![Why Do Pets Matter? Hosted by Debra Hamilton, Esq.](https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/rmehzs/WDPM_Podcast_Banner_Lo_Res9pc0z.png)
Episodes
![Colonel Carla Bass, USAF (Ret) - Write To Influence on ”Why Do Pets Matter?” hosted by Debra Hamilton EP 222](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/ep-logo/pbblog6361858/WDPM_Carla_Bass_Part_16xqtu_300x300.jpg)
Thursday Sep 28, 2023
Thursday Sep 28, 2023
I am so excited to introduce everyone to Colonel Carla Bass. Carla is the force behind "Write With Influence." I met her earlier this year during an event hosted by the AKC Legislative Conference. The AKC Legislative Governmental Group brought her in to teach the legislative liaisons how to write more effectively to communicate better with local and national legislators.
You are probably asking yourself, "What does this have to do with pets?"
What Carla teaches will help us communicate better with our breeders, handlers, veterinarians, and even the other people in our lives.
Dean Koontz Quotes:
“Once you have had a wonderful dog, a life without one, is a life diminished.”
― , A Big Little Life: A Memoir of a Joyful Dog
"The opportunity to love a dog and to treat it with kindness is an opportunity for a lost and selfish heart to be redeemed. They are powerless and innocent, and it is how we treat the humblest among us that surely determines the fate of our souls."
"Petting, scratching, and cuddling a dog could be as soothing to the mind and heart as deep meditation and almost as good for the soul as prayer."
==========================
Carla empowers others to achieve their goals through persuasive writing.
She is an award-winning author, speaker, coach, and adjunct university instructor.
Her course, "Catapult Your Career--Write to Influence!" is available on Teachable. com!
To contact Carla: Carla@WriteToInfluence.net
Resources mentioned during the call:
Carla Bass -- Write To Influence (Book)
https://www.amazon.com/Write-Influence-Appraisals-Scholarships-Internships/dp/0997593024/
From Carla's Blog:
https://writetoinfluence.net/articles-and-writing-tips/frame-a-winning-argument/
https://writetoinfluence.net/articles-and-writing-tips/want-to-win-an-argument-strategize-it/
The Third Side - Why We Fight and How We Can Stop -- Willian Ury
https://www.amazon.com/Third-Side-Why-Fight-Stop/dp/0140296344/
Myers-Briggs Framework -- https://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/myers-briggs-overview/
![Suzanne Cannon co-Founder of VetBilling - A Flexible, Creative System Helping People To Pay For Veterinary Bills In A More Holistic Way on ”Why Do Pets Matter” hosted by Debra Hamilton EP 220](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/ep-logo/pbblog6361858/WDPM_Suzanne_Cannon_VetBilling9isbe_300x300.jpg)
Thursday Aug 31, 2023
Thursday Aug 31, 2023
I can't wait for you to listen to this podcast with Suzanne Cannon co-founder of VetBilling.com.
She has created an amazing service that can help every pet owner figure out a way to pay for their pet's veterinary care.
VetBilling's flexible, client-friendly payment solutions allow veterinarian teams to deliver affordable relationship-centered care when a client may have otherwise been forced to make a different choice.
Quite frankly, it blows my mind that every veterinary clinic in the country isn't using the VetBilling.com service. So, if your veterinarian isn't offering this as a payment option, we're going to tell you how to get Suzanne's information to them during the show.
Why are pets important to Suzanne? In her own words -- Pets are the one way we experience unconditional love while we are alive on Earth.
"I have loved animals probably since I took my first breath! Which was interesting to my parents who raised me in Los Angeles, with very few animals around our neighborhood and none in our household. But if animals were around anywhere, I'd find them and befriend them.
From the time I was 3, I was obsessed with horses; I rode my first horse at 4; started taking lessons at age 6, and by then I'd gotten my first cat and dog. My connection to animals is not something I can logically explain, but they matter deeply to me as sentient beings who enrich our lives enormously, model unconditional love and acceptance, and call us to be better versions of our human selves.
I cannot imagine my life without companion animals in it.
I'm also an introvert, and it's often easier for me to feel more comfortable with animals than people. I feel a deep spiritual connection with animals, and I hold them in reverence as sacred beings."
