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Pet expert Debra Hamilton interviews other pet lovers on this delightful podcast about pet custody, pet drama, pet problems and pet solutions. Why Do Pets Matter? is a heartfelt podcast dedicated to pets, hosted by pet-focused attorney Debra Hamilton, Esq.
Episodes
Thursday Jul 01, 2021
Thursday Jul 01, 2021
My good friend and colleague, Karis Nafte, returns to "Why Do Pets Matter?" this week. She is a certified dog behavior consultant and a mediator. Karis is the BEST pet custody specialist you could ever hope to work with if you have pets and are getting divorced.
We work very closely together because we both understand that divorcing with pets is an emotional experience that often needs assistance to navigate through.
Today, we are taking a look at three common speed bumps couples often hit when divorcing with animals:
1. Humanizing the animal
2. Weaponizing the animal
3. Bargaining with the animal
About Karis Nafte:
Animals are not possessions, nor are they children. They fall into their own unique category that requires a delicate and considered approach when it comes to the issue of custody. For couples who are divorcing and have pets, Karis provides a specialized service offering expert guidance about custody decisions for their dogs, cats, and other companion animals.
Karis brings twenty-five years of experience as a professional animal behaviorist; she provides a neutral, supportive position between the separating couple while keeping the animal's perspective in the forefront. Even for couples working amicably through their divorce, the emotional component surrounding beloved pets can complicate matters.
To learn more about Karis and the work she does, please visit
https://whokeepsthedog.com/, and listen to her first interview on "Why Do Pets Matter?"
You can also find her on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karisnafte/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Karis-Nafte-The-Pet-Custody-Consultant-101736361429277/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karis-nafte-b4b9b81a6/
Thursday Jun 10, 2021
Thursday Jun 10, 2021
While COVID cooped up many people in their homes, veterinary professionals have been in the hospitals, clinics, and field caring for animals. For veterinary professionals, the "COVID 20" means something different -- it's the extra 20 animals they squeezed in for an exam on any given day!
Working in a highly demanding and giving profession comes with a high cost for many vets -- the time for their self-care often comes last.
The Clinic to 5K Run is for veterinarians (and everyone else) to help themselves shake off the lingering effects of COVID.
Running helps clear your mind, calm anxiety, tame stress, and it will help you with your focus as you juggle all the things you need to juggle in your day-to-day.
Relief Rover wants to help struggling veterinarians, so $10 for every runner will be donated to Not One More Vet, Inc (NOMV) - an organization helping veterinary professionals in crisis.
The Relief Rover Clinic to 5K Virtual Run offers runners and walkers the chance to participate in a 5k at their leisure while knowing that they are helping others.
All entrants will receive the Relief Rover Clinic to 5K Virtual Run Series logo medal, the series logo race bib, and a series logo running cap. The medals, bibs, and caps are Made in the U.S.A.
Charitable beneficiaries of the Relief Rover Clinic to 5K Virtual Run include Not One More Vet, Inc (NOMV). Registrants will have an opportunity to make additional donations to other charities, including Pride VMC and the Stryder Cancer Foundation.
Relief Rover Clinic to 5K:
5k: run or walk any time that works for you or join us on any day in our official one-week window from July 24 - 31.
Summer Challenge: a summer activity to challenge your heart and body. It starts on May 15th and ends on July 31st, 2021.
Registration for Virtual 5k:
$35 - Starting June 1st
You pick the date. You pick your route. You have your FUN knowing you are helping support mental health in the veterinary profession!
Learn More and Join Us:
Connect with Cindy and Juli
https://www.facebook.com/reliefrover/
Here's the link to Cindy's first interview on "Why Do Pets Matter?"
Thursday Jun 03, 2021
Thursday Jun 03, 2021
Kelly Baltzell, founder of Beyond Indigo, a marketing agency that helps progressive pet service providers get the word out about their businesses "to get more tails through the door" is joining us during this episode of "Why Do Pets Matter?"
Beyond our never-ending passion for pets and the unconditional love they have for their people, we are both passionate about human communication.
The kind of communication that reflects self-awareness, honesty, accountability, responsibility, and forgiveness -- first with ourselves and then with others.
