The Pet Parent Hotline | Pet Parent Advice & Support for Overwhelmed Pet Parents

That friendly, purring shelter cat you fell in love with can sometimes turn into a ghost or even a hissy ball of nerves the moment you get them home. It’s not rejection. It’s survival mode. And how you handle those first few days sets the tone for your entire relationship. Even if you don't have a cat, many aspects of these steps toward acclimating a new pet to your home would apply to dogs, birds, and other species of pets to...

Do you feel like no matter how much you clean, your home still smells like pets and looks like a fur factory? You’re not alone!

In this episode, I’m joined by Tracy Fosterling, pet foster mom and social media favorite, to break down simple, realistic cleaning habits that actually work when you live with pets. Forget the overwhelming deep-clean weekends and the guilt over what your home “should” look like—we’re getting practical.

BY T...

Are you tired of feeling like you need a second job just to buy pet food? 

You're not alone. Prices keep climbing, and if you’ve ever stood in the pet food aisle at the pet store doing mental math and wondering what bill to skip this week, this episode is for you.

I’m breaking down six smart, realistic ways to save money on pet food without cutting corners on quality. These are the exact strategies I’ve used with my own pets, my...

Does a single vet visit feel like it could wipe out your bank account?

You're not alone and you're not doing anything wrong. Too many pet parents walk into the clinic hoping for a quick checkup and walk out hundreds of dollars poorer, without knowing how it happened or how to avoid it next time.

In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on the real cost of veterinary care and giving you a smarter way to plan ahead, so y...

You’re staring at another $200 vet bill and wondering if skipping a month of flea, tick, or heartworm meds will really matter.

• Your dog barely goes outside.
•  Your cat’s never seen a flea.
•  And those preventatives are not cheap.

But what if that one skipped dose turns into a $3,000 emergency—or worse?

In this episode, I’m joined by veterinarian Dr. Linda Atkins to cut through the fear, guilt, and confusing pet care advice about ...

When your dog’s limping or your cat won’t stop scratching, it’s tempting to reach into your medicine cabinet, but should you?

In this episode, I’m joined by returning guest Dr. Zoo, my vet and the veterinarian for Starlight Outreach and Rescue, to tackle one of the most Googled questions in pet parenting: “Can I give my pet human over-the-counter meds?”

We’re breaking down what’s safe, what’s dangerous, and what might help when the v...

Feel like the more you try to fix your dog’s behavior, the worse it gets?

If you’re dealing with barking, leash pulling, jumping, or flat-out ignoring commands, the problem might not be your dog: it might be what you’re accidentally reinforcing without realizing it.

In this episode, I’m joined by professional dog trainer and behavior consultant Bradley Phifer, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KSA, Executive Director, CCPDT to unpack the everyday mistak...

Thinking about adding another pet to your family? Before you give in to those puppy-dog eyes or kitten purrs, hit pause. Because while one more pet can be wonderful, it can also turn your home upside down if the timing or reason isn’t right.

In this episode, I’m sharing 4 essential gut checks to help you decide if it’s truly the right time to expand your pack. After adopting out pets to thousands of families and taking in hundreds o...

Think getting a pet would make life better? Instead, you’re staring at sky-high vet bills, a dog that won’t stop barking, a cat refusing the litter box, and endless late-night searches for solutions.

That’s why I created The Pet Parent Hotline, your lifeline for real pet parenting advice. This isn’t another fluffy pet podcast. Each week we tackle the problems that keep you up at night, like how to afford vet care, stop common behavi...

Ever feel like you're the only one who remembers to feed the dog, clean the litter box, or refill the water bowls? You’re not alone, and you don’t have to keep doing all the pet care yourself.

This bonus summer episode gives you a complete system to get your household to step up and share the pet care load, without nagging, yelling, or turning into the resentful pet parent you swore you’d never be.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENI...

What if the no-kill movement isn’t saving animals but failing them?

It promised to end unnecessary euthanasia and revolutionize sheltering. But behind the glowing stats and feel-good slogans lies a much messier reality, one most people don’t want to talk about.

In this episode, I sit down with animal welfare expert Daniel Ettinger to expose the unintended consequences of chasing a 90 percent live release rate. From shelters closing t...

When Saving Animals Almost Broke Me

What happens when the thing you love the most is the very thing that pushes you past your breaking point?

I found out in the middle of a hurricane—soaked, sobbing, and clinging to my barn while sick kittens cried in a barely secured shed. That was the moment I realized something had to change.

In this raw, unfiltered solo episode, I’m sharing the story I’ve kept quiet for too long. After fostering m...

Heartworm Truths Every Pet Owner Needs to Hear with Dr. Zoo

Think skipping heartworm prevention just this once is no big deal? It only takes one mosquito bite to change your pet’s life forever.

Heartworm disease is slow, painful, and completely preventable—yet pets still die from it every year. In this episode, Dr. Zoo shares two cases that prove why you can’t take the risk: a two-year-old German Shepherd in kidney failure after his ...

What if feeding your pet meant you had to skip dinner yourself?

For thousands of families, that’s not a hypothetical—it’s a heartbreaking daily decision. And when the bills pile up, surrendering a beloved pet can feel like the only option left.

In this episode, I talk with Stacey LeBaron, founder of PAWSitive Pantry and host of The Community Cats Podcast, about how her team is tackling pet food insecurity and keeping pets in the home...

Did I wait too long? Did I do the right thing? What if I failed them?
If you’ve lost a beloved pet, you’ve probably asked yourself these same painful questions. Grief is hard enough, but guilt can make healing feel impossible.
I’ve been there too. When I had to say goodbye to our 34-year-old rescue horse, Cherokee, I was overwhelmed with guilt, even with decades of rescue experience behind me. If you’ve ever struggled wit...

Think hairballs are just a normal part of life with cats? Think again.
If your cat is coughing up hairballs weekly or even monthly, it’s not just gross—it’s a red flag. Frequent hairballs can point to stress, food allergies, digestive issues, or even chronic illness.
In this episode, I talk with veterinarian Dr. Linda Atkins about what really causes hairballs, when to be concerned, and how to help your cat stay healthy fr...

Is calling your pet your “fur baby” harmless fun or actually harmful to your pet’s well-being?
If you’ve ever wondered whether treating your pet like a child is helping or hurting them, you’re not alone. The truth is, humanizing pets isn’t the issue. Misunderstanding their needs is.
In this episode, I talk with veterinary psychiatrist Dr. Rachel Malamed about what it really means to build a healthy emotional bond with you...

Thinking about getting a dog? Hold that thought.
Too many rescue dog adoptions fail because people fall for a face or a story without understanding what they’re signing up for. Choosing the wrong dog, whether it's a rescue dog or not, can lead to frustration, heartbreak, and sometimes surrender.

In this episode, I talk with Pete Campione about how to avoid the biggest mistakes people make when bringing a dog into thei...

Is your dog getting the right amount of exercise, or are they overdoing it without you realizing?
Whether your pup is high-energy, low-key, or somewhere in between, knowing how to safely meet their physical needs is crucial to keeping them healthy and pain-free. But most pet parents don’t know when to push their dog or when to let them rest.

In this episode, I talk with Dr. Kelly Fishman, a veterinary sports medicine expert, ab...