Pet tech is exploding, and a lot of it looks amazing right up until you’re the one charging it, cleaning it, troubleshooting it, and regretting the money you spent.

In this episode, AI and tech consultant Debbie Richards breaks down the simplest way to decide if a pet gadget is actually worth it for your home, your budget, and your pet’s personality. We talk about the core questions to ask before you buy, what “set it and forget it” should really mean, and why the best tech is the kind that reduces stress instead of creating more. You’ll also hear a few standout trends from CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas, including preventative health tools, safer pet doors, and a smart fountain designed to make cleaning less of a part-time job.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL DISCOVER:

• The decision filters that keep you from buying tech that becomes another chore
• How to spot when a gadget solves a real problem vs creating a new one
• What to check before you buy, so returns and subscriptions don’t surprise you

CONNECT WITH DEBBIE
Website: https://cre8iveii.com/

OTHER LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Facial recognition cat feeder: https://cheerble.com/

Rescue Retriever and the Rescue Retriever FireTag: https://rescueretriever.com

Petkit Water Fountain: https://petkit.com

Satellai Health and GPS Collar: https://satellai.com

Pawport Dog Doors: https://pawport.com

Support the show

Expert Pet Advice for busy pet parents!

Love the show? Leave a 5-star review so more pet parents can find us, and share this episode with someone who needs it.

Follow:🌍Official Site |📱Facebook |📺YouTube | 🍏 Apple |🎵Spotify

Pet care gets crazy when you're facing behavior issues, rising costs, and confusing pet advice. You need real pet parenting solutions, pet behavior help, and pet budgeting tips you can use every day.

Each week you'll hear pet parenting advice plus expert guidance on dog and cat behavior, dog training, nutrition, stress-free vet visits, and routines that make life easier. We'll help you manage puppy biting, cat aggression, separation anxiety and cat anxiety, emergency vet decisions, and show you how to stay ahead of issues that create stress for pets and their pet parents.

No fluff, no guilt, just practical pet care advice and pet cost hacks to save money, avoid pet parent guilt, and enjoy life with pets.

Follow to stop chasing your tail and start enjoying your pets again.

Contact: Amy@petparenthotline.com

©Ⓟ 2025 Amy Castro

Are you caring for aging parents with pets, or aging with a pet yourself, and hoping it’ll all “work out” when something changes? Because the biggest risk usually isn’t age, it’s waiting for a fall, a hospitalization, or memory issues to force a last-minute pet care scramble.

In this episode, Amy Castro is joined by Kathi Miracle of Silver Tsunami Aging Info to talk about the pet care plan families avoid, the red flags that a pet’s care is slipping, and why “my family will take the pet” isn’t a plan unless it’s written down and realistic, especially when assisted living or memory care enters the picture.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL DISCOVER:

• What to decide now, at any age, so your pet doesn’t become a last-minute “figure it out” problem later
• The subtle red flags that a pet is starting to lose care quality, even when the person says everything’s fine
• Why “we’ll bring the pet to assisted living” often falls apart fast, and what families need to face before it does
• If you’re a senior with a pet, how to protect your independence while still protecting your pet’s safety
• Why asking for support early is not giving up, it’s the move that keeps you and your pet together longer

CONNECT WITH KATHI MIRACLE
WEBSITE | mysilversunami.com

OTHER RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Pet Parent Hotline Episode on Pet Trusts: "What Happens to Your Pet if You Don't Make It Home?"

Support the show

Expert Pet Advice for busy pet parents!

Love the show? Leave a 5-star review so more pet parents can find us, and share this episode with someone who needs it.

Follow:🌍Official Site |📱Facebook |📺YouTube | 🍏 Apple |🎵Spotify

Pet care gets crazy when you're facing behavior issues, rising costs, and confusing pet advice. You need real pet parenting solutions, pet behavior help, and pet budgeting tips you can use every day.

Each week you'll hear pet parenting advice plus expert guidance on dog and cat behavior, dog training, nutrition, stress-free vet visits, and routines that make life easier. We'll help you manage puppy biting, cat aggression, separation anxiety and cat anxiety, emergency vet decisions, and show you how to stay ahead of issues that create stress for pets and their pet parents.

No fluff, no guilt, just practical pet care advice and pet cost hacks to save money, avoid pet parent guilt, and enjoy life with pets.

Follow to stop chasing your tail and start enjoying your pets again.

Contact: Amy@petparenthotline.com

©Ⓟ 2025 Amy Castro

Do pets actually grieve, or are they reacting to routine changes and stress in ways we don’t recognize? And how much of what we label as “grief” is really our own emotion spilling over into the way we interpret their behavior?

