sure.

57

:

, I know you said you were inspired by your

new puppy, but give us- Yeah … a little

58

:

bit more of a background on that song too.

59

:

Craig: Yeah.

60

:

There's a quote that you see out

on the internet and I won't…

61

:

I probably won't get it right word for

word, but it's, and you see the quote

62

:

with a dog that says, "I will send

them to earth with not with wings, so

63

:

they don't know m- they're my angels."

64

:

And I think, I think if there's anything

that really represents what an angel on

65

:

earth would be like, I think it's the many

of those characteristics are in a dog.

66

:

So that was the inspiration of that.

67

:

I think they're as God-like or

angelic as a creature as you can

68

:

imagine, and bring us so much joy.

69

:

And so that was the background of it.

70

:

And I, just again, paying tribute to the

dogs that bring so much to our lives.

71

:

Dixie: After you wrote that song,

then what was the next step?

72

:

Craig: The next step was it was funny.

73

:

I after I wrote that one song, I just

started thinking of more dog songs.

74

:

They just started coming to me, just

inspired in that way, and I'm not

75

:

usually that prolific in songwriting.

76

:

I think like most songwriters,

you go through spurts.

77

:

At, at times you're creative, at times

you put it aside for a while and do

78

:

other things musically or otherwise.

79

:

But I, I wrote probably eight or nine

dog songs within about six, seven weeks

80

:

maybe, and it just it just started coming

to me not really planning to do that.

81

:

But I just started in- it started

off in that direction, and I got

82

:

to a point where I felt like I had

enough material to do an album.

83

:

And the thought occurred to me

that, this would be a unique…

84

:

First of all what i- what, what

moves people's emotions more

85

:

than dogs and music, right?

86

:

It's what a perfect marriage

I thought it would be.

87

:

But also, a- as you mentioned, it

would be a different way to engage

88

:

animal rescue audiences, right?

89

:

All the rescues are struggling.

90

:

They're trying to raise money.

91

:

They're putting out their GoFundMe

pages and doing all the things they

92

:

have to do to stay viable, but this

is just one more way to engage their

93

:

audiences, g- get to their hearts.

94

:

But also, every time I play

music, I can share their message.

95

:

I can share stuff on social media.

96

:

So it was a way to engage audiences

that was ki- as you mentioned, unique,

97

:

and something that was really tailored

to my, my talent, so to speak.

98

:

Dixie: Yeah.

99

:

And you have, of course, that

traditional New Orleans sound in it.

100

:

Craig: Yeah.

101

:

It's a lot of different genres.

102

:

I draw, I tried…

103

:

Some of them are more…

104

:

And it's a, a wide range.

105

:

Some of these songs are more some

are more more like a kids song,

106

:

more kind of a, fun and simple.

107

:

Some are more sophisticated.

108

:

I had some really great jazz

musicians in the studio, and I

109

:

wanted to give them some, some songs

that had a little bit more to them

110

:

that could get their teeth into.

111

:

Really the inspiration, I guess if I

would say my, my north compass on putting

112

:

these these compositions together, was

really Randy Newman, whom I'm a fan of.

113

:

His song You've Got a Friend

in Me, it's a, a great song.

114

:

It's beloved by millions, kids and adults.

115

:

There's enough going on there

musically sophisticated that,

116

:

adults enjoy listening to it.

117

:

That was the inspiration, find

something that would appeal to kids but

118

:

wasn't necessarily just a kids song.

119

:

I think we've all had the experience

where we had a toddler who listened

120

:

to a song that we just got tired of.

121

:

I just wanted to make sure there

was something a little bit more

122

:

to the music than that, that

might not bore the adults as well.

123

:

Dixie: Yeah, absolutely.

124

:

Yeah, now, one thing that I wanted to

ask you about, too, is I know, like

125

:

a lot of the times, animal rescues,

when they're trying to reach people,

126

:

they tend to reach people who are

already involved in animal rescue.

127

:

And so they're not reaching people

that they maybe should be reaching

128

:

that could be potential adopters.

129

:

So- Yeah … with your music having

that kind of New Orleans feel to it,

130

:

it's that music that everybody likes.

131

:

Like you said, you have some elements in

it that a child would like, but it's not

132

:

just for children, it's for adults, too.

133

:

Do you think it is- Yeah … also

helping to reach a wider audience that

134

:

these rescues might not be reaching?

135

:

Craig: Yeah, I think so.

