Episodes

Chicago Wolves’ Courtney Mahoney on Adopt-a-Dog Nights, Community Giving, and Women in Hockey Ops Host Julie Marty Pearson welcomes Courtney Mahoney, Chicago Wolves president of operations, to discuss how she rose from a college intern with no hockey background to overseeing multiple departments by saying yes to new responsibilities across game ops, community work, creative, TV, and merchandise. Courtney shares the Wolves’ long-running commitment to Chicagoland giving—especially their monthl...

Pet Protect and Connect: Using AI to Simplify Pet Adoption for Shelters, Rescues and Adopters Host Julie Marty Pearson welcomes Liz Adams to The Story of My Pet podcast to discuss Liz’s longtime background in animal rescue and her career in healthcare technology and communications, which inspired her to create Pet Protect and Connect. Liz explains how shelters and rescues often lack time and modern tools, and how difficult or inconsistent adoption processes can deter good adopters while stil...

Pawsitive Change Non-Profit: Safer Cleaning and Biosecurity Kits Helping Animal Shelters Fight Outbreaks In this episode of The Story of My Pet, host Julie Marty-Pearson interviews Keri Lestage, Adrian Fulle, and Zach O'Shea, animal lovers working in human health, They discuss Pawsitive Change, a volunteer-driven initiative donating biosecurity kits to U.S. shelters to improve cleanliness, reduce disease spread, and save lives during overcrowding. They discuss how shelters spend enormous time d...

From Shelter Work to Nomad Life: Katherine Lacefield on Rescue, Fundraising, and Ending Judgment in Animal Welfare In this episode of The Story of My Pet podcast, host Julie Marty-Pearson is joined by Katherine Lacefield who shares how early involvement in environmental and animal rights movements led her into shelter work, fostering, and the realities of overcrowding and euthanasia. Now living a highly nomadic life, she explains why she delayed getting pets, then расскаnts how she welcomed a h...

Senior Dogs Deserve Love: Adopting, Caring for, and Advocating for Older Pets with Angela Dinsmoor. Host Julie Marty Pearson welcomes Angela Dinsmoor to discuss senior pets, sharing Julie’s experience caring for her 16-year-old diabetic cat and Angela’s lifelong love of animals and rescue work. Angela explains why she and her husband adopt—not foster—senior dogs, noting their six senior adoptions (nine dogs total) ranging from about 8 to 16 years old, and describing how some seniors are with...

Dogs Have Angels Too: Your Host Julie Marty-Pearson, interviews Sarah Cavallaro on Healing, Storytelling, and Dog Adoption Advocacy In this episode of The Story of My Pet podcast, Sarah shares how she became an animal lover after growing up without pets, including the childhood loss of a rescued kitten and later adopting a puppy, Athena, while in college and bringing her to New York City. Athena’s ongoing bladder issues and their bond became the inspiration for Sarah’s book Dogs Have Angels Too...

Legacy of Ebenezer the Donkey. How One Animal Became a Local Community Legend In this episode of The Story of My Pet podcast, Julie Marty-Pearson interviews Joe Dimino about his lifelong love of animals and the remarkable community bond formed around Ebenezer, a donkey in a roadside pasture near Grandview, Missouri.

Navigating Life with Animals: Insights on Animal Communication with Kristin Hadley. Host Julie Marty Pearson welcomes Kristin Hadley to The Story of My Pet to discuss Kristin’s lifelong love of animals, beginning with her first horse Snowbird, and her path to becoming a professional animal communicator. We also discuss Shelter Stress, and Learning to See Animals for Who They Are.

Cats Kept Him Going: How David Maeda's Cats Shaped His Story. Your host, Julie Marty-Pearson sits down with David Maeda to trace that arc from his first cat, Mr. Max, to a home shaped by bonded pairs, big personalities, and the kind of attachment that turns ordinary days into a shared routine you never want to lose. David adopted Max in college and discovered what “cat people” mean when they talk about connection.

Unleashing Pet Stories: How Unique Dogs Inspired Children's Books with Leia Barrett. Host Julie Marty Pearson welcomes children’s author and rescue advocate Leah, who shares growing up with dogs and later adopting her own unicorn rescue, Layla. They discuss common challenges in rescue adoptions, why quick returns can traumatize animals, and the widely used “3-3-3 rule” describing dogs’ adjustment over time.