In this episode, Amy talks with Kate LaSalla, a pet behavior consultant, companion animal end-of-life death doula, and certified pet loss and grief companion, about what pet grief can look like, what might just be pet care routine disruption, and what to do when your dog or cat’s behavior changes after a loss.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL DISCOVER:

• The most common behavior changes pets show after a loss, and why the relationship matters
• How human grief and anger can affect a surviving pet’s anxiety and fearfulness
• When “normal” changes become a medical concern, and when to loop in your vet
• Why “animals understand death, not disappearance,” and what that means for households with multiple pets
• What to do if you’re grieving too, but still need to support your pet’s routines and provide good pet care

CONNECT WITH KATE LASALLA
WEBSITE | Rescued By Training

OTHER LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Rescued By Training blog post on pets and grieving
Advanced care directive
“When is it time to say goodbye?” download
And be sure to check out all the other fantastic posts and resources on Kate's page!

Questions or a story you want to share? Leave a voicemail at Petparenthotline.com or join the Pet Parent Hotline Insiders Group.

Support the show

Expert Pet Advice for busy pet parents!

Love the show? Leave a 5-star review so more pet parents can find us, and share this episode with someone who needs it.

Follow:🌍Official Site |📱Facebook |📺YouTube | 🍏 Apple |🎵Spotify

Pet care gets crazy when you're facing behavior issues, rising costs, and confusing pet advice. You need real pet parenting solutions, pet behavior help, and pet budgeting tips you can use every day.

Each week you'll hear pet parenting advice plus expert guidance on dog and cat behavior, dog training, nutrition, stress-free vet visits, and routines that make life easier. We'll help you manage puppy biting, cat aggression, separation anxiety and cat anxiety, emergency vet decisions, and show you how to stay ahead of issues that create stress for pets and their pet parents.

No fluff, no guilt, just practical pet care advice and pet cost hacks to save money, avoid pet parent guilt, and enjoy life with pets.

Follow to stop chasing your tail and start enjoying your pets again.

Contact: Amy@petparenthotline.com

©Ⓟ 2025 Amy Castro

Ever feel like you’re doing a ton for your pets, but nothing is actually getting easier?

If you’re stuck repeating the same corrections, overcomplicating your routines, or carrying a low-grade stress cloud all day, this quick fix is for you. In this January Pet Parent Power-Up, I’m sharing the one question I use to snap out of autopilot and stop pouring time and energy into the wrong things: “Is this the best place to put my time and energy right now?” It’s simple, but it helps you spot what’s not working, choose a better option, and start today, so you feel relief fast.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL DISCOVER:

• How to spot “time leaks” in behavior battles, routines, and worry spirals
• The 3-step reset that keeps you from overthinking the fix
• How to get a quick win today, even if you’re short on time

Send me your Quick Fix question, email me, or leave a voicemail on the website, and I might use it in a future episode.

OTHER RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Budgeting episode with Joe Oakley: https://www.petparenthotline.com/pet-bills-keep-surprising-you-heres-how-to-plan/

Support the show

Expert Pet Advice for busy pet parents!

Love the show? Leave a 5-star review so more pet parents can find us, and share this episode with someone who needs it.

Follow:🌍Official Site |📱Facebook |📺YouTube | 🍏 Apple |🎵Spotify

Pet care gets crazy when you're facing behavior issues, rising costs, and confusing pet advice. You need real pet parenting solutions, pet behavior help, and pet budgeting tips you can use every day.

Each week you'll hear pet parenting advice plus expert guidance on dog and cat behavior, dog training, nutrition, stress-free vet visits, and routines that make life easier. We'll help you manage puppy biting, cat aggression, separation anxiety and cat anxiety, emergency vet decisions, and show you how to stay ahead of issues that create stress for pets and their pet parents.

No fluff, no guilt, just practical pet care advice and pet cost hacks to save money, avoid pet parent guilt, and enjoy life with pets.

Follow to stop chasing your tail and start enjoying your pets again.

Contact: Amy@petparenthotline.com

©Ⓟ 2025 Amy Castro

Ever hit January 10 and realize your pet routine resolution is already sliding? If you’ve promised yourself you'll focus on pet care - you’ll walk your dog more, train your cat, brush your pet’s teeth, or finally get consistent, and then real life blows it up, this episode is your reset. It’s not laziness, it’s a plan that was never realistic for your actual mornings.