136

:

When I, I, of course, when I play, whether

it's a restaurant that's dog friendly or

137

:

a brew pub or a bar and we have rescue

events, I certainly mix the music up.

138

:

So I'll play, some of

the original dog stuff.

139

:

I'll play some familiar stuff as well.

140

:

So we try to attract a

pretty broad audience.

141

:

I make it comfortable and stuff

that's fam- familiar to them as well.

142

:

So we mix that in.

143

:

So yeah, I think we do, we are reaching

a little bit broader audience perhaps.

144

:

And again, I've, I had some

really great musicians.

145

:

There was a couple songs on the album

when I composed them, I really heard

146

:

a, a need for trombone in the songs.

147

:

So I reached out to Craig Klein, who's a

wonderful trombone player here in town.

148

:

He had played with a band called Bonerama,

and he plays at Preservation Hall.

149

:

But he had just won a Grammy

Award with a, a group called

150

:

The New Orleans Nightcrawlers.

151

:

The story I like to tell is I reached out

to Craig not knowing if he'd be interested

152

:

in the album or not, but I said, "Look,

Craig, I'm putting together a dog album.

153

:

It's for a great cause."

154

:

I said "I think it would

be fun for you and easy."

155

:

And I said, "By, by the way, besides, I

can't make a dog album without a bone."

156

:

And he said, "Craig,

count me in I'm there."

157

:

So I was just, I was really

pleased and privileged to work

158

:

with a Grammy Award-winning

musician who jumped on the project.

159

:

And not only him Belinda Moody, who

played upright bass, she's just a

160

:

accomplished jazz performer, as well as

Chrich, Chris Cuccioni, who played drums,

161

:

just phenomenal musicians who were…

162

:

I was just really pleased and tickled

they were willing to, give their

163

:

talents to this kind of a project.

164

:

Dixie: How did you connect with the

rescue groups, and how did you form the

165

:

relationships with them so that your album

could be benefiting them proceed-wise?

166

:

And also how much money have

you raised for organizations,

167

:

and how many organizations

have the funds been donated to?

168

:

Craig: Yeah, i've played at events raising

money for 20 different animal rescue

169

:

organizations in South Louisiana and the

Gulf- Mississippi Gulf Coast as well.

170

:

And I've raised on my own about

from my contributions and my events,

171

:

I've raised about 12, $13,000.

172

:

And we, and pl- I've played at larger

events that have raised, upwards of, we

173

:

play at one called Race to the Rescue

every year that's coming up in October.

174

:

That raised 45,000 last year, and I've

played there for last couple years.

175

:

There's another one called Frets for

Pets in Ocean Springs, Mississippi,

176

:

that raised another $12,000.

177

:

So I've played at larger events that have

raised, hundreds of thousands of dollars.

178

:

But yeah the f- the first

connection really came when I had

179

:

the c- the concept of the album.

180

:

I knew I wanted, we were gonna

wanna do some some music videos.

181

:

So my son's an accomplished

photographer and videographer.

182

:

So I reached out to a few, three

different organizations who I had not

183

:

really been involved in animal rescue,

but I knew I wanted to get involved.

184

:

And but I had friends who

had volunteered for some.

185

:

So we reached out to Zeus Rescues

North Shore Humane Society, and

186

:

Louisiana SPCA because I knew

friends who had connections there.

187

:

So I could say, "Yeah, my,

my friend's a volunteer.

188

:

Pl- I got this idea that I'm putting

together about an album and some music

189

:

videos, and I'd love to come in and just

take some pictures and videos of your

190

:

pups, and we'll make some music videos

that will go along with the album."

191

:

So that was the first kind of genesis.

192

:

And I can recall back in 2021, had Zeus

Rescues out on the porch there in our

193

:

COVID masks taking video and pictures

of the dogs and putting it all together.

194

:

So when the album came out in, it

was in fall of:

195

:

of music videos to go along with it.

196

:

So that was how I, I first got connected,

was Michelle at Zeus and the folks

197

:

up at North Shore and at Louisiana

SPCA, and just broadened from there.

198

:

I'm, as I began…

199

:

it's funny, when you follow your muse

and you follow your heart how many

200

:

like-minded people you can connect

with, and it just became the ball got

201

:

started, got, got rolling a little bit.

202

:

And once I started playing out and about,

you start making those connections and

203

:

people get to see what you're doing.

