109. Pet Recalls, Hedgehog Highways & Heroes Helping Animals Thrive

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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Pets, add Life, your guide to the latest in Pet Trends products and the joy of the Human Animal Bond with Kristen Levine and Chris Bonafide, powered by the American Pet Products Association and Dog tv.

Speaker 2 (00:18):
Hello and welcome to another episode of Pets Ad Life. I am your host, Chris Bonti. Joining me as always is part-time trombone player, full-time jazz enthusiast. Kristen Levine. Is

Speaker 3 (00:33):
This the trombone, the one that,

Speaker 2 (00:34):
Yeah, it's the one with the slider. Yeah. I love a good trombone, Kristen.

Speaker 3 (00:39):
I know, I know. How are you holding up Chris? Tomorrow's start

Speaker 2 (00:42):
The

Speaker 3 (00:42):
Day.

Speaker 2 (00:43):
Yeah, we are right up against Global Pet Expo. I feel like I've gone 10 rounds with Mike Tyson. It's been surreal. We've got an amazing show coming up this week and just being down here and the energy you feel going into the show is unlike anything I could describe even to people who attend. Normally when you organize it and you spend your entire year planning for it, and for me, the big moment is pulling up in the taxi cab, seeing the convention center and the big banner we have that says Welcome home with the show dates on it. And I think this year it's a Spotted Doll Nation is the banner mascot. It really does finally just settle in your stomach like, oh man, here it is

Speaker 3 (01:31):
The big day.

Speaker 2 (01:32):
Looking forward to it. As I say, the thing I'm looking most forward to at Global Pet Expo this year is Friday at 3:00 PM when we shut the doors,

Speaker 3 (01:41):
The best part.

Speaker 2 (01:43):
But between then and now, I can't wait to meet with some really passionate people in the industry and learn about all these amazing products. We've got an incredible startup pavilion this year, and if you're paying attention to Global Pet Expo, social media, you'll see some of their videos come out. There's some really awesome stuff. And Kristen, if you have a chance while you're down there, highly recommend passing through that startup pavilion.

Speaker 3 (02:05):
Oh, I absolutely will. And we're going to be talking to some great guests at the show too for the future podcast shows.

Speaker 2 (02:11):
Yeah, some really amazing people. The energy couldn't be higher. Some really, I think from here on out, our products of the week are going to be really inspired. I think I kept Global Pet Expo product of the weeks going until May last year because there's so much, see thousands of them

Speaker 3 (02:30):
There, right?

Speaker 2 (02:30):
Yeah. And you really see some new stuff that we're going to make sure that you all are aware of because we know you want to go to global, but it's for the trade only. So we're bringing the global to you over the next few weeks. So get ready for it. But hey, we're still sticking to our usual format. We've got two stories to guests, to products. We're going to answer two questions with your two favorite co-hosts on the single planet. We only have one. Maybe we'll count the moon as like a celestial body or two favorite celestial bodies. Moon, we're still the favorites. Earth

Speaker 3 (03:06):
The moon.

Speaker 2 (03:07):
Yeah, there's no favorites.

Speaker 3 (03:08):
Can count the moon.

Speaker 2 (03:09):
There we go. So without further ado, let's jump into story time.

Speaker 1 (03:14):
Kristen and Chris, present story time.

Speaker 3 (03:17):
Alright, Chris, why don't you go first this week?

Speaker 2 (03:20):
Sure. I've got another recall notice. Oh, oh, recall notice. And this is a recall issued by the FDA for Quest cat food chicken recipe from Go Raw LLC. So Quest is a pretty popular brand and they are looking at, and I'll repeat this at the end, too lot code C 2 52, 2 88. And now the issue, and this is an interesting one because typically we see recalls for contamination. This is not a contamination recall, the food was low in thiamine and thymine are essential for cats. And if they don't get enough, they'll have decreased appetite, decreased salvation, vomiting. If they're younger, there could be a failure to properly grow and mature and weight loss. So it's an essential vitamin for cats. And with a lot of these cat foods, diamond is added in. My understanding is that it typically comes from, and this is going to sound gory and a little gross, but it comes from the organs and the guts and the blood when they're typically eating wild.

(04:36):
So it kind of has to be added in because nasty and this food did not meet FDA standards. So if you are feeding your cat quest food, and now this is another unique recall, it's just one lot. So something went wrong lot in manufacturing means this run of the manufacturing, they set up the machines, they get all the things that dispense the ingredients, they run it. That becomes a lot. So something went wrong with this one run of the machine. So if you're a Quest feeder, don't panic, check your bags. These are 10 ounce bags. Check your bag for C 2 52 88.

Speaker 3 (05:16):
Alright, very helpful story. Okay, mine Mine's a little more uplifting.

Speaker 2 (05:22):
Good. I was hoping if you had a recall too, then we are going to have to cancel the show and try again.

Speaker 3 (05:27):
We're going to to start calling the recalls of the week. No, not going to

Speaker 2 (05:31):
Recall of the week. Recall of the week.

