InvestigateTV+: Help for overwhelmed animal shelters
Season 4, Episode 18
(InvestigateTV) — InvestigateTV+ digs into what is driving the surge at animal shelters nationwide and unique solutions giving pets a second chance.
Then, why heart disease is too often missed in women, the diagnostic bias behind it, and how women can advocate for lifesaving care.
Plus, a group of seniors stitches together a sisterhood, creating quilts of comfort that strengthen their community.
Geography plays role in overwhelmed animal shelters
Many animal shelters across America are overwhelmed, and where animals are located is a big reason why.
In regions like the South, shelters are under-resourced and over-capacity, packed with dogs and cats waiting for adoption. For many, that wait can be fatal. In 2024, U.S. shelters euthanized more than 600,000 animals.
Experts say homes often exist for these animals, but the animals are in the wrong place.
Women advocating for themselves
Heart disease is the biggest threat to women’s health, though studies show many people still believe it is primarily a men’s health issue.
That misconception can be dangerous, as symptoms in women are sometimes mistaken for stress or something else minor, leading to delays in care.
A 2022 study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found women who went to the emergency room with chest pain waited, on average, 11 minutes longer than men to receive medical attention.
Recruiting for the auto repair industry
Most auto repair shops are staffed almost entirely by men, according to federal labor data.
A February 2026 report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics found about 1.8% of mechanics are women.
Federal data predicts about 70,000 job openings in the field by 2034 as many older workers retire. The industry is stepping up efforts to recruit and train more women to meet that demand.
Quilting for a cause and for fun
A group of seniors meets every Thursday morning at Cedarhurst of Tesson Heights to sew quilts from fabric scraps.
The quilting club was the idea of activities coordinator Glenette Nothum.
“I love to quilt, and I think word got out. Then the ladies were like, we wanna quilt, and I was like really...wow,” Nothum said.
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