204

:

And so now whenever I have a,

I have an opportunity to play

205

:

where it's dog-friendly, I always

invite in one of the rescues in.

206

:

And like I say, larger events I met

serendipitously Joanne Casey, who wor-

207

:

who's the owner of Alice and Amelia gift

shop on Magazine Street, but she also

208

:

has a NOLA Dogs rescue that sponsors

that Race to the Rescue every year.

209

:

So again, she's raised a- almost a quarter

of a million dollars over the five years,

210

:

six years she's done that 5K event.

211

:

And so that, that benefits

five different organizations.

212

:

So I met all the owners of there,

and it just, it blossomed from there.

213

:

Dixie: Another question that

I wanted to ask you too.

214

:

So your shows are

family-friendly, dog-friendly.

215

:

Craig: Yep.

216

:

Dixie: What is the energy

like when you perform for an

217

:

audience that's full of dogs?

218

:

Craig: Yeah.

219

:

It's fantastic.

220

:

It's, there's such a feeling of

goodwill in the audience when people

221

:

come to see the show because it's, they

understand what I'm doing, number one.

222

:

To have the dogs there.

223

:

And you, again, you j- you

attract a lot of people who are

224

:

dog lovers and appreciate that.

225

:

Yeah, the vibe is always fun.

226

:

I, I play twice a month at a place

called The Doghouse on Bank Street.

227

:

It's and it's an enclosed dog park,

but also a bar and restaurant.

228

:

So it that's the one place where

you can take dogs off leash

229

:

and let them just run around.

230

:

So I set up my, I put a little table in

the corner to try to protect my little,

231

:

my, all my equipment and stuff, but they

seem to find ways to get through there.

232

:

But it's so much fun for me to just

sit behind the table, play the music,

233

:

and just watch the dogs running

around, playing and jumping around.

234

:

And ev- eventually they te- a lot of times

they're able to break that little facade.

235

:

I put that table up with guitar cases and

whatever to try to protect my little area.

236

:

But they seem to, especially

the the wiener dogs, they s-

237

:

tend to get through there.

238

:

But but it's just so much fun fr-

from my perspective, just watching

239

:

the dogs run around and play and while

I'm singing songs about dogs and that

240

:

kind of a setting is just fantastic.

241

:

Dixie: Let's talk about Go Adopt a Puppy.

242

:

This one- Yep … has become a rescue

anthem, and Yep … has a music video

243

:

that's featuring adoptable dogs.

244

:

It's super, super cute.

245

:

Yep.

246

:

I know you went through

filming it a little bit, let

247

:

me play the clip for this song.

248

:

Speaker 4: go Adopt a Puppy

249

:

Dixie: If you can tell us a little

bit about the creation of that song

250

:

and your inspiration for that one.

251

:

Craig: Yeah.

252

:

Obviously the there are themes throughout

all the songs a little bit that talk

253

:

about adopting puppies, but this

is the one that sort of hits home.

254

:

And the, really the message that

I wanted to get out there for the,

255

:

to the s- I call it the signature

song of the album, of course.

256

:

And it's just a little story about

how much fun dogs are, and then at

257

:

the end of the song it's, it again,

gravitates to, but, but, there's other

258

:

dogs out there that need adopted.

259

:

Yes, we love these dogs and they're

great, and we find joy from them,

260

:

but there's still so many puppies

out there that need to be adopted.

261

:

So that, it kind of transitions at

the end of the song to that message.

262

:

And it's also a great song because

e- every verse starts off with

263

:

little puppies as the first word.

264

:

And and if I have a dog, let's say,

come into the dog house and he's new

265

:

there and his name's Chico or Simba

or whatever, I can do a dedication.

266

:

I just insert the name of the

dog to where the puppies go.

267

:

So I do it as a, as kind of a

dedication and a welcoming to

268

:

new dogs that come to the events.

269

:

And so it's, again, it creates a lot of

goodwill and it's a lot of fun for me.

270

:

Dixie: Yeah.

271

:

That's great.

272

:

That you have the opportunity to

personalize it because it really gives

273

:

a connection to the dog for people who

may be interested in adopting, too.

274

:

Craig: Yeah.

275

:

Sure.

276

:

Dixie: I would like to talk about your

latest project, which is The Legend

277

:

Named Scrim: Run Till You're Home.

278

:

Yep.

279

:

So Scrim- Yep … became a local

hero because of his escapes and

280

:

adventures across New Orleans.