Speaker 3 (05:35):
Okay. This one's super cute. It's about hedgehogs. So across the pond, our British friends, they literally are cutting holes in their fences to create the hedgehog highway. These are small little five inch openings that connect all the backyards so that hedgehogs can safely travel between each yard to get to the gardens to find the food and the mates that they are seeking. And all this started because hedgehogs are listed as near threatened in the UK, really due to habitat loss and lack of safe travel corridors. And they apparently know they need these connected spaces to survive. And Ron, I'm going to send you a link to these photos. The cutest things people are having. So much fun with these little hedgehog doors. The Hedgehog Street project launched way back in 2011. It's supported by the British British Hedgehog Preservation Society and they have registered over 133,000 hedgehog holes across England. And they've had contests for the most connected gardens on one street. They have contests for decorating the highways and for creative solutions. And in 20 22, 1 street managed to connect 40 backyards with these little hedgehog little holes. Yeah. So I thought that was really cute.

Speaker 2 (07:05):
That's amazing. I want a hedgehog so bad. Are we allowed to have them?

Speaker 3 (07:09):
Yeah, we are. I was looking to see hedgehogs are not native to north or South America, so there's no wild populations here in the us, but they are popular pets. It's typically the domesticated African pygmy hedgehog that we keep as pets. They look so cute. Oh wait, get this. It's illegal to own in some states, including California, Georgia, and Hawaii. So maybe you're safe there in Connecticut.

Speaker 2 (07:34):
I'm good Connecticut. Good. Thank God. Thank you Connecticut. Thank you Connecticut. For the right to bear hedgehogs

Speaker 1 (07:44):
Beyond the leash, exploring the untold stories of pet passion and professionalism.

Speaker 2 (07:49):
It's my pleasure to introduce Bonnie Jill Laughlin, a sports broadcaster, trailblazer, and passionate animal advocate. You may know her from making history as the first and only female NBA scout. At least that's what I know her. From working in the front office for the infamous Los Angeles Lakers and is the only woman to earn championship rings in two professional sports winning five NBA titles with the Lakers and a Super Bowl ring during her time with the San Francisco 49 ERs organization, she's currently a CBS sports reporter and host Beyond Sports. Bonnie Jills, the founder of and CEO of Hounds and Heroes, a nonprofit rescue that pairs shelter dogs with veterans and first responders, a lifelong advocate for both animals and the military community. She has participated in multiple USO tours and campaign supporting animal welfare organizations nationwide. Bonnie GI is, it is a pleasure to have you on the podcast today.

Speaker 4 (08:47):
Thank you so much. I met y'all at Super Bowl and when I saw dog tv I was like, oh my gosh, I need to be a part of this. And I'm like, everyone's laughing at me anytime there's a dog in the room, anytime there was a dog there on media row at Superbowl, I found 'em and they found me. There's this connection I love with them.

Speaker 2 (09:04):
Yeah, that's incredible. We love that magnetism that you bring to this whole thing. We love our animal lovers as much as they love their animals, but you shattered the glass ceiling when it comes to the sports community. You went from basically cheerleader to champion scout to broadcaster, all of that is so amazing. But animals have remained a central part of your life throughout all that. So do you want to just give us some background on the role animals have played throughout your illustrious career?

Speaker 4 (09:36):
Yes. Probably most of us who are animal lovers, I connected with animals better than humans as a little girl. And so I was the, gosh, my daddy will tell you, I was the little girl that literally brought y'all everything home. Anything that needed a home, whether it's a squirrel, a skunk, a possum, armadillo, a dog. I mean, my dad would go nuts because I always was bringing home injured and neglected animals and animals that needed homes. And so at a very, very young age, I just knew that animals were going to be a part of my life, that I always wanted to save them. And so I just knew that there was a way, as I got into being an adult, how I can help dogs, how can I help all animals? And so I've done so many USO tours and coming from military family, I was like, there needs to be some type of resources for veterans when they come back from the deployments.

(10:28):
And with the suicide rate being so high, I was like, they're pumping them up with meds. I'm like, what about dogs? We know how dogs rewire the brain, how they can help with trauma, with everything. So I started this initiative in 2011, hounds and Heroes and rescuing dogs from the shelter and then pairing them up with disabled veterans who are struggling with P-T-S-D-T-B-I amputees as service dogs, therapy dogs, dogs for military children, dogs for children to fallen soldiers. And just saw the impact that it made. And we know some of us haven't gone through obviously the struggles of the veteran, but we all know if you're having a bad day, you walk in the door, your dog's wagging its tail. All is good in the world and all they do is care about your life and their whole world is you. And so if we were more like dog, they think we'd be in a better world in society if you ask me.

Speaker 3 (11:20):
Yeah, for sure. So speaking of hos and heroes, Bonnie Jill, tell us what it feels like for you when you see a rescue dog placed with a veteran and what changes do you witness in both of those? The dog and the person?

Speaker 4 (11:35):
Absolutely. There are just so many stories, but I can start with the one. There was a Marine who had been bloated by an IED and he was looking for a dog. And some of the veterans want to go with me to the shelter and kind of pick out their own dog with our trainer and so forth. But he really wanted to be a part of it. Some don't, some do. And he went and there was a dog, a German shepherd named Samson who had been drug by his owner almost a mile and a half, dragged by a truck. So he had no fur, he was still rehabilitating at the shelter. It was a horrible situation. And he picked out Samson. He goes, I want that dog. And I said, well, he has a long time to recover. He said, so I, he goes, I need to rehabilitate. I kind of get teary eyed thinking about it, but it was just so magical to see.

