Episode 13: The Healing Power of Pets

Disclaimer: Our podcast is produced as an audio resource. Transcripts are generated using speech recognition software and human editing and may contain errors. Before republishing quotes, we ask that you reference the audio.

00:00:00:02 - 00:00:14:01
Chris (Voice Over)
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 Bonifati powered by the American Pet Products Association and Dog TV.

00:00:14:03 - 00:00:21:08
Kristen
Welcome to lucky, episode 13 of the Pets Add Life podcast. Can you believe we've been doing this for 13 shows?

00:00:21:10 - 00:00:25:04
Chris
I can. I've been there for all of them.

00:00:25:06 - 00:00:34:23
Kristen
Yes, and I'm Kristin Levine, your co-host from Pet Living. And we've got Chris Bonifati, from APPA, which stands for.

00:00:35:01 - 00:00:58:09
Chris
The American Pet Products Association. And we are here, as always, to bring you two wonderful stories. Two intriguing guests, two amazing product recommendations, and to answer two of your questions. So I believe, without further ado, we'll get right on into it.

Kristen and Chris present story time.

00:00:58:11 - 00:01:08:03
Kristen
All right Chris, it is story time. And I this is a story I came across. And I said to myself, I hope Chris doesn't have the same story because I think it's.

00:01:08:07 - 00:01:09:00
Chris
About to find out.

00:01:09:02 - 00:01:21:06
Kristen
Are we gonna find out? Okay. So I just read that a Florida woman was surprised to find an iguana in her toilet.

00:01:21:07 - 00:01:27:06
Chris
Not my story, but whoa, whoa, talk about surprises.

00:01:27:07 - 00:01:32:08
Kristen
I know, I mean, I've heard of snakes in the toilet, and, like, I, you know, I've never heard about.

00:01:32:08 - 00:01:33:10
Chris
Snakes on a plane.

00:01:33:12 - 00:01:36:13
Kristen
Snakes on a right. Right, right.

00:01:36:15 - 00:01:38:06
Chris
No one is in a toilet.

00:01:38:12 - 00:01:52:20
Kristen
Yeah. Her name's Michelle. She lives in South Florida, and she went downstairs to make a snack, and she put popcorn in the microwave, and she went to use the bathroom, and she opens the door, and there's an iguana, like, sitting, like climbing out of the toilet.

00:01:52:22 - 00:01:53:03
Chris
Like.

00:01:53:04 - 00:01:58:20
Kristen
Like she's like. Like it was on a cold, dumb thing. It was doing a coal plant.

00:01:58:22 - 00:02:15:11
Chris
Yeah, I called the. I called like, it's crazy. The iguanas in Florida, they're like. They're like the squirrels around here. You know, I remember we were hanging out at my at a at a beach, sort of near West Palm. And from out of the dunes, we saw an iguana. Just book it and they run kind of.

00:02:15:11 - 00:02:15:22
Kristen
Like they run.

00:02:15:22 - 00:02:28:23
Chris
Funny, like like a confused toddler. And he just books it into the ocean to go swimming. So they are they're, like, incredibly okay with people around there. Yeah. Toilet that would not fly. Yeah. I have to sell the. I'd have to sell the apartment.

00:02:29:01 - 00:02:42:09
Kristen
Well, apparently it's not unusual because she called out, a guy from Iguana Lifestyles, which is a wildlife removal service. he came out, he rescued the iguana, and he said that that that was the second one already for the week.

00:02:42:12 - 00:02:46:20
Chris
So that's the second Twilight iguana.

00:02:46:22 - 00:02:59:03
Kristen
Yes. So if you're living in South Florida, you might want to be sure to check the toilet before you sit down. I'm just saying, you never know. But it was a Mexican spiny iguana.

00:02:59:05 - 00:03:25:12
Chris
One thing I know, if you're living down there, that my my parents do when they, you know, kind of leave for the summer. They Saran wrap the toilet clothes. No. So. So they really can get in there while. Yeah, while they're away because they had an experience. I don't remember if it was a snake or a rat or something found its way in there and it was unpleasant.

00:03:25:14 - 00:03:35:13
Chris
so they have begun doing that when they when they summarize. That's summer the season eyes that. Yeah. Home to come back up, up. north here.

00:03:35:16 - 00:03:40:14
Kristen
Wow. You know, you got a problem when you're when you're Saran wrapping the toilet to prevent critters. Yes.

00:03:40:19 - 00:03:49:09
Chris
Well, you know, I understand the fear. And now I check twice, even though I'm in New York. That would not be okay.

00:03:49:11 - 00:03:51:15
Kristen
Oh, now, you were nice about pizza. I've got.

00:03:51:15 - 00:04:12:13
Chris
I've got a fun one, too. Yeah, I've got a fun one too. This this is this is fun. So this this story started as a tragedy. This family in Utah, their cat went missing, which, you know. Yeah. Horrible when that happened. So they're looking the cat was shipped. The moral of the story is going to be get your get your animal shipped right.