In 2020 Kelly and I hosted a highly successful workshop called "Speaking The Right Words" to help professionals navigate their way through "reactive communications" while giving them tools to converse with others in a way that wouldn't be perceived as "offensive" -- a way of having empowering and curious discussions that lead to collaborative outcomes without being quagmired in defensiveness and negativity.
About Kelly Baltzell, M.A.
Kelly is President and CEO of the Beyond Indigo family of companies, which she founded in 1997. Under her leadership, Beyond Indigo companies have developed all types of veterinary websites (small animal, exotic, specialty, equine, mixed animal) that now reach millions of people each year in multiple countries.
As of 2013, Beyond Indigo Pets has worked closely with AAHA as a preferred provider, and in 2015 took part in their new Member Value Program for websites and marketing.
Since 2015, Beyond Indigo has been a certified Google AdWords Partner, and works directly with Google.
Additionally, Kelly has been a monthly columnist for AAHA Marketlink since 2011. She has also spoken and been published in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the UK.
Kelly speaks frequently about marketing trends and website design at national and international conventions and private functions. Her goal is to keep people up-to-date with the latest information on digital marketing in an easy-to-understand manner. Kelly’s 20-years of experience, passion, and visionary approach to the industry make her an unparalleled leader in internet marketing.
Kelly graduated from George Washington University with a degree in international affairs and economics and received her master’s degree in counseling and psychology from St. Mary’s. Kelly is a proud parent, currently living with her family in Minnesota.
Connect with Kelly:
http://www.beyondindigopets.com/
https://www.facebook.com/beyondindigopets
https://www.instagram.com/beyondindigopets/
https://www.youtube.com/user/beyondindigopets
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellybaltzell/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/beyond-indigo-pets
Thursday May 27, 2021
Thursday May 27, 2021
We're in for a real treat today! Ana Melara from Grace Dog Training and Behavior joins us today with some amazing nuggets that will help us take a step back, evaluate where we and our dogs are at in training, how to get the most out of the training and how we can create an even better relationship with our dogs.
About Ana Melara, CPDT-KA:
Ana Melara has been working with dogs and their families for over two decades, originally in N.Y.C. and since 2001 here in Colorado.
She is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer and member of the (APDT) Association of Professional Dog Trainers and a member of (IAABC) International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. She is TAGteach Advanced Certified. (This means that she’s also very good at teaching people.)
She keeps herself current by attending and hosting various workshops, seminars and conferences. Her training techniques are founded on praise-based, dog-friendly and people-friendly methods, and a fundamental belief that, as dog guardians, we are responsible for their well-being and training. Whether she is teaching basic manners, puppy house-training or addressing a dog’s aggression issues, Ana emphasizes to all of her human clients the profound importance that their gentle guidance and loving leadership plays in their dog’s training.
Ana lives in Lakewood with her daughter and her three amazing dogs. Chaka, her 6 year old, brilliant, silly, crazy-pants trick dog; Tatonka, her sweet 12-ish year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier who has gone from nervous, bitey and growly to happily and waggly; and her youngest infant son, Baldr, a sweet, baby Malinois/GSD X who has appointed himself as the family therapist while dragging around his queen-sized woobie.
Ana can be reached by emailing Ana@GraceDog.com, or calling 303-238-DOGS(3647).
Connect with Ana:
https://www.facebook.com/GraceDogTraining/
https://twitter.com/TWGDogTraining
Thursday May 20, 2021
Thursday May 20, 2021
This week the fabulous Cathy Madson returns to "Why Do Pets Matter?" to speak with us about transitioning back to work with a Pandemic Puppy, how training your dog becomes far more doable when you break it into bite-sized steps, consulting with behaviorists and vets when your dog has behavior issues, and virtual support communities to connect with -- including the resources at PreventiveVet.com.
She is a Certified Behavior Consultant and professional dog trainer from PreventiveVet.
Last month, April 2021, she spoke with us about how to acclimate your dog to being alone right now to help ease the transition for those of us who are returning to work in the near future.
More About Cathy Madson, MA, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA
Cathy Madson became a certified dog trainer in 2008, but she likes to think that her career began when she was six years old and a stray wandered into her yard and became her first dog companion.