Speaker 2 (12:25):
Yeah, absolutely. Those are always incredible stories to hear and warm. My chilly ice cold heart.

Speaker 4 (12:36):
I know why. Really amazing that story because now I get teary eyed. But it was just to see the impact that it made on this marine. And he wasn't even in contact with his family. He couldn't do anything. He was sleeping in his closet. And then this dog miraculously just changed everything. And to this day, he's still living this great life relationship with his wife, relationship with his son, all because of Samson.

Speaker 2 (13:01):
Yeah. You've done several of these USO tours, so how has supporting these service members shaped your perspective on the healing role of animals?

Speaker 4 (13:15):
Yeah, I mean going overseas and doing these USO tours and seeing just the magnitude of what bringing, I always say we're going USO tours it a piece of America to our men and women in uniform. And then being able to provide these animals for them when they get back from their deployments because most of the time they kind forget about the veterans once they're back. And so being able to have these dogs as something that change up their day and they have a purpose to get up every day. It's mind blowing the change. And you all know you guys are in the dog world, the difference that these animals can make. And so I've seen it time after time, and when I am at Capitol Hill and I'm lobbying for animals and lobbying for veterans, they try to say, let's do these pilot programs. And I'm like, no, this works. I've seen it work. We've been doing this now for a long time, since 2011, and we see the impact in how these dogs have transformed these veterans literally. And they go from being on 20 medications to one because of dogs.

Speaker 3 (14:20):
That's incredible. You mentioned Capitol Hill. Talk to us about some of the advocacy that you participated in on Capitol Hill and is there any particular animal welfare issue right now that feels the most urgent to you?

Speaker 4 (14:34):
Yes. Most

Speaker 3 (14:34):
Of the work you do?

Speaker 4 (14:35):
Yes. I've done a lot. I've done a lot with the dog meat trade over in China, which that's pretty gruesome over there. So we've dealt with the Chinese embassy and trying to help stop the dog and cat meat trade overseas. Obviously I do a lot with the service dog industry as well. So we're doing a lot on Capitol Hill with that. But the most important that I've been working on for almost 15 years, and it's not dogs, but it's horses, is called the Safe Act and it's banning horse slaughter for consumption, for human consumption. So it has been something we've been trying, it's a bipartisan bill and we've got some great people on board, but for some reason it just can't get over the hump for the 213 votes that we need. And so it's been really a struggle there. And we all know the same thing. I do equine therapy at my ranch as well. We all know how horses, how much they can do in that space for healing humans as well. So that's something I've been working on for a long time and it just can't seem to get passed is this safe act. So if anyone's watching that loves horses as much as dogs, we just need support to reach out to your legislator and to keep pushing for us to get this banned.

Speaker 2 (15:51):
Yeah. Well, I love that you bring that up because I think horse therapy isn't exactly a well-known thing. I've personally volunteered at a school for troubled kids and they used animal therapy throughout their process and they had a lot of success with horses because horses are difficult animals. They require a lot of responsibility and structure, and they found that putting these kids in that environment where a regimented routine and having a beautiful and valuable life to take care of really brought them past a lot of their troubles. Do you see that same type of thing being relevant to your work with veterans?

Speaker 4 (16:37):
Absolutely. You made a great point. I mean, we even have worked with inmates that they train and they break these mustangs and these horses and because like you said, dogs, they love everyone, right? Good or bad. For horses, you have to kind of earn their trust and you have to put the work in. And so it's not even just like people just want to get right in the saddle. It's not about just getting in the saddle. It's about that groundwork and getting that relationship, that bond with the horse. And we've had handicap children come out who have never spoken a word and their first word is to the horse. So it's that connection, that bond that takes time. And when you're building time and patience, all of that helps in the recovery of these humans, whatever they're struggling with because they're not used to time, they're used to quick fixes or things, whatever they think as their brain has been wired to do. So now you have these animals that teach them to slow down to trust. And that takes a long time, which I think what I've seen over time and time and time, it's just changes that human, I mean, it's crazy what I've seen, what these animals can do, both dogs and horses.

Speaker 3 (17:55):
So do we see a horses and heroes in the future?

Speaker 4 (17:59):
Yeah, so that's what we have right now. It's funny Christie said that. So it's Hounds heroes and horses. So we have now extended over to horses as well. And the rescues that we have from our horses is horses that are off the track, thoroughbreds and also horses that come from kill pens, get 'em from slaughter so they won't be put in those situations. And then Mustangs from the BLM. So there's so many different ways that we get our horses, and again, I kind of like saying it's saving two lives, so helping these veterans, helping these humans, and then also helping these dogs and horses, dogs that would otherwise be euthanized and horses that would be killed or put to slaughter. So my whole world is just trying to make sure that can't save them all, but if you can save one right, then you're trying to make a difference.