00:04:12:14 - 00:04:22:07
Chris
The cat was tripped and nothing was turning up. And it had been about a week when suddenly they get a ping on the ship from a vet in California. And this is a family in Utah.

00:04:22:09 - 00:04:23:09
Kristen
Okay?

00:04:23:11 - 00:04:41:04
Chris
The cat was found in an Amazon warehouse. The cat that had snuck in. So you know how Amazon does like the wardrobe thing where they'll send you if you if you're buying, like, a pair of pants and you don't know what size you are, they'll send you five sizes and you send back the ones you don't use. Right?

00:04:41:09 - 00:04:50:13
Chris
They had done something like that, and the cat snuck in quietly into the box, and the box had gotten sealed up and shipped out.

00:04:50:18 - 00:04:51:02
Kristen
Are you?

00:04:51:02 - 00:05:11:13
Chris
And luckily, I'm serious for everybody involved. The cat had survived six days in the box. Oh my. The person who, at the Amazon warehouse found the cat immediately, called Animal Services, who came? The cat was completely fine, except for losing some weight and some mild dehydration.

00:05:11:13 - 00:05:12:02
Kristen
I would say.

00:05:12:02 - 00:05:21:09
Chris
The family flew out to California to bring, the cat home. So they've been reunited, and everybody is happy. But can you imagine? Accidentally.

00:05:21:09 - 00:05:24:07
Kristen
Did you say six days? Six days? Six days in.

00:05:24:07 - 00:05:25:12
Chris
Advance? They think. Yeah.

00:05:25:15 - 00:05:35:07
Kristen
Wow. And nobody along the way, none of the postal workers or whoever handles the package before it gets to back to Amazon. Nobody. That's weird.

00:05:35:07 - 00:05:51:18
Chris
I have to imagine that this cat is not very vocal because it was packed up. Like, it's not like my cat who yells every time it sees a human being. Right? So I just can't imagine. So if you've got if you're sending stuff back in Amazon and you've got a cat who enjoys a nice cardboard box.

00:05:51:18 - 00:05:52:21
Kristen
Please take a peek.

00:05:52:23 - 00:06:06:07
Chris
Just take a peek real quick. and the only reason this is a happy story is the animal was shipped. So get your pet shipped, just in case something does happen and the animal is lost or misplaced. somebody will be able to help.

00:06:06:12 - 00:06:16:21
Kristen
Yeah, and shout out to the. So I assume it was an Amazon worker that actually got the cat right to get shipped to get scanned and all that. So that thank goodness for good Samaritans.

00:06:16:23 - 00:06:19:10
Chris
Absolutely. So wow.

00:06:19:11 - 00:06:21:00
Kristen
That's a weird one.

00:06:21:02 - 00:06:38:06
Chris
Our first guest is Susan Levick who is the CEO of Joy bound. I've met Susan before. I've been over to their facilities. It's an amazing program and she's an amazing woman. Let's go ahead and have a listen. Beyond the Leash exploring the untold stories of pet passion and professionals.

00:06:38:08 - 00:06:45:12
Kristen
Joining us next is Susan Lee Vex. You are the CEO of Joy Bound Pets and people welcome.

00:06:45:14 - 00:06:49:02
Susan
Thank you so much, Kristen. It's a true pleasure.

00:06:49:04 - 00:06:57:15
Kristen
I have to say, first of all, joy bound. What a fantastic name for what you do. Can you give us a little bit of background on the name and and tell us about Joy? I would.

00:06:57:15 - 00:07:19:22
Susan
Love to. Well, you know, historically in the animal welfare space, that space for those of us who love pets, want to take care of them, has approached its work from here's the big problem that you're going to help us solve, and we are choosing to approach it from here's that solution, that guiding light that informs everything we do that motivates us to solve those problems.

00:07:20:03 - 00:07:30:18
Susan
And that is the joyful bond between people and pets. So hence, driving people and pets is our name. And what we do love it.

00:07:30:18 - 00:07:33:16
Kristen
Great name. And Chris, you've actually been there.

00:07:33:18 - 00:07:56:00
Chris
I have, I had the opportunity to take a tour of the beautiful Walnut Creek facilities, and I was absolutely blown away. not just by the adoption and rehoming, but the entire suite of services that Joy bound is capable of offering. So, Susan, I understand you guys are more than just an adoption center. Do you want to talk a little bit about your programs?

00:07:56:00 - 00:08:21:23
Susan
And yes, I would love to. And it's true, adoption, rescue and adoption are at the core of everything we do. when we think about the ways we serve the community, of course, we have a broad suite of what we would call community solutions to keep fit pet families intact. And oftentimes this means giving them access to essential care and services with dignity.

00:08:22:00 - 00:08:46:10
Susan
Not everyone in today's economy can cover the extraordinary costs of that care, or even pet food, which or even pet grooming. And we are providing affordable opportunities, free or low cost, in all those spaces. Most excitingly, we, send out a corps of therapy animals and our Pet Hug pack to touch and brighten the lives of people who need that cheer the most.

