A New Chapter For 2 Traveling Dogs

This is Girl Person. For fifteen years, we have been telling stories about rescue dogs. We have traveled across America, visited shelters, met thousands of animals, and shared the lives of Digby, Peanut Butter Brickle, and now Fruitycake. Through every adventure, every difficult decision, every mile traveled, and every change in our lives, one mission has remained the same: Make Rescues The Breed Of Choice!

And on Monday, October 12, we are beginning something new. Something that makes me smile just thinking about it, because this time, I am not going to be the one doing most of the talking.

Fruitycake is.

We are officially launching The Barkcast, a brand-new, free weekday podcast hosted by Fruitycake himself. Yes, our rescue dog is becoming a broadcaster. Yes, he has his own microphone. And yes, we have invented something called the Barking Blabbercaster, which supposedly translates his barks into human language. I cannot guarantee the scientific accuracy of this machine, particularly when pizza is involved, but I can guarantee that Fruitycake has plenty to say.

And behind all the laughter, there is a reason we are doing this that means everything to me.

A Podcast For Dogs. Really.

Most podcasts are made for people. The Barkcast is being created with dogs in mind, too. Each weekday, Fruitycake will begin with a positive message for his fellow dogs, followed by conversations with animals, plants, and perhaps a few unexpected guests. He will answer questions from his fellow Barkers, offer his unique opinions about life, and remind us that the simplest things are often the most important.

But we want to do more than entertain people who love dogs. We want to help people understand them. We want to talk about the way dogs experience the world, what makes them feel safe, why they behave the way they do, and what they might be trying to tell us if we would only listen a little more carefully.

Of course, we cannot actually translate a dog’s thoughts. The Barking Blabbercaster is our little bit of make-believe. But the love, the lessons, and the mission behind it are very real.

I have learned so much from the dogs who have shared my life. They have taught me about patience, grief, forgiveness, trust, and finding joy in circumstances that are far from perfect. I believe dogs have more to teach us than we sometimes give them credit for. And I believe that when people begin to understand dogs differently, they begin to see rescue dogs differently, too.

Why This Is Part Of Our New Rescue Project

You have heard us talk about our new rescue initiative, This Is…Me, which is built around helping real rescue animals be seen, believed, and rescued. We want to give shelter dogs something more than a photograph, a kennel number, and a few sentences describing their age or breed. We want people to recognize that every one of these animals is an individual with a personality, a history, and a future worth fighting for.

The Barkcast is another part of that mission.

My hope is that Fruitycake’s voice can reach people who might never have thought about adopting a rescue dog. Maybe someone will listen because they want a little laughter before work. Maybe a family will discover the podcast because their children love hearing a dog talk. Maybe someone who has never stepped inside an animal shelter will begin to think differently about the dogs waiting there.

And maybe, somewhere along the way, one of those people will decide to adopt.

That is how change begins sometimes. Not with a huge announcement or an expensive campaign, but with a small moment when someone hears something that makes them feel differently.

Our Dream Is For Animal Shelters To Play The Barkcast

This is the part I am especially excited about. We would love for animal shelters and rescue organizations to play The Barkcast for their animals each weekday, wherever it is practical and appropriate.

Imagine a shelter volunteer beginning the morning with a little message from Fruitycake. Imagine dogs hearing a gentle, familiar program at an appropriate volume while their caregivers go about the work of feeding, cleaning, and caring for them. We are not claiming that a podcast can replace enrichment, companionship, exercise, or proper behavioral care. Every dog is different, and shelter staff know their animals best. But if our little program can become one more positive part of a dog’s day, we would consider that a beautiful accomplishment.

We want the podcast to be something shelter workers can enjoy, too. Those persons give so much of themselves, often without enough resources, recognition, or rest. Perhaps Fruitycake can make someone laugh during a difficult shift or remind a volunteer why their work matters.

And for the dogs who are listening? I hope the sounds of a friendly voice, some silly conversations, and a familiar weekday routine can offer a little something pleasant while they wait for their persons.