More about Suzanne Cannon:
Suzanne co-founded VetBilling® in 2014, after a $ 4,000 emergency vet bill awakened her to the realization that too many pet owners lack accessible options for financing the cost of veterinary care. VetBilling’s mission is to keep pets and their families together, by reducing economic euthanasia and surrenders driven by lack of access to the credit and cash reserves necessary for managing unexpected veterinary expenses.
Suzanne has presented on the topic of financial access to care for Maddie’s Fund, the Access to Veterinary Care Coalition, Cornell University’s Center for Veterinary Business and Entrepreneurship, VetPartners, and the Veterinary Science Technology Program at SUNY-Delhi. She has also created two RACE-approved CE courses on managing client financial constraints in the veterinary clinical setting.
Suzanne holds an M.S. in Pastoral Counseling from Loyola University of Maryland and an M.A. in Jewish Studies from Baltimore Hebrew University. With a prior professional background in pastoral counseling, Suzanne is passionate about helping veterinarians and pet owners identify financial solutions in a collaborative atmosphere of emotional safety.
Suzanne lives on 4 acres in the rolling countryside of Carroll County, Maryland along with her partner in life and in business, Tony Ferraro. Together they share 3 dogs - an Otterhound, Scout; a miniature schnauzer, Finch; and Sophie, a Maltese that was inherited from a relative who recently passed away. Suzanne also owns Chase, a Clydesdale/Thoroughbred cross, who is retired from foxhunting and dressage and now enjoys hacking out on wooded trails as often as possible.
Resources Mentioned During The Show:
Link to credit article Suzanne mentioned during our conversation:
VetBilling Info and Website:
https://www.vetbilling.com
The business Suzanne co-founded with her partner 10 years ago, VetBilling, is one solution for mitigating the cost barrier to care.
VetBilling’s mission is to keep pets and their families together, by reducing economic euthanasia and surrenders driven by lack of access to the credit and cash reserves necessary for managing unexpected veterinary expenses.
VetBilling equips veterinary practices with a cloud-based payment management platform that allows veterinarians to confidently offer in-house payment and budgeting plans to the 60% of clients who are ineligible for conventional credit-based financing.
Open Door Veterinary Collective:
https://www.opendoorconsults.org
This nonprofit organization teaches veterinary practices how to sustainably expand access to veterinary care while remaining profitable and financially healthy.
Frontiers in Veterinary Science, brief research report: "Payment options: An analysis of 6 years of payment plan data and potential implications for for-profit clinics, non-profit veterinary providers, and funders of access to care initiatives"
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.895532/full
Connect with Suzanne and the VetBilling Team:
https://www.facebook.com/VetBilling
https://www.instagram.com/vetbilling/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/electronic-billing-&-customer-support/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzannecannonvetbilling/
![Dr. Michael Blackwell, DVM - Moving Veterinary Care Into The 21st Century on ”Why Do Pets Matter?” hosted by Debra Hamilton EP 219](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/ep-logo/pbblog6361858/WDPM_Dr_Michael_Blackwell_DVM7upsp_300x300.jpg)
Thursday Aug 17, 2023
Thursday Aug 17, 2023
Today Dr. Michael Blackwell, DVM from the University of Tennessee joins us for an exceptionally thought-provoking conversation about moving veterinary care into the 21st century, setting appropriate expectations, having a positive perspective and approaching this new era of veterinary medicine with mindfulness and compassion.
He believes that pets help us to be better humans by their demonstration of love and compassion.
More About Dr. Blackwell:
Dr. Michael Blackwell has led a life of public service spanning private practice, government, and academia. This diverse professional journey has enabled him to deeply appreciate the importance of the human-animal bond.
Dr. Blackwell currently serves as the Director of the Program for Pet Health Equity in the Center for Behavioral Health Research, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and as Director at AlignCare Health Inc.
His mission is to improve access to veterinary care, especially for families with limited means.