00:08:46:12 - 00:09:30:20
Susan
In hospitals and senior centers. In schools where we see children learning to read more easily, with a dog to cuddle while they do it. No judgment from a dog, you know. and then most powerfully in our shelter to service program, that creates one magnificent solution to two challenges. One, overcrowded animal shelters with dogs who need homes and and fulfilling relationships, and then also veterans, first responders, survivors of, violent crime who suffer from conditions like post-traumatic stress or isolation, depression, anxiety, who would benefit from a psychiatric service dog.

00:09:30:22 - 00:09:41:09
Susan
So with, with that, you know, broaden, new suite of services that we can offer, we really think that we're moving the needle toward mental health. Better mental health for America.

00:09:41:11 - 00:10:04:01
Chris
That's great. Yeah. We've been talking a lot about mental health on this show. Obviously, observing mental health awareness month. So I actually want to key in a little bit on that shelter to service program, specifically around the training and upbringing of these, these dogs. It's a very difficult job, for the dog themselves to be capable of of providing that kind of care.

00:10:04:03 - 00:10:13:15
Chris
Can you talk a little bit about what it takes to bring a dog in, get them trained, get them ready to provide that type of service?

00:10:13:17 - 00:10:50:16
Susan
Chris, you know, it begins with that very first moment of encounter when our rescue teams go out to the shelters in our community, up and down through California and, evaluate of dogs that are available for, adoption. And we're looking for dogs who are affiliative, who are naturally drawn to that bond and who demonstrate comfort around human beings and around other dogs and so that first selection, we bring those dogs to our Walnut Creek campus, where in our new program, they immediately and I say new program because there are some innovations.

00:10:50:16 - 00:11:23:18
Susan
I'm talking about now. They immediately go into two weeks of a loving home. Foster, who gets to know them better, gets a feel for are they housebroken? Do they walk well on a leash? Are they okay? Not crate counter cruising in the kitchen like my puppy. So and with that first assessment, if they pass that first assessment, they'll move into a 12 week intensive training program that is conducted by volunteers who are preparing these shelter dogs for for partnering and further training with their program.

00:11:23:18 - 00:11:59:09
Susan
Participant, a veteran or someone else. And in that twice a week, 12 weeks of training, every dog is a winner. 40% of them will go on to the shelter service program. The other 60% will simply have, a full 12 weeks of training and be superstar adoption candidates in our shelter. So that's a win win for everybody. when that magical selection has been made and those 40% are presented to our participants and matched, they spend two full weeks in close training with one another and deepening that bond.

00:11:59:09 - 00:12:30:14
Susan
And in that case, in that time, that interval we call team training, they're actually, the volunteers or the participants rather, are doing the most learning. The dogs are probably a little smarter than we humans at that at that stage. And, at that point, at the end of the two weeks that the participants and the service dog in training now go home and rejoin us, for a weekly personalization training meeting that will last through six full months.

00:12:30:14 - 00:12:42:00
Susan
And at that point, they are officially credentialed as real live service dogs and can be out in the world anywhere, changing the lives of those that are serving.

00:12:42:02 - 00:12:47:14
Kristen
Well is fantastic. So I would imagine that those volunteers also have been highly trained.

00:12:47:14 - 00:12:49:12
Susan
Yes. that's absolutely.

00:12:49:14 - 00:12:51:15
Kristen
Prepared, these these dogs for their people.

00:12:51:16 - 00:13:21:01
Susan
That. Yeah, that's a very insightful observation. They are a very special volunteer corps. They are developing skills of their own. And in fact, you have, reminded me to mention that one of the most exciting innovations about this model is that any volunteer foster trainer who goes through two full training cycles in this program, is eligible through hours.

00:13:21:01 - 00:13:54:18
Susan
And the fact that in their second cycle, they'll be allowed to co-teach. They we will pay if they are from, any, any cohort with systemic barriers to employment, veterans, formerly incarcerated people, survivors of domestic violence. We will actually pay and sponsor them to take the Certified Professional Dog Trainers exam and give them a stipend for transportation. So they're receiving real vocal personal training, even as they are giving to these dogs and to these program participants.

00:13:55:00 - 00:13:57:15
Kristen
That's very impressive.

00:13:57:17 - 00:14:22:22
Chris
That's amazing. You really have found a way to uplift everybody involved in the process in a, in sort of like a no one gets left behind mentor. Can you talk a little bit? I'm sure you have 1 million success stories, but I'm sure there's there's a few in your mind that stick out. Can you find one for us of just an amazing, impact that an animal had on somebody because of joy?

00:14:22:22 - 00:14:54:02
Susan
Okay, I will tell you the one. The above all, Purina did a beautiful video series for us before I was involved with the organization, and it was part of my orientation. I sat down and I tell you, there are not enough tissues for me to see. Those videos were was so at that time is purely veterans who those who have experienced post-traumatic stress, oftentimes do not want the limelight, do not want the microphone, the camera, do not even want to speak.