281

:

He kind of- Yeah … definitely

was a legend here.

282

:

And I think he made it a

little bit nationwide, too.

283

:

But for listeners who don't

know who S- who Scrim was what

284

:

made his story so special?

285

:

Craig: Yeah, I think that, there's

obviously there are other dogs who

286

:

have escaped from in their homes

or f- foster parents or whatever.

287

:

But I think what made this one so

unique was he was a small diminutive

288

:

dog, a terrier mix perhaps, but but

he was very difficult to capture

289

:

because he was very skittish.

290

:

I- and Michelle at Zeus talks about

they, when they're out there, it's

291

:

not that they don't wanna go home,

it's that they're just in flight mode.

292

:

They see everything as kind of a threat.

293

:

So she was warning people not to chase

him because he would run away from

294

:

you, and you maybe put him in danger.

295

:

If you chase him down, he

might run into the street.

296

:

So it was a very tricky rescue.

297

:

So it really required the

assistance and support, of all the

298

:

people in the community, right?

299

:

Because they were…

300

:

Michelle had a number where they

could call in or text in sightings,

301

:

so she had a little tracking map.

302

:

So it became just bigger than one dog

and one owner trying to track him down.

303

:

It became a whole community inspired

by this, and we- they would send

304

:

clips where they saw him so they

could see where he had been last.

305

:

So it really something that engaged and,

you know, enamored the whole community.

306

:

And as you mentioned, once,

th- they caught Scrim once.

307

:

Scrim escaped a second time.

308

:

The second time he jumped

out of a second floor window.

309

:

It was caught on the Ring camera,

and that video is what caused

310

:

it to go really nationwide.

311

:

Sh- Michelle was on national talk

shows, and it was on, all the

312

:

evening news k- kind of events.

313

:

So it became larger than life.

314

:

And I really think Scrim at some point

really jumped to a level where you put Mr.

315

:

Bingle, some of the real,

iconic New Orleans characters.

316

:

I think after that second escape I

think Scrim really hit that next level.

317

:

Dixie: Yeah, and I'm gonna give

a shout-out right now, too, to

318

:

all the TNR cat trappers because

it was actually- Yeah, right

319

:

a TNR cat trapper-

Yeah … that trapped Scrim.

320

:

That's right.

321

:

I believe it was a volunteer

from Trap That Cat.

322

:

Craig: Abso- absolutely, yeah.

323

:

And Michelle's acknowledged

them a whole great deal.

324

:

But yeah, it was a difficult task, it,

like I say, it was so quick, and it was…

325

:

they act- at one point had

actually surrounded him.

326

:

They thought they had him pinned

in at a house, and he k- got away

327

:

through a fence or something.

328

:

So it was really tricky.

329

:

It was a, a, a big effort by a lot of

people and exhaustive in some sense.

330

:

Dixie: Okay, so I'm gonna play that

clip now for the legend named Scrim.

331

:

Speaker 5: The Legend Named Scrim

332

:

Dixie: So Scrim has a huge fan base

here in New Orleans, of course.

333

:

Yeah … people are coming

up with Scrim everything.

334

:

There's been, Scrim T-shirts anything

they can put Scrim on, Scrim artwork.

335

:

So- … how has the community

reacted to the song?

336

:

Craig: It's been fun.

337

:

Yeah, I, when I play it at live, it's

really, it gets a, a great reaction,

338

:

and it's a easy sing-along, too.

339

:

There's, I sing the verse four

or five times in the song.

340

:

I had some, again, some great

musicians in the studio.

341

:

I got to acknowledge Romey

Kaye, a local jazz singer.

342

:

She did some gr- background

vocals for the chorus.

343

:

It really came out fan- I was really

thrilled at the way it came out.

344

:

But I, as, as you mentioned,

it became a, a big story.

345

:

And there have been four or

five books written about Scrim.

346

:

I know a friend of mine Maddie Hannon, has

written a great book that she promotes.

347

:

But to my know- and as you mentioned,

there were, Christmas ornaments, the

348

:

whole nine yards, but stuffed animals

and even the Scrim candle, I think.

349

:

But to my knowledge, there was

never a song written and it

350

:

was in the back of my mind.

351

:

I had been playing, as the Canine

Crooner for a couple years at

352

:

that point and, who better to do a

Scrim song than the Canine Crooner?

