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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 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
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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
Thursday Apr 08, 2021
Thursday Apr 08, 2021
During this episode of "Why Do Pets Matter?" we're speaking with Liz Rubinstein, CEO of GingerLead, a harness that pet owners can use whether their dog has arthritis, is recovering from surgery, hip dysplasia, or another type of cruciating injury. This is one of the best harnesses on the market for helping owners keep their pets safe during recovery. Liz is also an attorney who, like me, mediates conflicts between people over animals!
More About Liz Rubinstein:
Liz Rubinstein is an attorney with a love of animals that led her to leave and then return to her legal career.
Liz left the practice of law when she and her husband invented the GingerLead Dog Support & Rehabilitation Harness, a product that helps dogs with orthopedic problems. She has been selling it around the world to veterinarians, pet stores and pet owners since 2008.
She returned to the practice of law in 2020 (while still running GingerLead) and specifically focused on mediation because she was inspired by me and has seen the benefits of mediation in resolving disputes involving animals.
Connect with Liz:
https://www.gingerlead.com/
http://www.facebook.com/GingerLead
http://www.mediationlawyerco.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-rubinstein/
Thursday Apr 01, 2021
Thursday Apr 01, 2021
Today we're speaking with the Airbnb of rescues and shelters, Chris Roy of Doobert.com.
Chris is chatting with us about how COVID has created a collaborative environment between shelters, rescues, and volunteers.
Learn More About Chris:
Chris is a technology guy in his "day" job and used his experience to create Doobert.com which is an online software platform custom-built for animal rescuers.
It's like a combination of Match.com specifically for animal shelters and rescues to find new partners, and then a volunteer Uber for getting the animals where they need to go.
Chris enjoys helping provide technology solutions to some of the biggest challenges in animal rescue and is always looking for new ways to help animals and the people that care for them.
Chris is supported by his amazing wife Daphne, and together they have 5 furkids: 4 cats and 1 dog.
You can connect with Chris at:
chris@doobert.com
Thursday Mar 25, 2021
Thursday Mar 25, 2021
Olivia Summerhill, CFP®, CDFA®-- a financial planner -- is joining us during this episode of "Why Do Pets Matter?"
Olivia helps women who are going through a divorce with their finances. One thing she has noticed is that most people don't put together a plan for their pets while they still like one another -- pre- disagreements, separation, and ultimately divorce.
Olivia is sharing her thoughts about the importance of having a plan in place for the care of your pet from the perspective of a financial planner who has seen the devastating consequences of her clients' not having any sort of agreements in place pre-divorce.
The last thing you want is for your ego or pride to get in the way of doing what's in the best interest of your animal!
Learn More About Olivia Summerhill:
Olivia Summerhill, the founder of Summerhill Wealth Management, works exclusively with affluent women, protecting their lifestyle throughout the divorce process. Olivia works closely with her clients’ divorce attorneys to give them the ammunition they need to negotiate the most advantageous settlements.
After the divorce finalization, Olivia uses her knowledge of behavioral finance to work with her clients on topics relating to a divorce’s impact. Specifically, on the psychological behaviors such as self-awareness, money patterns, and effective financial decision-making, her female clients can control and maintain their living standards.
Olivia is one of few financial professionals to hold a Certified Financial Planner, Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, and Behavioral Financial Advising credentials.
When she's not working, Olivia loves conversing in French -- and she may have a mild addiction to collecting saltwater fish.
She also has a Rhodesian Ridgeback named Leo, who is almost 2 years old. She did her research and waited years before getting a dog so that she would have enough space/energy/money to raise him right. She has invested almost $20k on Leo's training and he is her triathlon training partner. Currently, she's training for an Ironman 70.3 to raise money for Savvy Ladies, a non-profit that helps women take control of their finances.
She has a passion for volunteering on boards and seeing the difference it makes in the community.
Connect with Olivia:
Website: https://www.summerhillwealth.com
Thursday Mar 18, 2021
Thursday Mar 18, 2021
Today we're chatting with my long-time friend, Laura Reeves, about how breeders sustain their breeds and how they pick their owners.
She is a breeder, exhibitor, former handler, and seasoned podcaster -- hosting Pure Dog Talk and a contributing host to the Good Dog Pod.
Laura's motto is, "As man plans, God laughs!"
Learn more about Laura Reeves:
Laura is an AKC Breeder of Merit, AKC Judge, Good Dog Advisor, and a retired zone representative for the Professional Handler Association.
She is a second-generation breeder of German Wirehaired Pointers, under the Scotia Kennel banner. She is also one of the hosts of The Good Dog Pod.
In her professional handling career, spanning 25 years, Laura consistently maintained a high-quality, low-number client list.
She has finished hundreds of dogs, with group-winners from each of the seven variety groups. Specializing in rare breeds and challenging dogs, she has piloted dogs to Best in Show, Best in Specialty Show, Group wins, #1 rankings and more.