00:14:54:04 - 00:15:29:06
Susan
however they want to be heard, they need to be heard indirectly. So Purina created this beautiful platform called letters to Our Service Dog and the veteran participant service dog, and the family were seated on a sofa. I mean, it's tough for me to get during this, even telling you about it. And the child, and children and wives would read this letter to the dog with the veteran sitting there and it would say, I know it would say something like, Wilson, thank you for giving me my daddy back before you came into our lives.

00:15:29:11 - 00:15:49:17
Susan
He was always alone and angry. He said words I know I'm not supposed to say. Now he's my friend again. Thank you so much, Wilson. And then the wife. Would you say similar things from her point of view? And her family after family after family, sharing these sentiments? So that's a kind of a meta story, but it goes right to the heart of what it's.

00:15:49:17 - 00:15:51:07
Susan
Wow.

00:15:51:09 - 00:16:02:08
Chris
Yeah. And we apologize to our listeners who are, listening to this on their morning and are now crying and we're sorry, but, you know, sometimes we like to tell you.

00:16:02:10 - 00:16:22:09
Susan
Well, it's the happy tears, right? And and that, again, is that is the joy in the bond, the joy bond, joy, joy bound that we are we say we we, those people and pets that service dog participant in their family are bound together. Enjoy and bound for joy. The future together.

00:16:22:11 - 00:16:39:02
Kristen
That's wonderful. Oh my gosh, I'm sure you could share hundreds of stories like that with us today. but with time running out, let us know, where we can send people to get more information about joy, about how to learn more about your services, or to get involved as a volunteer.

00:16:39:02 - 00:16:59:11
Susan
Oh, well, we would love that, Kristen. Thank you. Joy bound.org. Join us there and comb through that website. Everything that you want to know is there and more. And we would love, love, love to have you consider volunteering. And no matter if you're if you're in our immediate area and no matter where you are, even $2 of support makes a difference.

00:16:59:11 - 00:17:01:21
Susan
So we welcome those donations.

00:17:01:23 - 00:17:02:15
Kristen
Absolutely.

00:17:02:15 - 00:17:13:18
Chris
Well sounds great. That's joy bound.org. Susan, thank you so much for taking the time out of your, I assume, incredibly busy schedule to speak with us today. it's been a real pleasure and thanks for sharing your story.

00:17:13:19 - 00:17:17:06
Susan
Likewise, Chris and Chris, and thanks again. Have a wonderful day, both of you.

00:17:17:08 - 00:17:18:12
Kristen
Thanks, Susan.

00:17:18:14 - 00:17:20:09
Chris
Pets at life.

00:17:20:11 - 00:17:36:16
Kristen
Well, that was pretty impressive. I can't believe how many services they're able to provide. They must have an army of volunteers and obviously all that. All those services cost a lot of money. So, they rely on a lot of donations there, for their setting.

00:17:36:18 - 00:17:40:11
Chris
And it's a really holistic approach to animal rescue, you know.

00:17:40:11 - 00:18:11:06
Kristen
So really, what is. Okay, our next guest is Diane McGill. she's for peace of mind. And, we talked to her about a few different services that pet peace of mind, provides. but this was really something kind of hit home with me, because back when I worked for an animal shelter, I remember how often it was that pets would be surrendered to the animal shelter because their person was either very ill or had passed away, and there was no plan for that pet when that happened.

00:18:11:06 - 00:18:19:00
Kristen
So, thank goodness for Diane, because she's created services that that support that situation. And so here she is.

00:18:19:04 - 00:18:22:02
Chris
Pets at Life.

00:18:22:04 - 00:18:38:20
Kristen
Well, welcome. Diane. Diane McGill. Yes. you are with pet peace of mind. Yes. and we're just delighted to have you here on the show goes right along with our mental health awareness theme for this week. So tell us, tell us a little bit about pet Peace of Mind.

00:18:38:22 - 00:19:04:01
DIanne
Well, the calm work of Pet Peace of Mind is working with human hospices to train them on how to put pet care programs for their patients with their pets in place so that they can stick together through the patients and like, journey, and then rehome the pet after the patient passes so that the patient can truly pass in peace knowing that they're special.

00:19:04:04 - 00:19:19:07
DIanne
The person or bend or scales or whatever it might be will be recalled to a new loving home. So in our work with Pet this night over the last 15 years, and by the way, we turned 15 on May 1st.

00:19:19:09 - 00:19:22:07
Kristen
So happy birthday. Congratulations.

00:19:22:07 - 00:19:54:12
DIanne
Thank you. Yeah, it's been a really good journey. But, last October, in answer to many, many phone calls that we got from people who were not on hospice service looking for emergency rehoming for their pets, we really started to think through, how do we solve that problem? for any pet owner out there or anyone who's follows what's happening in the pet industry, pets ending up in shelters is a crisis situation there.

00:19:54:12 - 00:20:44:17
DIanne
Every shelter is full, every rescue is small. It's nearly impossible to find a place that, a homeless pet can go. So we developed, a document that actually is a free download from our site. That is an advance directive of what will happen to your pet if something is to lose. So one of the things that we really thought through in this whole process is death is the only reason that a pet euthanasia, and, a situation can happen to anyone, any time you can be in a domestic violence situation, you can be using your house and not have a place for you and me, pet.