Speaker 2 (18:48):
Absolutely. And it's your whole world, but for some people it might just be a slice. So for those who may be listening and want to get involved, whether it's with veterans or shelters, or maybe they want to get involved with hound heroes and horses, what advice would you give to somebody who might be listening to this and be inspired and want to get involved in some way?

Speaker 4 (19:10):
Yeah, absolutely. I mean, there's so many things, especially with the shelters. I mean, if you can go and some of these dogs never get out of their cages, so you can go even once a month, go and walk, take an hour out of your day and be able to go walk these dogs. They have a lot of programs where kids come and they read stories, books to these dogs that are in the shelter and then obviously fosters. I mean, we always need fosters. That's something that people don't realize. They want us to pull all these dogs, but we need fosters because not everyone has kennel set up and all the things so fosters. So if you can foster a dog, if it's short term, long term, whatever, it can be any type of volunteer. People always think that it's money. Of course, all these shelters and rescue groups need money. But if you can volunteer your time, that goes a long, long way. And a lot of the time for us, we provide everything, the crates, the food, the vet care, everything. All we need is a loving home and a roof for the dog to be in. So a lot of that is just reaching out to any of your shelters to see how you can get involved, especially during the Cold Seasons, donating sweaters and blankets and beds, all those things. And then of course, fostering and spay and neuter your dogs.

Speaker 3 (20:21):
Yes. And spay and neuter. Well, Bonnie, Jill, we're coming up on time. It's been great talking with you today. If our listeners and our viewers want to find out where they can follow what's happening at Hounds and Heroes or you and your career, you have a fabulous career, where can we find you?

Speaker 4 (20:37):
Yes, so hounds and heroes.org. And we also are on all of the social media, of course. And then Bonnie Jill for social media as well. And yeah, that's where you can find us and how you can try to get involved and help with some of the initiatives that we're pushing as well.

Speaker 3 (20:52):
Fantastic. Well, we'll let you get back to the farm because we know you were busy dealing

Speaker 4 (20:57):
With

Speaker 3 (20:57):
A pig situation earlier.

Speaker 4 (21:00):
Yes. Her name's Annie Ley. So I was, I was chasing her and she was like, I want to go to the other side of the ranch. And the donkeys got mixed in and definitely I need a reality show. Everything's a mess always when you have a bunch of animals.

Speaker 3 (21:17):
That's great. Well, thanks so much again for your time and for

Speaker 4 (21:20):
All. Thank you so much. Thanks for the great work you're doing and spreading awareness, Ernest.

Speaker 2 (21:26):
Well, Kristen, don't let our listeners ever say we don't bring in interesting guests.

Speaker 3 (21:31):
That's true. What an awesome guest she was.

Speaker 2 (21:34):
Yeah, I think a, how the heck does she have time? I went through her, what she's working on now, she's on podcast, she's on a drive-in show, she's got her day jobs and stuff like that, has a full farm, is arguing with donkeys and pigs does all this amazing work for veterans does. And she

Speaker 3 (21:56):
Has time for us.

Speaker 2 (21:57):
She has time for us. And I'm over here like, oh, I've got emails, I've got emails I have to answer. Oh my goodness. Woe is me such an amazing person.

Speaker 3 (22:08):
She is. Alright, please join me in welcoming Dr. Jennifer Bruns. She is the senior director of Veterinary Veterinary Relations at PetSmart. She's also a practicing veterinarian based in Phoenix, Arizona. And Dr. Bruns brings a unique perspective that bridges hands-on clinical experience, veterinary public health and industry leadership. In her role at PetSmart. She works really closely with that professionals nationwide, helping to shape programs that support high quality care, education, and the evolving needs of the vet community. Welcome Dr. Brands. Thank

Speaker 5 (22:43):
You very much. Glad to be here.

Speaker 3 (22:45):
I appreciate you being here. So for those of us who've walked into Pet Smart Store, we've noticed that there is a veterinary office in the store, which is so convenient. Talk to us a little bit in general about PetSmart Veterinary Services.

Speaker 5 (23:00):
Yeah, absolutely. So our goal is at PetSmart is to be your favorite. So you wake up in the morning, you have that lovely bond with your pet, we want you to come visit us because there's amazing things that go on the store. And one of the most amazing things for me as a veterinarian is that you can see a veterinarian and we're all busy people. It's important our pets get care. So we want to provide that service to the people that are pet parents, that they can come into the store and see our veterinarians seven days a week. And when the stores open,

Speaker 3 (23:34):
I mean, who doesn't love one-stop shopping?

Speaker 5 (23:37):
I

Speaker 3 (23:37):
Mean, I love it when I can go to one place and get everything I need or most everything I need. And we were talking before the interview, and you had mentioned that Pets Spot is a great destination. Just if the weather's bad, you can just bring your dog for a walk.