In this solo New Year kickoff episode of The Pet Parent Hotline, I’m sharing what 15 years in rescue taught me about why pet care and pet parenting goals fall apart, and how to build a tiny Pet Plan that survives messy mornings, tired evenings, and a barking dog when you cannot find the leash. You’ll leave with one repeatable action you can start this week, plus a 60-second reset you can do tonight to make tomorrow easier.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL DISCOVER:

• Why “walk more” and “be consistent” fail in real life, and what to do instead
• How to shrink any pet goal into something you will actually repeat
• How to anchor your habit, remove friction, and use a Plan B without quitting
  Your next step: send me your one-sentence Pet Plan. Email, DM, or leave a voicemail at petparenthotline.com.

CONNECT WITH ME - WEBSITE | petparenthotline.com

OTHER RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Don’t miss our monthly Pet Parent Power-Up bonus episode dropping Wednesday, January 7, on the one question you can ask yourself to protect your time and energy, and choose what’s actually worth your effort.

Your next step: send me your one-sentence Pet Plan. Email, DM, or leave a voicemail at petparenthotline.com.

Support the show

Expert Pet Advice for busy pet parents!

Love the show? Leave a 5-star review so more pet parents can find us, and share this episode with someone who needs it.

Follow:🌍Official Site |📱Facebook |📺YouTube | 🍏 Apple |🎵Spotify

Pet care gets crazy when you're facing behavior issues, rising costs, and confusing pet advice. You need real pet parenting solutions, pet behavior help, and pet budgeting tips you can use every day.

Each week you'll hear pet parenting advice plus expert guidance on dog and cat behavior, dog training, nutrition, stress-free vet visits, and routines that make life easier. We'll help you manage puppy biting, cat aggression, separation anxiety and cat anxiety, emergency vet decisions, and show you how to stay ahead of issues that create stress for pets and their pet parents.

No fluff, no guilt, just practical pet care advice and pet cost hacks to save money, avoid pet parent guilt, and enjoy life with pets.

Follow to stop chasing your tail and start enjoying your pets again.

Contact: Amy@petparenthotline.com

©Ⓟ 2025 Amy Castro

Want a pet friendly home that still looks good, feels organized, and is comfortable to live in? In this episode, award-winning designer Pamela O’Brien shares practical home design tips for living with pets, without your space feeling taken over by fur, clutter, or constant wear and tear.

You’ll hear simple, real-life upgrades, from pet proof flooring and durable fabrics to entryway organization, feeding station setups, and storage ideas that actually stick. This is for pet parents who want a home they feel good inviting people into, while keeping pets part of the family.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL LEARN:
• Which fabrics and flooring hold up best in real homes with pets
• How to organize entryways and feeding areas so clutter doesn’t take over
• Simple design upgrades that protect your furniture, rugs, and sanity

If you’ve ever hesitated to invite people over because of fur, mess, or wear and tear, this episode will help you feel more confident in your home without pushing your pets out of the picture.

CONNECT WITH PAMELA O’BRIEN
Website | PamelaHopeDesigns.com

Support the show

Expert Pet Advice for busy pet parents!

Love the show? Leave a 5-star review so more pet parents can find us, and share this episode with someone who needs it.

Follow:🌍Official Site |📱Facebook |📺YouTube | 🍏 Apple |🎵Spotify

Pet care gets crazy when you're facing behavior issues, rising costs, and confusing pet advice. You need real pet parenting solutions, pet behavior help, and pet budgeting tips you can use every day.

Each week you'll hear pet parenting advice plus expert guidance on dog and cat behavior, dog training, nutrition, stress-free vet visits, and routines that make life easier. We'll help you manage puppy biting, cat aggression, separation anxiety and cat anxiety, emergency vet decisions, and show you how to stay ahead of issues that create stress for pets and their pet parents.

No fluff, no guilt, just practical pet care advice and pet cost hacks to save money, avoid pet parent guilt, and enjoy life with pets.

Follow to stop chasing your tail and start enjoying your pets again.

Contact: Amy@petparenthotline.com

©Ⓟ 2025 Amy Castro

Stop Buying Useless Pet Care Supplies. Here’s What You Actually Need. Most “must-have" pet care supply lists focus on gimmicks and generic basics, missing the pet-care essentials that actually make daily life easier and safer.

You probably have the basics for pet care, like bowls and a bed, but in this episode, Amy Castro and Bev Brooks share 10 rescue-tested pet essentials they can’t live without, five dog essentials and five cat essentials, plus a few bonus items pulled from decades of real-world rescue and pet parenting. These are the same practical pet care supplies Amy recommends to adopters to help pets succeed once they’re home.