00:20:44:21 - 00:21:13:12
DIanne
And then all of those kinds of factors can enter into what do I do with my beloved companion? either permanently or temporarily. So, again, you know, part of what we had to think through is how do we make a document that's bullet executable, doesn't cost anything and is easy to do. So we came up with my pet placement plan and launched it last October.

00:21:13:14 - 00:21:17:04
DIanne
Yay! It's out there.

00:21:17:06 - 00:21:32:09
Chris
That sounds like an absolutely amazing program. Can you tell us a bit about what to expect? Let's say, animal ends up in your care. What would their let's call them responsibilities. What would their responsibilities be like?

00:21:32:11 - 00:22:23:06
DIanne
So when it happens within the hospice situation, the, the volunteer coordinators work with the patients to ask the patients, what do they need in terms of pet care, either while they're living or after they pass. And so if it's while they're still living, we have volunteers that will go in and do bathing, walking waste, cleaning up anything that is needed to help care for a pet if it if the request is around rehoming after the pet passes, but the hospice team will immediately get to work on finding a set of a home and ideally, the pet is rehomed before the patient passes.

00:22:23:08 - 00:22:34:09
DIanne
And so if it's a rehoming situation, the new home is fully responsive for the pet. They're not there on their unhook, just like all of we, all of us are with our own pets.

00:22:34:14 - 00:22:46:22
Kristen
I have a question. Diane. I know you're a pet. Piece of mind is based in in Oregon. but does your service extend across beyond that area? Is this a nationwide?

00:22:47:00 - 00:23:12:02
DIanne
Yeah. Wow. Is we have, hospice, at least one hospice partner. And usually many, many, many, we have almost 300 partners coast to coast. Wow. So we're in 46, 48 states now. what? We everyone's at the ready to help patients that are on their service to make sure that my pet is reformed and it is it stocks and cats.

00:23:12:02 - 00:23:34:14
DIanne
I mean that certainly every one of our programs does help with dogs and cats, but sometimes the beloved companion doesn't help for it might be a horse, it might be a bird, it might be a reptile. So it depends on the person, what are their needs? And then the hospice team and their volunteers. So they do the pet care.

00:23:34:18 - 00:23:41:21
DIanne
A lot of it actually step up and deliver whatever is needed to make sure that journey keeps them together. Yeah.

00:23:41:23 - 00:24:01:10
Chris
That's great. and circling back towards, the patients in their care, what type of impact have you seen, from having these animals of all, all sorts, involved in, in that process? can you speak a little bit about the positive impact the animals have had?

00:24:01:12 - 00:24:34:17
DIanne
Yes. for for people who are bonded to their pets prior. About me do a little bit of history here. prior to pet peace of mind when a patient went on hospice service, the hospice team actually would need to tell them, hey, we do not have any capacity to help you care for your pet. So if you don't have someone that's in, come in and care for your pet or find a home for your pet, you need to get rid of your pet now.

00:24:34:19 - 00:25:15:23
DIanne
So for for any bond that's in place, wow, that is tragic. So that is the first problem and the first impact that pet Mason Mount has in. We started just just as much as a service delivery organization. We started as an advocacy organization to really change that national conversation around what is the value and importance of that human animal bond when the patient is facing final days, so that part of the impact delivers literally that our name, peace of mind, every patient that is on hospice that has a pet SMI oh Graham now.

00:25:15:23 - 00:25:52:00
DIanne
So they must be with their pet until the end. And their cat loyal call to a different loving home when they pass. So in terms of actual impact, we help about our our programs nationally help between 7 to 10,000 a year. and then on, heartstrings side there, we have thousands of stories from our teens all across the country who share very poignant tales.

00:25:52:02 - 00:26:09:08
DIanne
the pets passing in their owners arms, or the owners passing in their arms, or the pets on the bag or some such, bonding experience. So, yeah, goats deliver that loving bonding to bond.

00:26:09:10 - 00:26:31:00
Kristen
I was just going to say, I just can't imagine the comfort that that affords the patient, you know, in, in such a, you know, at a tough time, to know that they can have their pet there and that their pet is going to be cared for after after they're gone. how did you how did you start, pet peace of mind 15 years ago.

00:26:31:02 - 00:27:08:17
DIanne
Yeah. So I was running another national animal welfare nonprofit, and our mission was keeping cats if the together. So we got lots of different calls. We had 11 different programs, Lieutenant. Autonomy at ten different programs that served various slices of the pet owning community that all rolled up to keeping pets and people together. One day we got a call from a woman in Florida who was trying to help her best friend, who had three cats, and it was a bad situation with her son.

00:27:08:17 - 00:27:35:01
DIanne
She was living with her signing so very bad situation, so wanted to get her in the cats. And the women want to keep the cats and it's not a good thing. So her friend was highly allergic and could not do anything really to help except for her voice out in the world. So her friends started calling around looking for a telegram like this in mind and discovered it didn't exist.