Connect with Dr. Blackwell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-blackwell-06a6066/
Program for Pet Health Equity:
https://pphe.utk.edu/
AlignCare:
https://www.aligncarehealth.org/main
![Rachel Lemcke - Amwell Data Services | How An Independent Veterinary Laboratory Consultant Can Help Your Veterinary Practice on ”Why Do Pets Matter?” hosted by Debra Hamilton EP 218](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/ep-logo/pbblog6361858/WDPM_Rachel_Lemcke8ln99_300x300.jpg)
Thursday Jul 27, 2023
Thursday Jul 27, 2023
Today Rachel Lemcke joins us for a conversation about the important service she provides veterinary teams that saves them time and money by strategically planning and utilizing their lab equipment and services.
Rachel is focused on boosting efficiency and profitability in the lab without sacrificing the quality of medicine.
To put it very simply, she helps your vet get the information they need for testing products at the best price so they can do more for their team and clients without increasing prices. So, please be sure to share this podcast with them!
More about Rachel Lemcke:
Rachel is the founder of Amwell Data Services, a full-service independent veterinary laboratory consulting agency. She formed Amwell Data Services to help give veterinarians and their teams more margin, with the larger goal of helping make careers in veterinary medicine more sustainable.
Throughout her time as a veterinary Lab Manager, she realized many veterinary practices aren't leveraging their laboratory services as well as they could for overall practice stability and growth.
From pricing analysis to equipment and test selection to improving workflow efficiencies, Rachel is dedicated to morphing the veterinary laboratory into a thriving, evolving asset for vets and their teams.
For veterinarians looking to learn more, a free discovery call with Rachel is available at https://amwelldataservices.com
Connect with Rachel and Amwell Data Services:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/amwellds/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/amwellds
LinkedIn: Rachel Lemcke & Amwell Data Services LLC
https://www.linkedin.com/in/independent-veterinary-laboratory-consultant/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/amwell-data-services-llc/
![Jamie McLaughlin and Dylan Clark - Remembering and Honoring Marine Sergeant Reckless on ”Why Do Pets Matter?” hosted by Debra Hamilton EP 217](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/ep-logo/pbblog6361858/WDPM_Reckless_Jamie_McLaughlin_and_Dylan_Clark661p6_300x300.jpg)
Thursday Jul 13, 2023
Thursday Jul 13, 2023
Today we are talking to Jamie McLaughlin and Dylan Clark about a very special Marine -- Sergeant Reckless - a Korean War Hero.
- Who was Sgt. Reckless?
- How did she end up in the US Marine Corps?
- What were Sgt. Reckless’s accomplishments?
- How were her accomplishments recognized?
- How is Sgt. Reckless different from other animals who have served in the military?
- What veterans’ benefits has Sgt. Reckless earned through her service?
- Why should Sgt. Reckless be buried in a national cemetery?
- What cemeteries would be the best options for her?
Supporting Project Reckless is a grassroots campaign and we are asking those who support it to sign Dylan Clark’s Change.org petition. Please be sure to share the petition on social media so we can ensure her contributions to our country are never forgotten. Sergeant Reckless wasn’t a horse, she was a MARINE!
Resources for our listeners:
Change.org petition. Please sign and share on social media:
https://www.change.org/p/give-decorated-u-s-war-horse-the-burial-she-
deserves/
Online articles about Project Reckless:
https://www.audacy.com/connectingvets/news/honoring-the-fallen/petition-
seeks-national-cemetery-burial-for-marine-war-horse
https://www.insidenova.com/headlines/burial-for-war-horse-sought-at-
arlington-national-cemetery/article_b49064b0-da0e-11ed-9d33-
3b17ee8587e8.html
Three Pearls Charities Inc. Project Reckless page:
https://threepearls.org/projects/project-reckless/
About Jamie McLaughlin:
Jamie believes pets matter to themselves. They have unique individual lives. Pets and other animals have wants and needs, likes and dislikes, friends and enemies. The more I learn, the more my view of animals evolves.
She is an animal welfare and environmental attorney. She holds a J.D. with a Certificate in Public Interest Law from DePaul University College of Law in Chicago, Illinois, and an LL.M. in animal law from Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon.
Jamie received her B.A. in anthropology and English from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.
She has a background in finance and holds a Certified Financial Planner designation. Jamie is a former financial planning franchise owner and served as a personal financial advisor to Silicon Valley professionals for over 17 years where she provided portfolio oversight, wealth management, insurance analysis and financial goal planning.