Speaker 5 (23:55):
People don't think about that, but it's January was National Walk Your Dog Month, which is ironic. Ironic, right? A little strange, right? It's cold and snowy in some parts of the world. And even from the Phoenix area, it can be really warm in the summers, but if you do, I think it's seven laps around most of the pet stores. I pet Smarts. That's about almost a mile of watching. So you can do some pretty big laps around of our bigger stores. But I think what sometimes people fail to realize with their dogs especially is the act of snipping is really good for your dog in a neurological way. It calms them down. So if you can't get out and take your dog for a big walk, if you come into the store, there's lots of lovely smells, right? There's food, there's treats, there's our little rodents and birds. It's like a

Speaker 3 (24:48):
Sniff

Speaker 5 (24:48):
Factory, lovely place. And you think there're the big muzzles, they smell so many things that we don't, so we may not know it. So if you can't get outside, come visit the store and let your dog sniff. Let

Speaker 3 (25:01):
Somewhere there. I love that idea. What else too? It's a good opportunity to socialize for your dog to socialize. If your dog socializes well with other dogs, that's a good opportunity for them as well.

Speaker 5 (25:12):
It is great. I think when our goal of PetSmart, again is we love pet parents. We love the fuzzies and the furries and everything. So our goal is what can you do when you come into the store for that experience? You said the one-stop shop, right? So maybe you do need to get groomed, but we also have training and there is puppy play at some of the stores. So again, if you're sitting there, I have a puppy right now, I am deeply connected to my owners that go through the puppy face, right? But coming to PetSmart and taking my puppy there to smell and snip and do some training for me has been a game changer in how I deal with a behavior,

Speaker 3 (25:49):
A lot

Speaker 5 (25:50):
Of

Speaker 3 (25:50):
Positive experiences to be had by just making a trip to PetSmart. Talk a little bit about the veterinary practices in PetSmart and what they offer to pet parents.

Speaker 5 (26:00):
Yeah. Well, we are deeply committed to pet health, and so I am involved with an amazing group of doctor owners who are involved with PetSmart Veterinary Services and PetSmart Veterinary Service for me has been a passion project. I've been in veterinary medicine since I was about 14. I started cleaning kennels. So I'm deeply connected to the profession. What I love about Word doing is that all of our PetSmart Veterinary Services are owned and operated by the doctor in the building at the local level. So our goal at PetSmart is to let doctors be able to come and practice the medicine that they want in the actual store, and so they can be there and provide that care how they want to do that. And it's all owned by the doctor in the building, which we really love.

Speaker 3 (26:48):
I'm really glad you shared that because I don't think pet parents realize that.

Speaker 5 (26:51):
No, and it's different, right? Because when you're connected with the doctor, that's an important person. I mean, it's an important part of your life. And so when they're the one that actually has the say over what happens every day in that hospital, they're also deeply connected as an owner to the business outcomes and to the medical outcomes as well.

Speaker 3 (27:09):
And so because they're owned by the individual doctors, do the hours vary or is there any consistency in the hours of the veterinary services in a PetSmart store? Yeah,

Speaker 5 (27:18):
That's a great question. So they do vary because again, our goal to do is to let those doctors have some freedom and autonomy. But most of the time the doctors are pretty wise to know when the pet parents want to come in. I mean, Saturday mornings, late evenings. So you'll find that they adjust their hours to fit those.

Speaker 3 (27:36):
And from what I understand, the veterinarians that have their practices in the PetSmart source, they're very happy because they're very well supported by PetSmart.

Speaker 5 (27:43):
That's our goal. That's part of your job, right? Yes. That's our goal. That's what I do. How do you keep them happy,

Speaker 3 (27:47):
Dr.

Speaker 5 (27:47):
Bruns?

(27:47):
Yeah, exactly right. That's our goal. So sometimes being an owner is really scary. I mean, anybody, even if you're not a veterinarian, you think I'm going to go open a business. That's a big leap. But veterinarians are deeply committed to doing great things for their patients. And so that's our goal. That's what I do. How can I support the doctor so they can support the pet parent? And exactly, that's exactly what we do. And why PetSmart's involved in this is because we know if we support the doctor, they're going to give amazing care and opportunity to the pet parents that walk through the door.

Speaker 3 (28:16):
Fantastic. Okay. Well, if you're looking for a veterinarian, maybe you've just moved or you're just changing events, check out your local PetSmart store. And like you were just saying earlier, take your dog for a walk at

Speaker 5 (28:28):
PetSmart for a walk in PetSmart.

Speaker 3 (28:29):
Yeah,

Speaker 5 (28:30):
Why not? Do a little shopping. Do a little

Speaker 3 (28:32):
Shopping while you're there. Thank you, Dr. Burns for joining us. We really appreciate it.

Speaker 5 (28:36):
Thank you so much.

Speaker 3 (28:39):
Yeah, I think PetSmart is fun because it's a one-stop shop. It's super convenient, and Tulip loves to go. She knows the word PetSmart. If I say PetSmart, she gets very excited.

Speaker 2 (28:50):
I love that. Actually, the first cat I ever adopted was through a North shore adoption event at a PetSmart.

Speaker 3 (29:03):
No kidding.

Speaker 2 (29:04):
North Shore is a popular New York based adoption agency, and that was so I always have a found place in my heart for PetSmart.

Speaker 3 (29:13):
Sure. Well, you can get it all. Veterinary care supplies, grooming, adoption friendly people, socialization for your dog. It's all there.

