In this moving and insightful episode of the Pets Add Life Podcast, hosts Chris Bonifati and Kristen Levine explore how pets help create inclusion, connection, and community. From medieval cats in art to modern dog-centered social spaces, and from therapy dogs in classrooms to the importance of oral health, this episode highlights how animals continue to shape human lives in profound ways.
Chris shares a fascinating story from the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, where a new exhibit titled Paws on Parchment showcases how cats appeared in medieval manuscripts — including preserved inky paw prints from a 15th-century monastery cat that walked across a monk’s work.
Kristen highlights a new dog-centered destination in Portland, Maine — an all-season indoor/outdoor dog park, daycare, and social space designed to bring people and pets together, offering a modern solution to community-building and social connection.
Special Guest:
Chris Hanna, Founder of the Team Cole Project
Dr. Jan Bellows, Board-Certified Veterinary Dentist & Educator
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Q&A:
Is it too late to socialize an adult dog that missed early socialization during the pandemic? (Submitted by Evan from Brooklyn, NY)
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