In 2018, Jamie transitioned from her financial planning practice to pursue animal and environmental law.
Jamie’s animal law concentrations are animal status, and the impacts of industrial animal agriculture models on the environment, humans and nonhuman animals.
She serves as Vice President of the Animal Law Commission Working Group for the Union Internationale des Avocats (International Association of Lawyers) and is pursuing an LL.M in environmental law at Lewis & Clark.
Contact Jamie at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-mclaughlin-531313a4/ or
jmclaughlintpc@gmail.com
About Dylan Clark:
Dylan believes pets matter because humanity has been dependent upon other species for our development and flourishing throughout time. Our K-9 friends have been our guardians and hunting companions for tens of thousands of years; cats and oxen made early agriculture easier and more productive; horses revolutionized transportation; and pigeons revolutionized communication. Animals matter because without our animal friends, civilization as we know it would not exist.
He is the acting Vice President of Operations for Logistical Legal Marketing, LLC. He provides marketing and logistical business advice for multiple law firms across several jurisdictions in the western United States.
Dylan was a Ronald E. McNair Scholar, and published a case study titled The Industrial and Environmental Pressures Affecting the Fante-Speaking Artisanal Fishers of Anomabo, Ghana.
He served as a USMC tank commander in the 4th Marine Armor Division in Spokane, Washington.
Dylan received his J.D. from Northwestern School of Law of Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon.
His concentration is the intersection of human rights and the environment, and he is actively working with local Ghanaian groups to address international fisheries abuses that both impact the oceanic environment and diminish the well-being of millions of people who depend on fish stocks as their primary source of protein.
About Sergeant Reckless:
Sergeant Reckless was a decorated warhorse who served in the Korean War. The Mongolian mare was purchased in 1952 at a racetrack in Seoul, Korea. She was trained to be a pack horse for the 5th Marine Regiment's Anti-Tank Company.
During the war, Sergeant Reckless carried ammunition to the front lines and helped rescue wounded soldiers. She carried supplies and ammunition to dangerous outposts and carried wounded soldiers from the battlefield to safety.
She often traveled to deliver supplies to the troops on her own, without a handler.
Sergeant Reckless was promoted to the rank of Sergeant while still in Korea in 1954. She was promoted twice to Staff Sergeant at Camp Pendleton. Her last promotion was by the Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen Randolph McCall Pate.
Sergeant Reckless retired on November 10, 1960, and died on May 13, 1968.
You can learn more about Reckless’ career and legacy in the petition here. The petition has the goal of 500 signatures.
https://www.change.org/p/give-decorated-u-s-war-horse-the-burial-she-deserves
![Mindy Dutka - Community Helping Community: SOS El Arca - Playa del Sol Spay / Neuter Initiative on ”Why Do Pets Matter?” hosted by Debra Hamilton EP 216](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/ep-logo/pbblog6361858/WDPM_Mindy_Dutka_SOS_el_Arca9ldaz_300x300.jpg)
Thursday Jun 29, 2023
Thursday Jun 29, 2023
Community helping community. My dear friend and pet photographer extraordinaire Mindy Dutka joins us during this episode of "Why Do Pets Matter?" to discuss her recent trip to Mexico.
Each day in Mexico, thousands of dogs suffer terrible neglect and abuse simply because they have no home and no one to love them.
More than 40,000 homeless dogs roam the streets of Playa del Carmen alone.
Even worse, most of these dogs are not fixed, unvaccinated, and suffer from lack of food, lack of shelter, and unimaginable injuries from living on the streets.
Vet care is so expensive that when a family dog falls pregnant or ill, oftentimes, that family has no choice but to give the dog up. For many impoverished people, an impossible choice has to be made: to feed yourself or your pet.
SOS El Arca, a Playa del Carmen-based nonprofit, has already given thousands of people another option. Hosting free monthly spay-neuter-clinics, the group has sterilized over 6500 beloved pets. Current figures estimate that just 5 years of these monthly clinics would ultimately turn the tide for the region’s animals.
These clinics aren’t TNR, where strays are caught, fixed, and left on their own to fend for themselves. This is loving families struggling financially who wait in line for hours to get their pets fixed. This group is committed to sterilizing strays and long-term change, incorporating community education to teach younger generations about compassion and responsible pet ownership.