353

:

And finally I was at a, I play in a

band called The FlipTones, a cover

354

:

band, and my bass player, we were at

practice one day, said, "Man, Craig, you

355

:

need to write yourself a Scrim song."

356

:

And I said, he, when, the way he said it

was like a, "Craig, it's your obligation,

357

:

you're the dog guy playing music."

358

:

That really inspired me to sit down

and say, okay, I've got some ideas

359

:

I've been ruminating, but it's

time to get it out there and get

360

:

it into the studio and do it right.

361

:

So that was really the genesis.

362

:

But again, it was the only, to me,

it's the only Scrim song that I

363

:

know, and I felt like every, every

folk hero really needs to have a

364

:

song written about them that's, that

really puts them at that next level.

365

:

Dixie: Yeah and again, I love

it just because it has that New

366

:

Orleans sound, and then you have

Scrim, such a New Orleans icon now.

367

:

So it was really good.

368

:

Yeah.

369

:

, I really enjoyed listening to that one.

370

:

Craig: And it was, we were fortunate too.

371

:

Bill Wood from WGNO came out actually to

the Dog House and did a little piece on

372

:

the song as well, so it was a lot of fun.

373

:

Dixie: All the songs that I've

listened to so far have been dog

374

:

songs, and you're the Canine Crooner.

375

:

Yep … so as a cat rescuer,

I have to ask, do you have

376

:

any cat songs in the work?

377

:

Craig: No I do not, and I'll

tell you the reason why.

378

:

I love all animals, and cats included, but

I was horribly allergic to cats when I was

379

:

a kid, so I just never had the experience.

380

:

So I think about that often.

381

:

There's probably somebody out there who

is better suited and better equipped

382

:

to be a, a cat musician than myself.

383

:

But I just, I'm not the one

qualified to tell that story just

384

:

'cause I couldn't have cats around.

385

:

But I do, when I do play live, as I

mentioned, I do play some cover songs

386

:

that are familiar to people as well in

my set list, and I do always play Stray

387

:

Cat Strut because I always acknowledge,

a lot of the rescues I work with and

388

:

donate to, they assist cats, too.

389

:

We wanna help our feline friends as well.

390

:

So I always put a, a song or two about

cats in- into the playlist as well.

391

:

Dixie: Craig, your work brings joy,

raises money, and celebrates the

392

:

bond between dogs and their people.

393

:

So for listeners who wanna support your

mission, where can they find your music,

394

:

upcoming shows, or donation links?

395

:

Craig: Yeah, you can go to the, the

website of course is a, a easy place

396

:

to get ev- all the information.

397

:

Caninecrooner.com

398

:

is the website.

399

:

So you can find out

more information there.

400

:

Actually now if you … On Instagram as

well, it's the same handle on Instagram.

401

:

Just spell out canine crooner.

402

:

And that's where I g- probably the best

place to get note of my upcoming shows.

403

:

I've been pretty busy,

especially coming this fall.

404

:

I've got the, seven rescues in the next

seven weeks I'll be performing for.

405

:

So it's busy time of year t-

typically when we roll into the fall.

406

:

So that's really a good place to do it.

407

:

But in terms of the music, you can find it

on all the different streaming platforms.

408

:

You can buy the CD.

409

:

Louisiana Music Factory has the CD in

stock, and you can get that there as well.

410

:

Al- also Old Abbey Lighthouse Records

and Books, they stock it as well, so

411

:

you can get the information there.

412

:

But but yeah, Instagram's a good way

to find the, stay abreast of all the

413

:

latest developments and upcoming events.

414

:

Dixie: What's in the works?

415

:

Do you have any new songs?

416

:

Craig: Yeah, I've got a

few things in the works.

417

:

I've got probably close to enough

material to do a second album, so

418

:

that'll be somewhere down the road.

419

:

One thing I'm gonna be looking into s-

shortly though is I've had a lot of folks

420

:

say, as I mentioned, it a- appeals to both

kids and adults, but I've had a lot of

421

:

people say, you need to get this, if this

music into the, it pr- appeals to kids

422

:

a little bit more, get those audiences."

423

:

And I had a, one of the festivals I

played at, the the moderator, emcee

424

:

said, he was a, actually a language

arts teacher in Mississippi, and

425

:

he said, "Craig, you really need to

get these songs in front of kids."

426

:

So that's the next step.

427

:

At some of the events where they're

kid-friendly, I've been bringing

428

:

coloring crayons and some colorings.