She completed her CPDT-KA certification in 2017 and her CBCC-KA certification in 2019. Cathy is a Fear Free Certified Certified Professional, a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT), and a training professional member of The Pet Professional Guild (PPG). She's also a member of the Dog Writer's Association of America.
Cathy loves to geek out at dog behavior and training conferences. As Preventive Vet's dog trainer on staff, Cathy focuses on helping humans and their pets build a strong relationship based on trust, clear communication, and the use of positive reinforcement training methods. Her specialties include canine separation anxiety, leash reactivity, and dog aggression. When she's not working, you can usually find her paddle boarding or knitting yet another dog sweater for Sookie, her Welsh Cardigan Corgi.
Resources:
YouTube of our latest Yappy Hour: From Pandemic to Pupstanding! https://youtu.be/Y3eBeEbwxwE
Puppy Essentials and Dog Training Essentials Workshops - https://www.PupstandingAcademy.com
Connect with Cathy:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PreventiveVet
YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/Preventivevet
Twitter: @PreventiveVet
Instagram: @PreventiveVet
Thursday May 13, 2021
Thursday May 13, 2021
During this episode of “Why Do Pets Matter?” we’re speaking with Krista Karpowich, owner and podcaster at Wag Out Loud, a podcast that is focused on canine health, nutrition, and well-being.
About Krista Karpowich
Krista Karpowich owns Wag Out Loud, LLC and is the host of the weekly Wag Out Loud pawdcast, a show focusing on canine health, nutrition and overall well-being.
After receiving her certification in canine nutrition and noticing that most dogs are getting sicker and living shorter lives, Krista became obsessed with bringing experts and dog enthusiasts together in committed community to enhance the bond with our dogs, help them live longer and be as happy and healthy as possible.
Krista has also launched the new Wag Out Loud LTOs Show (LTO standing for Limited Time Offers) which is a live stream shopping show for the best dog related products.
Connect With Krista
https://facebook.com/wagoutloud
https://instagram.com/wagoutloud/
Thursday May 06, 2021
Thursday May 06, 2021
During this episode of "Why Do Pets Matter?" we're speaking with Rhonda Bell of Dog Days Consulting.
Rhonda helps veterinarians, other pet service professionals and their clients talk to one another over social media.
She helps animal service providers improve and maintain their good reputations online. She also shows them how to resolve and repair their reputation if there has been negative feedback from distressed clients.
Rhonda also talks about using "The Power of The Pause" to give yourself some breathing space before responding to something that triggers you. It's a relationship saver!
Learn More About Rhonda Bell:
Rhonda founded Dog Days Consulting in 2017. She is a Certified Veterinary Practice Manager, a Certified Compassion Fatigue Professional, and a Certified Professional Life Coach with over 15 years of veterinary management experience. Being in a busy animal hospital managing the day-to-day operations is where she discovered her passion for training and systems organization.
She enjoys teaching teams on how to implement successful social media marketing practices by setting goals and milestones in which to achieve them. Rhonda enjoys working with social media and other technology platforms to improve hospital exposure and client engagement.
She understands that efficiency has an immediate impact on the bottom line. Moving around as a military wife she was able to manage multiple animal hospitals throughout her career.
Connect With Rhonda:
https://dogdaysconsulting.com/
https://www.facebook.com/dogdaysconsulting/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhondabellcvpm/
Thursday Apr 29, 2021
Thursday Apr 29, 2021
Mindy Dutka Is Celebrating Our Unsung Dog Heroes of COVID-19 through Tales of Support!
There's no question about it, our pets -- especially our dogs -- have and continue to help their families get through this challenging time.
My good friend, Mindy Dutka from Dogs I Meet, returns to "Why Do Pets Matter?" to talk about her new passion project -- Tales of Support.
During this incredibly insightful conversation, Mindy goes into how dogs have supported us during the pandemic.
They've been our shining light and heart-felt joy, a huge comfort, and a reason for many of us to get out of bed in the morning. They've helped us to stay present and in the moment.
As Mindy so eloquently puts it, "It is scientifically proven that the human-dog bond can improve a person’s physical and mental well-being. The pandemic has turned every dog into a therapy dog. In a time met with unprecedented levels of loneliness and tragedy, the wagging tails and wigglebutts turned out to be the support system we all needed."