But your help is desperately needed to ensure these life-saving clinics continue!
Unfortunately, last year three clinics were cancelled due to a lack of funding, meaning hundreds of dogs could not be fixed.
If you'd like to donate to this amazing spay neuter project:
SOS el Arca Spay Neuter Campaign | GLOBAL UNITED FOUNDATION (Powered by Donorbox)
https://donorbox.org/globalunited
SOS El Arca
https://soselarca.org/
Learn More about Mindy and her incredible work:
Mindy's website:
https://dogsimeet.com/
About her trip to Mexico with some the pics she references during our conversation:
https://dogsimeet.com/rescue-missions/it-takes-a-village-to-save-a-dog
Mindy's Instagram with more pics taken in Carmen del Playa:
https://www.instagram.com/dogsimeet/
Mindy's previous episodes on "Why Do Pets Matter?"
Episode 174 - Tales of Support
https://whydopetsmatter.podbean.com/e/mindy-dutka-tales-of-support/
Episode 161 - Introducing Mindy Dutka from "Dogs I Meet"
https://whydopetsmatter.podbean.com/e/mindy-dutka/
COLLAGE OF PICS FROM SOS EL ARCA
![Friends of the Fix Breakfast - June 28th @ 7:30 am Denver, CO on ”Why Do Pets Matter?” hosted by Debra Hamilton EP 215](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/ep-logo/pbblog6361858/WDPM_The_Feline_Fix8vjnv_300x300.jpg)
Thursday Jun 15, 2023
Thursday Jun 15, 2023
Today we're speaking with Lynn White and Stacey Baum of the Feline Fix - a non-profit organization in Denver, CO. On June 28th, they are holding a free event -- The Friends of the Fix Breakfast -- at The Curtis Ballroom in Greenwood Village. The Feline Fix is an incredible group that works year-round to spay, neuter, and even rehome community cats that can be gentled and adopted.
The breakfast is a free, one-hour fundraising event with the goal of inspiring those who would like to get involved as a donor, foster, and/or volunteer.
There will be a full, sit-down breakfast, and the 'Kitten Therapy' team will be there to share those amazing babies with everyone. Seriously, who wouldn't want to start their day cuddling a sweet little kitten?
EVENT INFO:
June 28th Free Event
Friends of The Fix Breakfast
7:30-8:30am
The Curtis Ballroom
5345 Landmark Place
(nextdoor to Comedy Works South)
Greenwood Village
RSVP @ https://www.thefelinefix.org/
Can't attend, but want to Support The Feline Fix:
https://thefelinefix.networkforgood.com/projects/141855-support-our-work
The Feline Fix is a nonprofit entity that requires community support and partnership. They believe in education as a way to help end animal suffering.
The organization has made a significant, tangible impact on the feline and human lives in Denver and the greater surrounding areas -- approaching 50,000 feline spay/neuter surgeries over the last 20 years.
More About Lynn and Stacey:
Lynn White has a background in accounting and finance as well as experience in the veterinary industry and the nonprofit sector. She received her BS/MS in Accounting with a specialization in Audit, and held a variety of positions in public, private, and corporate accounting and finance.
A life-long animal lover, Lynn went back to school to obtain her Associate degree in Veterinary Technology and worked in a clinic capacity as a Certified Veterinary Technician for a number of years.
Wanting to find a position that would combine her passion for animals with her finance experience, she took a job as Director of Finance for a non-profit veterinary hospital.
The combination of non-profit animal welfare finance has been the perfect fit for her skills and her career goal to help make the world a better place.
Stacey Baum originally began working for The Feline Fix in 2017. At the time, she served as the Development, Marketing & Events Director in charge of fundraising, the Stray Cat Strut, and rebranding the organization.
Although she left in 2019 to spend more time with her family, she missed the organization and is very excited to be back!
Stacey has been in the animal welfare arena for over 20 years, working in Colorado, Arizona and California. She has been fundraising, handling marketing and communications, and executing events since 2000.