Speaker 1 (29:22):
The product of the week.

Speaker 2 (29:25):
Alright. Alright everybody, it is time for our product of the week. Yeah, that was rapid

Speaker 3 (29:38):
Fire product.

Speaker 2 (29:39):
I know we're struggling backstage today, folks. You are only getting our professional fronts. We are a mess behind the scenes, but that does not stop us from bringing you two amazing products from around the industry. Kristen, why don't you kick it off for us this time? What do you got?

Speaker 3 (30:00):
Okay, I'll kick it off. And I have to apologize in advance if I have included this one before, but I don't think I have. I really don't think I have. I just was telling Chris before we recorded this part of the segment that I was having deja vu because I saw this product that I chose yesterday and thought, oh wait, Robert, I had done that. Okay, but we haven't. So forget I said that. These are coffee wood chew by a company called Puff Ford. And this is a great, safe, chew alternative for your p and I'm always looking for safe chew alternatives because Tulip loves to chew on things. They're made from natural coffee. Tree wood comes straight from the coffee plant. They have really small fibers and they're digestible. If they're swallowed, they don't splinter like a stick would if your dog was chewing a stick or some of these, I don't know, some of the chews that are on the market cans splinter, they're so dry and they crack so it's safe and that won't damage their teeth and it satisfies their natural chewing instinct. Obviously it helps with boredom and anxiety and they're also good for those real aggressive chewers too. So Puffered makes them in three different sizes and they're pretty reasonable for Chew, they started about six bucks per chew. They do have a three pack that's $17. So I thought that was pretty reasonable.

Speaker 2 (31:23):
And they probably last for a while too, if it's like an actual wood.

Speaker 3 (31:27):
Yeah, it says they're long lasting. Obviously it depends on your chewer, like tulip's mouth is this big compared to your Rottweiler's mouth. But yeah, they are in the long chew category and they're, oh, this is the part I love. They're odorless and they don't stain the carpet because some of those chews, they stink. Yeah. So you can pick those up, you can get 'em on Amazon. You can go to the pup website and we dropped a link to the product in the show notes. So what do you have, Chris?

Speaker 2 (31:58):
I've got something here because we talk a lot about preparing your home for a cat or setting your home up for a cat. And I've brought up this brand before because a question I see all the time is like, what do you mean add verticality to my home? And I get it because I'm not creative. I can't just DIY my way through this, we've had guests on who have DIYed their home and turned it into brands and stuff like that. That's not me. I buy, I'm a capitalist. I buy the good ideas. So this is a brand called Mao, MAU, and I've brought up some of their stuff before. Specifically some of the stuff that you could put on the walls as like shelving for your cats, display, shelving for your cats, trophy cases for your cats. But my little brother has a cat shout out to my brother Ryan and his cat Clive.

(32:55):
They just got one of the Mao cat trees and I decided to look at the website through their cat trees and they have a lot of options, which is really interesting for a brand because I think what they're trying to do is fit into every home's aesthetic. So there's some that look like a traditional cat trades mostly like carpet. There's some that are like these natural woods or bamboos, different levels, some that are more like wicker and Raton than others. So there's a lot of choices here. Some shorter and more spherical. There's just so many different options. They said the cat loves it. They put it up in their apartment about a week ago. He hasn't gotten out and they live in a smaller apartment with no outdoor access. They have a beautiful window that the cat would always sit on the window sill. So they set it up right there and now he's able to look at the birds, go by and watch the city streets.

(33:55):
And he's doing less furniture wrecking as well because all the cat trees include different spots for scratching as an outlet. And he's been getting it out there. So I think it looks really great in their home. There's a lot of different options here. This is, I will say it's a premium product. I'm looking at prices between about 150 all the way up to $400 for cat trees. Now those $400 ones are really big, mostly for a multi catt home. Some I would even recommend for even as many as three cats because there's up to four. They have some that have four different sitting spots. So if you're a multi catt home, good option. If you're just stylish and you need a good place for your cat to sit, this is an option. But check out their website. There's all sorts of great cat related furniture for your q and as.

(34:47):
Alright, it's time for our favorite part of the show. That's right. We're going to answer two questions from our interesting and attractive audience. Now I know what you're thinking. How do I get my question answered by Chris and Kristen? Well, it couldn't be easier. Head on over to pets Add life.org/podcast. Scroll on down to the bottom of that page. You'll see a form to submit your question. Or if you're feeling as brave as a hedgehog in the UK spanning a 40 garden tunnel system, you can record a voice memo and your question will be played live on the pet's ad Life podcast. But without further ado, we've got two questions from our audience all queued up and I'm going to read a question for Kristen first. Kristen, yes. Pressure's on. Oh,

Speaker 3 (35:31):
I'm scared. Okay.

Speaker 2 (35:32):
Are you ready?

Speaker 3 (35:33):
I think so. I hope so.

Speaker 2 (35:35):
We need the, is it who wants to be a millionaire that has the pressures on the

Speaker 3 (35:41):
Yeah, exactly.