00:27:35:03 - 00:28:01:23
DIanne
So that was our niche that needed to be formed. It literally sprang from necessity is the mother of invention. So we gathered a group of hospices and trained a program. piloted it that one hospice in Oklahoma. and from there it was nothing but grow. And they've been going it ever since.

00:28:02:00 - 00:28:04:09
Kristen
Well, thank you for telling story.

00:28:04:09 - 00:28:04:20
DIanne
Yeah.

00:28:04:23 - 00:28:07:08
Kristen
Fulfilling that need.

00:28:07:10 - 00:28:25:23
Chris
Yeah, absolutely. And I suppose we have some pet parents listening at home who want to get involved in some capacity. how could they be helpful? I see your website is, pet peace of mind.org. So, yeah, they can hold over there, but what types of way can people get involved in this program?

00:28:26:01 - 00:28:52:23
DIanne
So if someone is interested in volunteering, they can they can actually go to our website. There's a email contact place on that info at Pep Talk. And we need to know where do they live, which they're getting and state. And then we will look at our list of partners and pass that volunteer's name on to the closest partner.

00:28:53:01 - 00:29:09:19
DIanne
And then the hospice will be in touch with the person to figure out, you know, what do they want to say, 101 to volunteer, etc.. So we're the conduit for sending volunteers through. I foster.

00:29:09:21 - 00:29:17:19
Kristen
Well, Diane and I assume the same for any anyone who is needing the service can also find that information on your website.

00:29:17:21 - 00:29:19:22
DIanne
Yes, yes, there's a.

00:29:20:00 - 00:29:20:12
Kristen
Contest.

00:29:20:13 - 00:29:47:17
DIanne
Among partners. one of the tabs on our our navigation bar is, funded program. So there's somebody who is about to go on hospice, or a family vendor is looking for a program for cleaning my office. it's a good we find out closest one to you and our download for the My Pet placement plan also is on the home page of the website.

00:29:47:18 - 00:30:10:01
DIanne
So I know that everyone who watches this is going to be open. if you don't have an advance directive for your pet, please make one. Please, please, please make one for the reason, the number one reason, and then overwhelming number. One reason that pets are in shelters is something happened to a person and no person could care for them.

00:30:10:06 - 00:30:13:12
DIanne
So things like nights directive for your pet.

00:30:13:14 - 00:30:18:14
Kristen
Yeah. So kind of thing we don't think about, we don't like to think about, but so important.

00:30:18:18 - 00:30:35:21
DIanne
That's very true, Kristen. You don't think about it. And actually, when we did our research to put this program that the this new initiative together was the number one reason that people didn't have an advanced directive to their pets. Like, you know, I never thought about it. Like, I don't think about anything happening to me, especially younger people.

00:30:35:21 - 00:30:42:15
DIanne
And people think, you know, nothing will ever happen but right happen. And so.

00:30:42:17 - 00:30:45:11
Chris
Yeah, I'm still convinced that I'm young and invincible.

00:30:45:11 - 00:30:53:11
DIanne
So yeah. Which is if you had kids, I bet you'd have a place, though, where your kids would go if something happened to you.

00:30:53:11 - 00:30:59:14
Chris
Yeah, I think that's the missing piece of the puzzle, because I'm just a humble cat, dad. No babies quite yet.

00:30:59:16 - 00:31:00:19
Susan


00:31:00:21 - 00:31:23:01
Chris
Diane, thanks again for spreading this important message. The website again, folks, if you'd like to get involved, to come up with your, your, advanced direction for your pet. God forbid something happens. Pet peace of mind.org. so be sure to check out Diane's website. And, Diane, we're at time, but thank you so much for coming on the show and spreading this very important message.

00:31:23:01 - 00:31:30:18
Chris
I know it's not something our viewers at home want to think about, but it's something they should think about just in case anything were to happen.

00:31:30:20 - 00:31:31:14
DIanne
Yeah. Thank you.

00:31:31:19 - 00:31:32:22
Kristen
Thank you. Diane having.

00:31:32:22 - 00:31:34:07
DIanne
Me. Okay.

00:31:34:09 - 00:31:37:15
Chris
Thank you.

00:31:37:17 - 00:32:03:13
Chris
And that was great to hear from Diane. I know that was a bit heavy. and, a little more intense than our usual programing, but it's important. I know it's something you don't want to think about. but it is important to have a plan just in case anything were to happen. Having that peace of mind, knowing that your animal, will be taken care of is important.

00:32:03:13 - 00:32:08:20
Chris
So be sure to check out the resources Diane can provide. The product of the week.

00:32:08:22 - 00:32:13:15
Kristen
All right. Yes, it is time for product of the week.

00:32:13:17 - 00:32:16:08
Chris
Product of the week.

00:32:16:10 - 00:32:37:03
Kristen
All right. So my product is this is one of tulips favorite things that I bought for her. And tulips. in case you don't know, she's my little four year old rescue. She's a miniature pinscher Chihuahua mix, and she absolutely loves this car seat that I bought for her. It goes in a, you know, in the second row seat.