429

:

The depiction of my album cover is

cartoonish, and I bring those in black

430

:

and white so kids can color them.

431

:

And I'm also looking into the the idea

of a p- an illustrated children's book

432

:

which would be a companion to the CD.

433

:

So you would have the lyrics would es-

essentially be the words to the book.

434

:

It'd be illustrated and, a-

again, kids could also sing

435

:

along and listen to the music.

436

:

Dixie: Yeah, I think that's a great idea.

437

:

It's great to get kids involved in it too,

because, you know- Yeah … with the music

438

:

is gonna stick with them if they like it.

439

:

And- Yeah … not only that, but if

they're learning about rescue through

440

:

the music, that's something that's

gonna stay with them through their life.

441

:

They're gonna tell their friends

about it, and they're also gonna

442

:

tell their parents about it.

443

:

So it really does help spread the word

about rescue and bring awareness to it.

444

:

Craig: Yeah.

445

:

It's al- it's so important we hit

the next generation and give these

446

:

messages and it's it's important.

447

:

And I think it's again, I had one, I

was at one rescue Meta Humane and I

448

:

did an event for them and the, one of

the little girls there bought a CD.

449

:

Her mom bought a CD for her and she

responded the next day, said she hasn't

450

:

stopped listening since she got home.

451

:

So as I…

452

:

And that, that was one of my objectives

too, as I ease toward retirement, I'm

453

:

getting pretty close and and I wanted

to do s- more music, get back to music

454

:

in a serious way, and also get back

to volunteerism and I'd worked with

455

:

rotary clubs and, school advisory

boards, but I just decided animal

456

:

rescue was the direction I wanted to go.

457

:

So this has been just a fantastic, vehicle

for me to get, take both of those paths.

458

:

And as I get more time available, there's

more projects and more things I wanna do.

459

:

So certainly no shorter of people

that need to hear this music and

460

:

and things I wanna do to help.

461

:

Dixie: Yeah.

462

:

I'm looking forward to seeing

what you have coming out next.

463

:

It's a very entertaining way and a unique

way to support animal rescue, so thank

464

:

you for all that you're doing, and thank

you so much for coming on the show to tell

465

:

us all about it and sharing your clips.

466

:

Craig: Yeah.

467

:

Thank you also, thank you for providing

this platform to all the folks.

468

:

One thing I've learned from doing this

work, I've been close to now a l- a lot

469

:

of the folks at animal rescue, and I'm

just amazed by what they do and what

470

:

they g- the resilience and what they go

through and, just the emotional toll it

471

:

can take on people, but they just continue

to, because they're so strong in their

472

:

belief, to continue to do this work.

473

:

So I ho- if anything, I hope this

music does is put the spotlight

474

:

on those wonderful people who work

in animal rescue like yourself.

475

:

Dixie: Thank you.

476

:

And another thing I think that it

does too, like you said, rescue does

477

:

have a big toll that it takes on

people, and I think that this is-

478

:

Craig: Yeah

479

:

Dixie: a good way to lighten the mood.

480

:

It's feel-good.

481

:

Yeah,

482

:

Craig: for sure.

483

:

Yeah, no doubt.

484

:

Dixie: All right.

485

:

Thank you for coming on the show.

486

:

Really appreciate it.

487

:

Craig: Yeah, thanks for having me.

All Episodes Previous Episode

Support Animal Posse

A huge thank you to our supporters, it means a lot that you support our podcast.

If you like the podcast and want to support it, too, you can leave us a tip using the button below. We really appreciate it and it only takes a moment!
Support Animal Posse
S
Sonia Guillory $100
Thank you for doing what you do!

Listen for free

Show artwork for Animal Posse

About the Podcast

Animal Posse
A look inside the world of animal rescue
Dive deep into the world of animal rescue with heartwarming stories, expert interviews, and behind-the-scenes insights. From heartwarming adoptions to daring rescues, we'll explore the incredible bond between humans and animals.
Support This Show

About your host

Profile picture for DIXIE LOUVIERE

DIXIE LOUVIERE

My love for animals has driven me to dedicate the last 20 years to rescue. In 2024, we established a 501c3 nonprofit Unwanted Feline Organization Inc. and are thrilled to be building a cat sanctuary in Washington Parish, Louisiana, where we can offer a haven for cats in need. I thought it would be great for the rescue to have a podcast so Animal Posse was started with the hope of bringing rescues together, getting them more exposure, and finding more animals
homes.