Speaker 2 (35:45):
Okay, we've got a question here. Kristen, from Megan at a Charlotte, North Carolina. So your neighbor, your little neighbor there. Exactly. Neighbor what like four hours away? Two

Speaker 3 (35:55):
Hours. Two hours.

Speaker 2 (35:56):
Two hours. That's a neighbor. That's a neighbor. Megan asks, my dog seems perfectly fine most days, but every few weeks he has vomiting or diarrhea that resolves on its own. At what point does something occasional becomes something we should investigate further?

Speaker 3 (36:13):
Well, that's a good question, Megan.

Speaker 2 (36:15):
That's actually a really good question.

Speaker 3 (36:17):
It is, and it's great that you're paying attention. It seems like there might be a pattern here. Okay. So I would say that if it's one and done and you don't see it again, those things happen. The dog gets into something gross in the garden or the garbage and it resolves itself. But I think the frequency matters a lot more than once a month is definitely worth investigating, even if you're seeing the episodes resolved pretty quickly. If it's more than once a month, I think it's time to call the vet. And there's a lot of different things these episodes could mean. It could be a food sensitivity or an allergy. It could be inflammatory bowel disease, it could be your pet could have parasites of some sort. There's probably a dozen things this could be, and obviously you would need your veterinarian to examine and run some diagnostics to find out what's actually going on.

(37:13):
I think that I would definitely make an appointment because you've already noticed this pattern. I would also start to kind of journal, or if you could remember when the last time was that your dog had this vomiting episode or diarrhea episode. Just so you can bring somewhat of an accurate history for your vet. And your vet might do some blood work or urinalysis. They might want to do some imaging. I dunno, I'm not a vet, so I'm not sure. But just kind of preparing you for what your vet may want to do to try to figure out what the problem could be. But I would say the reason you shouldn't wait is because if it is like an IBD situation or chronic inflammation can get worse over time and it might just be periodic now because it's not super inflamed. And always, always, always early intervention is going to be more successful from a treatment standpoint and from a cost standpoint. So I think just getting your dog to the vet as soon as possible, sharing that history. And this goes for anybody listening that whose dog or cat has those occasional up chucks or squirty works as we used to call it, of the back. Yikes.

(38:28):
I'm sorry. We laugh. We laugh, but it's not funny. It's not fun to clean up. But more importantly, there might be something serious going on. So Megan, go to the vet and good luck. Hopefully it's nothing serious.

Speaker 2 (38:45):
That is certainly some sound advice.

Speaker 3 (38:47):
Yes. Okay. Chris, are you ready for your question?

Speaker 2 (38:52):
I am, I am. I've decided I am.

Speaker 3 (38:54):
Okay, ready or not? Here it comes submitted by Brian from San Diego. Brian says, there's so much conflicting information online about pet vaccinations. How do I know which vaccines are truly necessary for my dog and which ones might not be? Another good question. This

Speaker 2 (39:13):
Is also a great question, Brian. And I'm not a vet. I don't know a vaccine from a sugar pill. But here's what I'll tell you and where you're going wrong is you're getting your information online. This is just, you know what? I'm going to go get on my soapbox here.

Speaker 5 (39:32):
Okay,

Speaker 2 (39:32):
Getting on my soapbox. Stop getting any medical information at all from the internet. Just stop. Just stop it. Okay? I don't care if it's for you or your dog or your cat. You are going to get bad information. You have no idea who these people are and they can lie to you without penalty. They are already getting what they need from you is your interaction, your engagement, and most of the time your rage. And they're using that to line their pockets. You should find a veterinarian locally that you trust, that you will see in person who their business is to heal your pet, make sure you're satisfied so you come back for each of your visits and continue to pay them for the care of their pet.

(40:19):
Veterinarians can differ in their opinions on vaccines, which is why I'm not going to weigh in on what vaccines matter. What you need to find is somebody you trust in their theory and how they think and how they approach medicine. I was lucky enough to find a veterinarian near us for Tiger when she was at the end of her life as a 20 plus year old cat who understood where we wanted to draw the line in care and how much we were willing to invest in extending tiger's life. And she never pushed or made us feel guilt or shame, and that's what mattered to us. So when we were looking for a vet, that's what we saw after and we found what you are looking for is a vet whose reflections and theories and ideas around the science about max yours and maybe challenges it a little with their own experience.

(41:17):
So don't be afraid to shop around for a vet. You shop around for a car, you shop around for your own doctor. Heck, I mean, I spend an extra five minutes in the cereal aisle looking at the nutrition facts. You know what I mean? If we're doing all this comparison shopping for other stuff, you shouldn't feel like I have to go to this vet. It's the one I've always used, or I have to go to this vet because they're the one nearby. It is okay to, it's just like finding a therapist. It's okay to do one consultation, not like this person or not agree with what their plan is and move on. It's okay. Nobody's going to be offended. They're not going to be mad at you. So that would be my advice. I'm not going to give any advice on vaccines. I don't know the first thing about regular vaccines or dog vaccines or whatever, and I think vaccines have gotten unnecessarily political. So just find the practice that's going to match up with what you need and invest your time and resources into that rather than getting onto Instagram and believing. Any Betty Lou who decides they're going to scream into a microphone, huh? Sounds a little familiar right? About where you should be getting your advice. A little interesting for the influencer, Chris to be taking that stance. But hey, that's where I stand and if you continue to listen to me for it. So mode it B,

Speaker 3 (42:43):
That was a great answer and I would just add one thing to that. If you're a veterinarian that you're talking to, let's say you really like them, you trust them, but they're recommending a vaccine that you're unfamiliar with, I would ask you to argue opposite. Ask them, when would you not recommend this vaccination? Because I think that would help me if I understood both sides of decision making process that would help me make a decision.