I know Fruitycake would be proud of that. Although he would probably also ask whether the shelter has a cafeteria.

Why We Are Making It Free

We have decided that The Barkcast will be completely free to listen to because we do not want the cost of a subscription to keep a shelter, a rescue volunteer, a family, or anyone else from enjoying it.

Beginning Monday, October 12, you will be able to listen on our website, www.2travelingdogs.com, and we are preparing its own listing on Apple Podcasts so you can follow the show there once it becomes available. We also plan to bring it to other podcast platforms, including Spotify. Our Patreon members will be able to listen there as well, alongside the weekday blogs, audio versions of our blogs, behind-the-scenes content, and other exclusive offerings.

Our original Pawcast is not going away. Those episodes and memories will remain part of our history. The Barkcast is something new, with a different purpose and a very enthusiastic host who has already expressed concerns about his compensation package.

Apparently, exposure does not pay for pizza.

We Need You To Believe In Us Right Now

I also need to share something that is not quite as funny.

Support for 2 Traveling Dogs has been declining, and we are at a point where we genuinely need more people to stand behind what we are trying to accomplish. We have continued creating, writing, researching, sharing rescue animals, and building new ways to help because we believe there is still so much good we can do. But enthusiasm alone does not pay for the equipment, website, production, internet, everyday necessities, or the time it takes to keep these projects going.

The Barkcast will be free for everyone, but making it possible is not free for us.

We are putting our energy into This Is…Me and The Barkcast because we believe rescue dogs deserve new ways to be noticed and understood. We believe humor can open doors that serious messages sometimes cannot. We believe a person might come for a talking dog and stay long enough to learn about a real dog waiting in a shelter.

And after fifteen years, I still believe we can make a difference.

But we cannot continue doing everything without support. If you have followed our adventures for years, if one of our dogs has ever made you laugh, if one of our stories has ever helped you through a difficult day, or if you simply believe that rescue animals deserve more opportunities, now is the time we need you.

Joining Patreon for $5 a month is one of the most meaningful ways to help us continue. A one-time contribution helps, too. So does sharing The Barkcast with your friends, your veterinarian, your local animal shelter, and anyone who loves dogs. If you work with a shelter or rescue organization, we would especially love for you to introduce us to the persons who might want to make The Barkcast part of their weekday routine.

I do not know exactly where this new chapter will take us. There are still so many uncertainties in our lives, and some days it feels as though we are trying to build a future while the ground beneath us is changing. But I do know why we started 2 Traveling Dogs, and I know why we are still here.

Because somewhere, right now, there is a dog waiting to be noticed.

And perhaps the voice that helps someone notice that dog will belong to Fruitycake.

So please join us on Monday for the very first episode of The Barkcast. Bring your dog. Bring your coffee. Bring your sense of humor. Fruitycake will bring the barking, the opinions, and a machine that may or may not have been approved by any legitimate broadcasting authority.

Thank you for believing in our dogs, our mission, and the possibility that something as simple as a little weekday podcast could help make the world kinder for rescue animals.

Support has been especially low lately, and we are trying to keep our daily work going while launching these new rescue projects. If you have been thinking about joining Patreon, sponsoring a rescue dog, or sending a little help for necessities, we would be deeply grateful. Every bit of support helps us continue doing what we have spent fifteen years working toward: making rescues the breed of choice. Thank you for helping us give more dogs a voice. ❤️🐾

Love,

Girl Person
2 Traveling Dogs

Make Rescues The Breed Of Choice!

How To Listen To The Barkcast

Launching Monday, October 12, 2026 — Free!

Our website:
https://2travelingdogs.com

Apple Podcasts:
Our new Barkcast listing is being prepared. We will share the direct subscription link as soon as it is available.

Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/2travelingdogsrescue

Animal shelters and rescue organizations: We would love to hear from you if you are interested in sharing The Barkcast with your animals and staff. Email us at rachael@2travelingdogs.com.