Scotia dogs have earned well over 100 titles — in the show ring, in hunt tests, field trials and NAVHDA (North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association), in agility, tracking, obedience and rally.
Her dedication to breeding dual-purpose dogs reflects a stated goal of preserving the all-weather, rugged, sound-minded versatile gun dog the breed’s founders envisioned.
Laura has served the GWPCA as AKC Gazette columnist, Judges Education Committee member and chair, Vice President, President, National Events Coordinator and more.
Her podcast, Pure Dog Talk, is The VOICE of purebred dogs. Laura talks to the legends of the sport and gives you tips and tools to create an awesome life with your purebred dog. From showing to preservation breeding, from competitive obedience to fieldwork, from agility to therapy dogs and all the fun in between; your passion is Pure Dog Talk's purpose.
Pure Dog Talk is a proud supporter of the American Kennel Club, our Parent, Specialty and All-Breed Clubs, Dog Sports, Therapy, Service and the Preservation of our Canine Companions.
The Good Dog Pod supports dog breeders and responsible dog ownership.
Good Dog is on a mission to build a better world for our dogs and the people who love them by educating the public and advocating for dog breeders.
The Good Dog Pod achieves its mission by providing dog breeders and the public with the latest updates in canine health and veterinary care, animal legislation and legal advocacy, canine training and behavior science, and dog breeding practices.
You can connect with Laura here:
https://www.scotiakennel.com/about/
https://www.PureDogTalk.com/
https://www.facebook.com/PureDogTalk
https://twitter.com/puredogtalk
https://www.gooddog.com/good-dog-pod
https://www.facebook.com/goodbreedercenter
https://twitter.com/officialgooddog
Thursday Mar 11, 2021
Thursday Mar 11, 2021
Today we're chatting with Mark Olcott, DVM, Co-founder & CEO VitusVet, a Veterinary Practice Management Solution that helps veterinarians use modern technology to improve patient care and grow their business.
Mark, a former partner at a multi-doctor small animal practice, co-founded VitusVet to solve the client-communication problems he saw each day. The company’s goal is very simple: to make it easier for veterinarians and pet owners to share information.
Mark (and his company) love pets and believe in advocating for them because they can't speak for themselves.
More About Mark Olcott, DVM
Mark, a native of upstate NY, obtained his bachelor’s degree in Biology from the State University of New York at Geneseo. He then earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University in 1995 and, in 2013, his MBA from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland.
Mark was a partner for several years in a multi-doctor small animal practice before leaving to start his own mobile ultrasonography business. More recently, he worked as an Emergency Veterinarian at a major regional referral hospital, where he was named by his peers as one of the Top Veterinarians in Northern Virginia.
Mark also holds multiple patents, is a published author, and is the co-founder and CEO of a software company called VitusVet. VitusVet is a rapidly growing company with one simple goal: to improve the connection between veterinarians and pet owners.
Mark lives in Frederick, Maryland with his wife, three children, two cats, four dogs, four geckos, three snakes and a bunch of fish.
Click to learn more about VitusVet!
Thursday Mar 04, 2021
Thursday Mar 04, 2021
On today's "Why Do Pets Matter?" Podcast we're hearing from a new voice in the animal law community, Jessica Chapman, JD.
Currently, Jessica is pursuing her LLM at Lewis & Clark Law School -- the only University in the country offering an LLM in the field of animal law. (An LLM is a secondary degree for lawyers who have achieved their JD and passed the bar exam, and who are interested in a focused, specialized course of study in a specific topic of law.)
Jessica's work revolves around having a different conversation and approach to animal abuse...
1. Healing abusers of their victimization and trauma from their own abuse or learned violence experiences will protect non-human animals and humans from becoming future victims.
2. Exploitation of animals and the legal abuse that occurs in industries that exploit animals -- like traumatized industrial workers -- which can manifest itself as abuse to companion animals and domestic violence.
3 We as advocates should develop relationships with individuals who the courts have convicted of abuse and with individuals who self-identify as abusers to find out which therapy techniques will help them heal from their past trauma. Condemning the individual and excluding them from therapy discussions enable the abuse to perpetuate. Experts in multiple areas should collaborate on therapeutic and rehabilitative approaches.
More About Jessica:
Jessica Chapman is an Animal Law LLM Candidate at Lewis & Clark Law School. She is a recipient of the Brooks Institute for Animal Rights Law and Policy Domestic Scholarship.
She graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, where she double majored with a Bachelor of Arts in Slavic Languages and Literature and Native American Studies.
She graduated with a Juris Doctor (cum laude) from Michigan State University College of Law.
She is part of the ALLC (Animal Law Litigation Clinic) and is dedicating her legal career to the protection and representation of animals.