Speaker 2 (43:07):
There we go. Well folks, that brings us to the end of our show. I'm going to go do Global Pet Expo now. Wish me luck. We've got all sorts of exciting things coming down the pipeline. Oh, we're in Spring. It feels so good. It feels so good for the sun to be poking out. And be sure to keep tuning in. We've got some amazing content coming down. If you're a dog TV fan, all this excellent content from Global Pet Expo is going to become available sooner than later. We've got episodes of the experts coming. We've got episodes of PAL coming with video professional production quality on site. We've got some amazing videos through the Global Pet Expo. Social media for all these excellent startups you're going to want to check out. It is a full fledged effort, all hands on deck, no expense spared running the marathon until you need band-aids on your nipples and your toenails are falling off. That is where we're at right now. That is what we sacrifice for you, our wonderful listeners. Kristen, you're covering your eyes. You can't believe I just said that. It

Speaker 3 (44:17):
Was pretty funny.

Speaker 2 (44:19):
Any last

Speaker 3 (44:20):
Hearting

Speaker 2 (44:21):
Words of wisdom?

Speaker 3 (44:23):
My tail and tidbit completely has nothing to do with anything that you just said. We should probably just end it right here.

Speaker 2 (44:30):
No, give him the tidbit. We need the tidbit.

Speaker 3 (44:32):
Okay. Okay. Well, I thought it was interesting. You know how dog's noses are wet. They're supposed to be wet. It's a sign that they're healthy. Yes. It's because they secrete a thin layer of mucus that helps them absorb scent chemicals through the air. So that wet nose is kind of like a scent magnet that relates to global. I don't know, but it's a

Speaker 2 (44:52):
Whoop magnet.

Speaker 3 (44:54):
Well,

Speaker 1 (44:57):
Pets Add Life, your guide to the latest in Pet Trends products and the joy of the human animal bond with Kristen Levine and Chris Bonafide, powered by the American Pet Products Association and dog TV pets Ad life with Kristen Levine and Chris Bonti, powered by the American Pet Products Association and Dog tv.

Speaker 2 (45:22):
Guess what, suckers, we got a special episode for you. Big round of applause for all the winter.

Speaker 3 (45:29):
Congratulations. God, we are going to show you some of our best, funniest, smartest, greatest guests. Oh, sorry, Chris. Me. You go

Speaker 2 (45:37):
Ahead. You're getting right to what I was.

Speaker 3 (45:39):
I'm so excited. I know, I know. I know.

Speaker 1 (45:41):
Beyond the leash, exploring the untold stories of pet passion professionals.

Speaker 2 (45:47):
Yeah. Go to the vet. Don't ask us. Oh, this is our dog shaped cat Birdie. Wow. Is Chris as handsome as he sounds? Oh my gosh.

Speaker 1 (46:14):
The product of the week.

Speaker 3 (46:15):
Because we're having so much fun together. Hopefully some bloopers, I don't know. Big bloopers might be in there.

Speaker 2 (46:28):
Bloopers. Yeah. We don't make mistakes we don't make. There's going to be no bloopers if you encounter a snake, don't be a crisp. Just walk the other way. Don't be a crisp. Why risk it? People with big feelings and dogs with big feelings. I think you get applied words to so many sensations that I've seen

Speaker 3 (46:45):
To allow your dog to just kind of think that you're a bit more fun than you are. Boring. Tail end. Yes.

Speaker 1 (46:56):
Q And

Speaker 3 (46:57):
He says sometimes he wants to be a puppy again.

Speaker 2 (46:59):
Don't

Speaker 1 (46:59):
We all?

Speaker 3 (47:00):
He was always.

Speaker 2 (47:07):
Next time she comes on the show, she's going to be like, yeah. So I was training Dragons in Trainer.

Speaker 3 (47:16):
You never know what I, you never

Speaker 2 (47:17):
Know. You really don't.

Speaker 3 (47:18):
Lemme tell you. My life is so surprises. I wouldn't be surprised.

Speaker 1 (47:22):
Kristen and Chris, present story time.

Speaker 2 (47:26):
Your step count must have been ridiculous. And I'm over here. There's some days where I rack up work from home days and I'm racking up 45 steps. So I don't think I'm any further away. So we already have the giggles. I'm sure that the energy's un h. Yeah. The energy's unh. Off the chart. I'm going to be an old man doing pet's a life. So prayer self, but

Speaker 4 (47:51):
No chef's kiss.

Speaker 1 (47:52):
Listen to pet's ad life with Kristen Levine and Chris Bonti every Tuesday, wherever you get your podcasts.