Connect With Lynn, Stacey and The Feline Fix:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynn-white-b75070130/
https://www.facebook.com/felinefix/
https://www.instagram.com/thefelinefix/
![Dr. Dani Rabwin - Ready, Vet, Go on ”Why Do Pets Matter?” hosted by Debra Hamilton EP 214](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/ep-logo/pbblog6361858/WDPM_Dr_Dani_Rabwinbp6is_300x300.jpg)
Thursday May 25, 2023
Thursday May 25, 2023
As a veterinarian and mentor, Dr. Dani Rabwin believes that pets matter not only for their companionship and unconditional love but also because they serve as a bridge between her and her clients. Through their pets, she can establish a deeper connection with pet owners, fostering trust and building relationships that enable her to provide excellent veterinary care. Furthermore, she offers guidance and support to pet owners, assisting them in navigating the challenges and joys of pet ownership.
By emphasizing the significance of this connection with pet owners, Dr. Rabwin teaches new veterinarians in her mentorship program how to excel in their work by cultivating relationships with both pets and their owners.
During our conversation, we discussed the importance of communication between veterinarians and their clients, particularly pet owners.
We also discuss the value of mentorship for recent veterinary graduates and the importance of being open to learning and receiving guidance as both a veterinarian and a client.
Additionally, we explore the support programs available to veterinarians, which aim to prevent burnout.
We also touch upon Dani's mentorship program, Ready Vet Go, and how it assists veterinarians in thriving and finding joy in their profession.
More About Dr. Rabwin:
Dr. Dani Rabwin is a veterinarian, communication coach, and the founder of Ready, Vet, Go, the first veterinary mentorship program of its kind. She graduated from UC Davis in 2004 and completed an internship at Michigan Veterinary Specialists. She feels extremely privileged to be able to help veterinarians thrive in this profession she loves so much.
Connect with Dani:
https://readyvetgo.co/
https://www.instagram.com/readyvetgo_/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dani-rabwin-18034b217/
![A Different Perspective: Deciding Who Gets The Pet In A Divorce with the Hon. Doug Mintz (Ret) and Gabrielle Hartley, Esq on ”Why Do Pets Matter?” hosted by Debra Hamilton EP 213](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/ep-logo/pbblog6361858/WDPM_Hon_Doug_Mintz_Gabrielle_Hartleybcz3j_300x300.jpg)
Thursday May 04, 2023
Thursday May 04, 2023
During this dynamic conversation with the Honorable Douglas C. Mintz (Ret.) and Gabrielle Hartley, Esq., we'll look at a different perspective on deciding who gets the family pet during a divorce.
Doug is the ADR Partner at Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey, based in Stamford, CT. He was a civil trial judge and also a legislator.
Gabrielle is an incredible TEDx speaker. She is also an author. Her new book, "The Secret To Getting Along," is coming out in May. She also wrote, "Better Apart."
She has created the "Better Apart Total Practice Makeover" to help attornies do better divorce work. And her "Private Divorce Solutions" helps people decide how to divorce better -- including those with pets.
Given all of the new legislation that's coming down in California, Alaska, Illinois, New Hampshire, and New York, requiring the judges to find for the best interests of the pet when doing divorce resolution, Judge Mintz and Gabrielle take on that topic during our conversation and handle it in a safe and special way.
More About the Hon. Douglas C. Mintz (Ret.)
Doug has acted as the mediator in numerous disputes ranging from complex business disputes to product liability. The disputes have included personal injury matters that resulted from motor vehicle accidents and slip and falls. One nine-hour mediation, conducted over Zoom, included 32 participants two of whom were self-represented. Due to all the participants’ patience and perseverance, the dispute came to a successful resolution.
Doug has developed and adapted his mediation practice in the age of COVID-19 and found that online dispute resolution is as effective, if not more effective, than in-person mediations.
Doug is a member of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals and became a Panelist, as an Arbitrator and a Mediator, for the American Arbitration Association.
For most of his judicial career, Doug served as the Presiding Judge for Civil Matters in Stamford and Danbury, CT. He regularly encountered truly vexing conflicts in both the legal and emotional dimensions, and developed a unique approach to working those situations that he now brings to his clients.
Doug was appointed to the Superior Court in 1993 and served as the Civil Presiding Judge and the Assistant Administrative Judge for the Judicial District of Stamford/Norwalk, and as the Administrative Judge and the Civil Presiding Judge for the Judicial District of Danbury. Prior to his service on the bench, he was a State Representative from Norwalk (1987-1992) and served as the Vice-chair of the Judiciary Committee for most of that time.