Through photos and stories, Tales of Support will spotlight dogs that have played an important role in sustaining their humans throughout the pandemic.
Do you have a story to honor your dog that you'd like to share through Tales of Support?
Check out the “Tales of Support” tab at www.dogsimeet.com.
Please email hello@dogsimeet.com with a quick introduction and summary of your story.
Mindy is currently looking for stories in the Boston, New York City and San Francisco areas.
Follow Tales of Support on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dogsimeet
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dogsimeet/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mindy-dutka-316b09181/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ph/dogsimeet/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyARV1QJ0JEI524fos0Mw1A
===========================
Read the Tales of Support:
Tales of Support: https://dogsimeet.com/tales-of-support
Learn more about Mindy and Dogs I Meet:
Dogs I Meet website: https://dogsimeet.com/
Connect with Mindy:
Hello@dogsimeet.com
Thursday Apr 22, 2021
Thursday Apr 22, 2021
Carolyn Shadle, the CEO and resident guru of Interpersonl Communication Services, Inc., returns to "Why Do Pets Matter?" to discuss the importance of post-COVID interpersonal communication, the relationship between oxytocin and pet ownership, why the words and language we choose during our conversations matter, and how to keep our pets with us post-pandemic
More About Carolyn Shadle
Carolyn C. Shadle is the CEO of Interpersonal Communication Services. Carolyn has spent most of her life equipping adults with the skills and tools to build effective organizations, a sustainable environment, and healthy relationships. She has written numerous publications, hosted a TV interview show, and offered training in communication, planning, and change for corporate, public and non-profit audiences, as well as for parents and grandparents. She has had the privilege of traveling widely, offering training overseas as well as throughout the USA.
Through ICS, Inc. she provides services that facilitate a fulfilling life. Carolyn is retired from university-based adult and continuing education, where she led and administered leadership development, business and finance management, and “soft skills” (the hardest). During her university career, she held administrative positions at California State University, Long Beach, and San Jose; the University of Denver College of Business; and the State University of New York (Buffalo and Empire State College).
Find out more: http://icsinc.info/about-us-communication-services/
Connect With Carolyn:
www.ICSinc.info
www.VeterinarianCommunication.com
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/ICSVetCommunication
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/CarolynShadle
Thursday Apr 15, 2021
Thursday Apr 15, 2021
During this episode of "Why Do Pets Matter?" We're speaking with Cathy Madson, a Certified Behavior Consultant and professional dog trainer from PreventiveVet.
She was one of our special guests in December 2019 and gave a mini-training about leaving your dog alone.
At the time, little did we know that we would really need that training in 2021.
So, Cathy's back with another training on how to leave your dog alone, plus how to address things your pet might be doing right now since you've been home more, and what's going on with "Major Biden".
More About Cathy Madson, MA, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA
Cathy Madson became a certified dog trainer in 2008, but she likes to think that her career began when she was six years old and a stray wandered into her yard and became her first dog companion.
She completed her CPDT-KA certification in 2017 and her CBCC-KA certification in 2019. Cathy is a Fear Free Certified Certified Professional, a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT), and a training professional member of The Pet Professional Guild (PPG). She's also a member of the Dog Writer's Association of America.
Cathy loves to geek out at dog behavior and training conferences. As Preventive Vet's dog trainer on staff, Cathy focuses on helping humans and their pets build a strong relationship based on trust, clear communication, and the use of positive reinforcement training methods. Her specialties include canine separation anxiety, leash reactivity, and dog aggression. When she's not working, you can usually find her paddle boarding or knitting yet another dog sweater for Sookie, her Welsh Cardigan Corgi.
Resources:
YouTube of our latest Yappy Hour: From Pandemic to Pupstanding! https://youtu.be/Y3eBeEbwxwE
Puppy Essentials and Dog Training Essentials Workshops - https://www.PupstandingAcademy.com
West Paw Toppl toy (alternative to Kong): http://amzn.to/2m5E2zR
Michael Shikashio -- aggression specialist (and who the Bidens should really hire)
Denise Fenzi -- amazing with high drive dogs
Connect with Cathy:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PreventiveVet
YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/Preventivevet
Twitter: @PreventiveVet
Instagram: @PreventiveVet