00:32:37:03 - 00:32:55:03
Kristen
So behind the passenger seat. And it's. What's cool about it is it's raised, it's one of the snoozer brand, and it's called The Lookout. I dog car seat. so it lets her up. So because she's little, you know, so she was sitting in the seat, she would not be able to see out the window. and she absolutely loves it.

00:32:55:03 - 00:33:14:12
Kristen
So she's propped up. It's got a little harness that buckles into the seat so that, you know, if I hit the brakes too fast or, God forbid, there's an accident, she wouldn't be flying forward in the front seat. but she just she loves that she gets excited. whenever we go for car rides, she jumps up, but she just watches the world go by.

00:33:14:13 - 00:33:22:14
Chris
That's that's amazing. So it's it is it, a safety product, too? Does it help keep the animals safe in the car, or is it really just a booster?

00:33:22:16 - 00:33:41:20
Kristen
Well, I think it's both. I think it's a booster first, but it does have a strap. So you take the seat belt and it's got notches in the in the seat that you pull the, you know, that crossover piece of cross and you break it in. But then there's another, little strap that you then attach to the back of her harness.

00:33:42:02 - 00:33:48:18
Kristen
So. Oh, it's, it's connecting her to the bed. And the bed is connected to the seat. So it is, it is a safety.

00:33:48:20 - 00:33:49:08
Chris
Yeah.

00:33:49:10 - 00:33:49:23
Kristen
Product as.

00:33:49:23 - 00:33:51:06
Susan
Well.

00:33:51:07 - 00:34:18:03
Chris
That's great. Yeah. I've got a safety product to recommend, myself here. So with summer coming up, I've decided to tailor some of my products of the week towards some fun summer stuff. Summer is a great time to be a pet owner. really easy to find yourself outdoors and enjoying. the beach or hikes or any of those other wonderful activities that I am not aware of because I'm an indoors kid.

00:34:18:05 - 00:34:41:18
Chris
but I, saw some really fun, life jackets. And now I know a lot of people who take their animals out on boats and don't use life jackets, and they are fools. They are foolish. If you are planning on bringing your dog out into water, use a life jacket. One thing dogs are not good at is managing their energy.

00:34:41:20 - 00:34:43:12
Chris
Okay, think about it.

00:34:43:14 - 00:34:44:03
Kristen
When you come.

00:34:44:03 - 00:35:02:19
Chris
Home from work, they freak out and they run around in circles and then they're panting super heavily. They're not good at regulating their their level of energy. The last thing you want is for your dog to get excited that they see water run out in there, get too far out, and then lose the ability to keep themselves afloat.

00:35:02:21 - 00:35:14:05
Chris
So these life jackets are super cute. the brand that I found, I believe is called, sun Flora. And they have ones that will turn your dog into either a little mermaid or shark, or.

00:35:14:06 - 00:35:16:06
Kristen
They're like, I love the shark ones with the little shark.

00:35:16:07 - 00:35:16:19
Chris
Yeah, these.

00:35:16:19 - 00:35:17:23
Kristen
Are so cute.

00:35:18:01 - 00:35:34:09
Chris
Very similar to a harness fit. so if your dog wears a harness, it'll be something that they're used to. and and and it'll keep them looking real cute for summer, so, you know, you don't have to go with that brand. But definitely if you're if you're planning on being on the water this summer, get a life jacket for your animal.

00:35:34:09 - 00:35:34:17
Chris
Yeah.

00:35:34:21 - 00:35:41:06
Kristen
Even if they know how to swim. Great, great. If they know how to swim, bring it up. That point about dogs not being able to manage their energy.

00:35:41:07 - 00:35:48:12
Chris
Yeah, yeah. It's true. Yeah, I could barely do it too. By the time I'm going to bed. I'm exhausted. Do you have a wake up in the morning? Exhausted.

00:35:48:12 - 00:35:51:10
Kristen
Do you have a shark life vest that you wear?

00:35:51:12 - 00:36:08:21
Chris
I don't what I do, I wear, and, you know, lifeguards are going to get upset with me. I diaper my life jacket. I don't know if you've ever seen that where you put it on your legs and. Yeah, and you could sort of rock back and sit. it's not the proper way to wear your life jacket, so I do not formally endorse it.

00:36:09:00 - 00:36:22:01
Chris
I do not formally endorse it. But it is a great way to relax in shallow water and have yourself a beverage. More summer tips from Chris next week.

00:36:22:03 - 00:36:28:00
Chris
Q and A's, I think it's time for us to take some questions from the audience. Kristin.

00:36:28:00 - 00:36:47:13
Kristen
Yes, it is time. Let's do it and you can leave your question. If you have a question about pets or products or anything like that, you can just go to the, pet. Okay, wait, I might screw this up. Is do you have a Pet Dawgs podcast and then scroll down, or is that the dog TV? That would work okay, either one.

00:36:47:13 - 00:36:53:18
Chris
You could also do dog tv.com/pal podcast. There's all sorts of ways to find us.