As a Judge, in 2008, Doug worked collaboratively with the Legislature to craft legislation that created the Foreclosure Mediation Program (the first statewide mediation program in the nation). This Mediation Program was created in response to the mortgage foreclosure crisis of 2007-08 and helped thousands of families retain their homes.
From his many years on the Bench, Doug has learnt that deep dedication to the values of human dignity and creative thinking, combined with the rigorous and fair application of factual analysis, almost always clears the way for successful dispute resolution.
Doug speaks at legal community virtual events on various topics, including online dispute resolution.
Western New England College School of Law, J.D., 1978
The University of Michigan, B.G.S., 1974
More About Gabrielle Hartley:
Gabrielle Hartley is co-chair of the American Bar Association Mediation Committee, a nationally recognized divorce attorney, online mediator, TEDx Speaker, and author of "Better Apart: The Radically Positive Way to Separate."
Her new book “The Secret to Getting Along and Why It’s Easier Than You Think” will be released this May. She offers a weekly newsletter, The Conflict Code” and hosts The Better Apart Blog and is a frequently quoted media expert in the peaceful divorce realm (The New York Times, Vice, WNYC, Forbes, Psychology Today, etc.)
Gabrielle is a former court attorney to NYS Supreme Court Judge Jeffrey Sunshine and has resolved hundreds of high-conflict divorce cases.
About Her New Book: The Secret to Getting Along and Why It’s Easier Than You Think
Named as a Next Big Idea Club Must Read!
Is it possible to get along better? Yes, with 3 simple steps for conflict resolution!
Conflict is everywhere―in our homes, at work, on our social media feeds. But conflict isn't inherently bad… in fact, it's a normal and healthy part of human relationships, but many of us aren't good at managing conflict in our everyday lives.
In The Secret to Getting Along (And Why it's Easier Than You Think!), attorney Gabrielle Hartley brings more than two decades of divorce mediation experience to helping you learn how to resolve conflict in ways that strengthen your relationships, reflect your values, and lead to positive outcomes for everyone involved. This practical and accessible guide to everyday conflict resolution will help you:
- Reframe your approach to conflict
- Find your way to more harmony and less discord
- Create better outcomes even in your most difficult relationships
- Experience more peace even when relationships don't go well
- Strengthen your skills in resolving conflicts of all shapes and sizes
- Feel more connected to the important people in your life
Whether you're fighting with your partner about housework, struggling to set boundaries with a difficult family member, or dealing with a toxic coworker, The Secret to Getting Along (And Why It's Easier Than You Think!) is a necessary resource for navigating difficult conversations and situations―and finding the solutions that will help you create a peaceful, less stressful, and more fulfilling life.
More Info:
Gabrielle's Website:
https://gabriellehartley.com/thesecrettogettingalong/
On Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Getting-Along-Easier-Think/dp/172825891X
![Dr. Jessica May, MRCVS - Exciting Developments With Veterinary Telemedicine on ”Why Do Pets Matter?” hosted by Debra Hamilton EP 212](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/ep-logo/pbblog6361858/WDPM_Dr_Jessica_May_MRCVSb7bts_300x300.jpg)
Thursday Apr 20, 2023
Thursday Apr 20, 2023
Dr. Jessica May from the UK joins us on this episode of "Why Do Pets Matter?" to talk about Veterinary Telemedicine: the pros and cons of the new telemed guidelines set by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) and the important opportunities telemedicine opens up for veterinarians to provide their clients with dynamic professional care wherever a patient might be.
We also talked about how technology can help create better veterinarian-client relationships.
More About Dr. Jessica May, MRCVS
Jessica has worked in mixed and equine practices, both in the United Kingdom and in Hong Kong.
Between 2019 and 2022, Jessica joined an independent telehealth company to launch their pioneering service in the UK before joining PetsApp in 2023.
Jessica has a strong interest in innovation and how digital health can benefit pets, veterinary professionals, and businesses.
Jessica qualified as a vet from the Royal Veterinary College in 2012.
Connect with Jessica:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicamay2/