These aren’t trendy pet care products or influencer favorites. They’re simple tools that support safety, behavior, and day-to-day management, the kind of stuff you don’t think about until you really need it.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL DISCOVER:

• The overlooked pet supplies that help you handle messes, stress, and unexpected situations
• Why “boring” essentials often matter more than expensive gear
• How the right setup prevents small issues from becoming bigger problems
• Which pet supplies are worth buying, and which ones are not

Whether you’re shopping for a last-minute gift, building a new pet checklist, or realizing your current setup has gaps, the pet advice in this episode will help you stop wasting money on the wrong stuff.

If this episode made you think, “oh wow, I don’t have that,” please share it with one pet parent who might be buying all the wrong things.

PS- we don't name a bunch of specific brands in this episode, but we do mention the FURBO Pet Camera/Pet Nanny. Get more info about the Furbo Pet Camera's mentioned in the show! (note- if you buy a Furbo product from this link, it helps support the show!)

Support the show

Expert Pet Advice for busy pet parents!

Love the show? Leave a 5-star review so more pet parents can find us, and share this episode with someone who needs it.

Follow:🌍Official Site |📱Facebook |📺YouTube | 🍏 Apple |🎵Spotify

Pet care gets crazy when you're facing behavior issues, rising costs, and confusing pet advice. You need real pet parenting solutions, pet behavior help, and pet budgeting tips you can use every day.

Each week you'll hear pet parenting advice plus expert guidance on dog and cat behavior, dog training, nutrition, stress-free vet visits, and routines that make life easier. We'll help you manage puppy biting, cat aggression, separation anxiety and cat anxiety, emergency vet decisions, and show you how to stay ahead of issues that create stress for pets and their pet parents.

No fluff, no guilt, just practical pet care advice and pet cost hacks to save money, avoid pet parent guilt, and enjoy life with pets.

Follow to stop chasing your tail and start enjoying your pets again.

Contact: Amy@petparenthotline.com

©Ⓟ 2025 Amy Castro

Why do the holidays feel so much heavier when you’ve lost a pet, or when you know a goodbye is coming soon?
If you’re finding yourself dreading traditions, avoiding gatherings, or feeling pressure to “hold it together,” this episode is for you.

Holiday pet grief can show up in unexpected ways, especially during a first holiday without your pet or when you’re living in that anticipatory space of knowing time with your pet is limited. In this conversation, licensed clinical social worker and author Nancy Gordon helps make sense of why this season hurts more and how to move through it with compassion instead of pressure.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL DISCOVER:

If you’re grieving a pet you’ve already lost:
• Why holidays intensify pet grief, even when you think you’re coping just fine
• How to prepare emotionally for gatherings so you’re not blindsided by questions or comments
• Ways to honor your pet without forcing traditions or “last moments” to be perfect

If you’re anticipating the loss of a pet:
• What anticipatory grief looks like and why it can quietly take over the season
• How to stay present with your pet and yourself without burning out emotionally

This episode is dedicated to Rosy, Debbie’s beloved dog, and to every pet parent navigating the holidays with a missing piece of their heart.

CONNECT WITH NANCY GORDON
Email: nancygordon7practices@gmail.com

Phone: (858) 952-0936

Petworks.com to schedule a session with Nancy: Discounted first session.

Website: growbeyondgrief.com

Instagram devoted to pet loss and grief: @nancy.gordon.global

OTHER LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Listen to Nancy's first appearance on the show in 2023: "The Grief Before Goodbye: Preparing For Your Pet's Final Days"

Join us in The Pet Parent Hotline Insiders

Support the show

Expert Pet Advice for busy pet parents!

Love the show? Leave a 5-star review so more pet parents can find us, and share this episode with someone who needs it.

Follow:🌍Official Site |📱Facebook |📺YouTube | 🍏 Apple |🎵Spotify

Pet care gets crazy when you're facing behavior issues, rising costs, and confusing pet advice. You need real pet parenting solutions, pet behavior help, and pet budgeting tips you can use every day.

Each week you'll hear pet parenting advice plus expert guidance on dog and cat behavior, dog training, nutrition, stress-free vet visits, and routines that make life easier. We'll help you manage puppy biting, cat aggression, separation anxiety and cat anxiety, emergency vet decisions, and show you how to stay ahead of issues that create stress for pets and their pet parents.

No fluff, no guilt, just practical pet care advice and pet cost hacks to save money, avoid pet parent guilt, and enjoy life with pets.

Follow to stop chasing your tail and start enjoying your pets again.

Contact: Amy@petparenthotline.com

©Ⓟ 2025 Amy Castro