00:36:53:20 - 00:37:15:03
Kristen
Bottom line, you can type out your question to send it in, or you can leave us a voice message with your question, which we would love to hear your voice. Okay, so the first one, Chris, is from Linda in Springfield, Springfield, Illinois. She says, my daughter has been asking for a bunny. What are the key considerations we should keep in mind before deciding to bring a rabbit into the home?

00:37:15:05 - 00:37:37:10
Chris
Great question. And there are some key considerations. The first is that rabbits are not easy animals. I think a lot of people just think because it's not a dog or a cat, it'll be easy to take care of. And you see that a lot with fish too? Yeah. Rabbits are a lot of a lot of work. they have a lot of energy, that they want to get out.

00:37:37:12 - 00:38:01:05
Chris
they tend to make a mess of things and they don't really receive training. Well, so it's important to consider what space is this animal going to occupy? Where am I going to lay litter for this animal? Where am I going to lay bedding for this animal? And how am I going to keep this animal stimulated? So it's not I'm not trying to say no.

00:38:01:07 - 00:38:24:03
Chris
little, little Susie, you can't have a yeah. You can't, you can't have a rabbit. but you know, it's just like it's just like going out and homing, and, a dog or a cat where you have to think through what your life is going to be like with, with that animal. I'd recommend when you go to your local pet shop asking the person who works there a little bit about the care of that animal and what would go into it.

00:38:24:07 - 00:38:34:04
Chris
I recommend having that conversation with your daughter not present. Make that a solo trip. sort of some information gathering before you decide if that's the right move for you and your family.

00:38:34:04 - 00:38:56:11
Kristen
Yeah, and a couple things to add. There's a really great resource called the House Rabbit Society that has all kinds of great content on how to care for a rabbit. And, let's see, I don't think she said how old her. Yeah. Linda didn't mention the age of her daughter, but rabbits are also fragile. and so I would say probably children under seven might not be ideal for a bunny.

00:38:56:16 - 00:39:14:12
Kristen
Your your child should be able to learn to very gently hold them and hold them properly, too. but, you know, on the upside, rabbits can be litter box trained. And they are they're quite social. They actually do best in pairs. But if you get pairs, make sure you get two females or two males.

00:39:14:13 - 00:39:17:02
Chris
So I don't know what rabbits do.

00:39:17:06 - 00:39:19:03
Kristen
Yes, we do.

00:39:19:05 - 00:39:37:16
Chris
I got a question here. Yeah. Justin from Michael, in Denver, Colorado. Hello, Michael. His question is, I've been thinking about switching my dog to a raw food diet. What are the benefits and potential risks associated with raw feeding? And how can I share ensure it's balanced?

00:39:37:18 - 00:40:01:05
Kristen
well, that's a very good, great question. Raw is a very hot trend now. And, you know, for good reason. It's it's very good nutrition. But I guess when I think of raw, some people think of raw eggs, like literally raw like are is Michael planning on actually making raw food meals for his pet? Because if that's the case, I would recommend that you get something that is available from your local pet supply store.

00:40:01:07 - 00:40:12:06
Kristen
there are there's frozen raw. There's there's also bags of air dried raw, freeze dried raw. There's a lot of ways you can feed raw these days. that kind of take the.

00:40:12:07 - 00:40:12:23
DIanne
You know.

00:40:13:01 - 00:40:20:14
Kristen
The, the, the effort out of it and also the, the challenges with safety. It from doing it like on your own.

00:40:20:16 - 00:40:40:02
Chris
Yeah, definitely do not recommend doing it on your own. I would definitely echo that. The second thing I would say is a lot of people just assume that raw is better, because if they always say if the dog was in the wild, they wouldn't know how to cook. Which you're right, you're right. I've never seen a dog, you know, do some fried rice or something like that.

00:40:40:04 - 00:41:07:05
Chris
but it's also important to note that we as human beings over the past 10,000 years have fundamentally changed the course of evolution for dogs. they are actually omnivorous. So they still require, things outside of meat to have a complete, balanced diet. And their gut bacteria has also fundamentally changed. So pure raw food may not be as easily digestible.

00:41:07:07 - 00:41:26:04
Chris
So what I would recommend if you if your dog is on a diet now and you're considering switching to raw, allow that to be gradual and inevitably just supplemental to a A to their diet. I wouldn't recommend it being 100% of your dog's consumption.

00:41:26:06 - 00:41:32:00
Kristen
Great advice Chris. I think that might be a wrap for the show today, I think.

00:41:32:00 - 00:41:56:01
Chris
So episode 13 and nothing bad happened, although I suppose there's still like 15 seconds. If you liked episode 13, go ahead and give us a five star review. Like and subscribe. wherever you're listening. If you have any feedback, please leave it in the comments. We'd love to tailor the show to your ears specifically. And again, if you'd like your question answered on the show, head on over to Pets at life.org/podcast.

00:41:56:01 - 00:42:06:17
Chris
Scroll down to the bottom. You can type out your question, or if you're feeling mighty brave, can record us a voice memo. So, Kristen, until next time. I believe that's it.

00:42:06:20 - 00:42:07:22
Kristen
That's right. See you then.

00:42:08:00 - 00:42:08:21
Chris
Pets add life.