Introducing the “I Am Human. This Is My Dog” podcast – the show devoted to putting the individual back into the dog, as well as their human, while also examining difficult, and oftentimes controversial, animal welfare-related topics that have been largely ignored, but are critical for real progress.
In this inaugural season, I revisit my journey as an aspiring filmmaker exploring pit bull dogs at the onset of the 2007 Michael Vick dogfighting case for a documentary.
In this first episode of the inaugural season, I recount my steps as an aspiring filmmaker immediately before and after the Michael Vick dogfighting case began in the spring of 2007.
In this second episode of the inaugural season, I turn my attention from dogfighting to breed specific legislation…and the fight against Lakewood, Ohio’s proposed pit bull ban.
In this third episode of the inaugural season, I pivot back to the topic of dogfighting, as news reports from around the country seem to pour in about suspected dogfighting cases.
In this fourth episode of the inaugural season, I am forced to slightly jump ahead to the spring of 2009 when I interviewed a man named Leonard Shelton. Leonard was a retired U.S. Marine, who fought in both Iraq wars.
In this fifth episode of the inaugural season, I uncover two invaluable lessons that force me to forget everything I thought I knew about pit bull dogs, and the reason for laws that target their ownership.
In this sixth episode of the inaugural season, I find myself in the right place at the right time, noticing the beginning stage of the movement to repeal pit bull laws in Ohio with the downfall of Lucas County Dog Warden Tom Skeldon, and the repeal of Toledo’s pit bull law.
In this seventh episode of the inaugural season, I begin reaching out to lawmakers – including two former Ohio state politicians responsible for authoring the pit bull law that passed in 1987.
In this eighth episode of the inaugural season, the pursuit to remove the inherently vicious designation for pit bulls in Ohio law continues.
At the conclusion of Season 1, we will begin examining the high profile case of a popular pit bull advocate – Steffen Baldwin, found guilty of 32 felony counts, which included multiple charges of cruelty to a companion animal.
The second season will be dedicated on dissecting The State of Ohio v. Steffen Evan Baldwin – a case involving a well-known dog trainer and pit bull advocate, who became a national name within animal welfare around 2014.
The former humane agent was arrested on or around July 23, 2020 in Los Angeles. Among the 42 original charges were allegations of fraud, bribery, and multiple counts of cruelty to a companion animal.
He was extradited back to Ohio by U.S. Marshals, and the case slowly moved through the legal system for the following 4.5 years until the judge made his decision on January 2, 2025, convicting Baldwin of 32 (of 39 possible counts at that time). Steffen was sentenced to 15.5 years behind bars on April 11th.