How Love Your Feral Felines Is Saving Cats in San Diego County. A Special Podcasthon episode of The Story of My Pet Podcast

Learning Pet Nutrition Science may be easier than you realize. In this episode, I sit down with Holly Baer from Superior Feline to explore the world of homemade pet nutrition. Holly's journey began when her own cats faced serious health challenges—kidney disease, fish allergies, and inflammatory conditions that commercial foods couldn't address. What started as a desperate search for solutions became a mission to help cat parents everywhere take control of their pets' nutrition. From Crisis t...

Have you ever wondered about the profound impact pets can have on our lives when navigating pet loss? In this heartwarming episode, Julie sits down with Amy King, a fellow animal lover and writer, to explore the joys and challenges of pet ownership. Amy shares her journey from childhood fish tanks to adopting rescue dogs with complex needs. We discuss the emotional rollercoaster of caring for pets with health issues and the bittersweet experience of saying goodbye to our furry companions. Key takeaways...

Are you ready for a heartwarming tale that combines the thrill of hockey with the joy of pet adoption? In this episode, Julie sits down with Jason Shaver, the play-by-play announcer for the Chicago Wolves Hockey Team, to discuss their incredible Adopt-A-Dog Program. A Unique Blend of Sports and Animal Welfare Jason shares how the Chicago Wolves have been championing dog adoption for decades, resulting in 1,885 dogs finding forever homes so far. We explore their partnership with...

Have you ever wished you could hold onto a piece of your beloved pet forever? In this heartwarming episode, I sit down with Dave Latorra and Stephanie Ford, the innovative minds behind DNA is Love, a company that's revolutionizing the way we memorialize our furry friends and hold on to the unconditional love for pets. As a scientist with a PhD in molecular biology, Dave brings his expertise to the table, explaining the fascinating process of extracting and preserving DNA from our pets. Stephanie, with her background in hosp...

Are you ready to discover how rescued dogs are transforming the lives of veterans and first responders? In this eye-opening episode, I welcome back Connor Long, Operations Manager at Marley's Mutts Dog Rescue, to discuss their groundbreaking new program for veterans, Troops N Tails. Connor shares his personal journey with equine therapy and how it inspired this innovative initiative. We explore how Troops and Tails bridges the gap between animal-assisted therapy and mental health support for ve...

Shark Tank Success: Frame Your Feline's Journey to Fame Brian and Christina, founders of Frame Your Feline, return to the podcast to share their journey from creating innovative cat furniture to landing a spot on Shark Tank. • Frame Your Feline offers wall-mounted frames that cats naturally jump into, becoming "living measterpieces" • Traditional cat furniture takes up floor space and often looks unattractive in homes • Their frames provide cats with vertical space while maintaining home aesthetics • Only 100 businesses out of 50,000 applications make it onto Shark Tank episodes • Both founders actively support cat rescue efforts through fostering and fundraising • The Shark Tank episode featuring Frame Your Feline airs April 18th at 8pm on ABC Check out their Shark Tank episode airing April 18th at 8pm on ABC or streaming on Hulu the next day. Follow Frame Your Feline on social media and visit their website to see their products in action!

Are you passionate about animal welfare and looking to make a difference in your community? In this episode, I sit down with Melissa Brunson from Marley's Mutts Dog Rescue for an enlightening update on the state of animal rescue in Kern County, California. Our conversation quickly reveals both hope and heartbreak in today's animal welfare landscape. Southern California shelters remain in crisis – Kern County still faces a staggering 40% euthanasia rate, with happy, healthy dogs dying simply because space runs out. Yet amid these sobering realities, innovative solutions are emerging. The groundbreaking Kern Safe coalition has united former competitors to tackle overpopulation collectively. If you want to help animal rescue, consider donating, even $5 monthly makes a difference. Every action matters in this fight to save lives.

Send us a text Welcome back to the Story of My Pet Podcast! After a brief hiatus, I'm thrilled to return with a fresh season filled with heartwarming pet stories and spotlights on remarkable animal organizations. As your host, Julie Marty-Pearson, I'm eager to share how this podcast has not only grown but also profoundly impacted my own life and the lives of countless animals. Over the past three years, this podcast has evolved from sharing personal pet anecdotes to becoming a platform for anima...

Hear the inspiring story of a blind golden retriever turned therapy dog from guest, Joanne George. And the healing power of CBD for pets, how it helps animals with anxiety, injury, recovery, pain and inflammation.

Send us a Text Message. Join us on a captivating journey with John Garstang, a human-dog relationship coach whose life is a testament to the transformative power of the bond between humans and their canine friends. From the bustling streets of London to the sun-drenched Greek island of Rhodes, John's story unfolds, revealing his remarkable transition from daycare manager to a beacon of hope for shelter dogs in Zambia. As we navigate through his adventures, we uncover the essence of responsible p...

Send us a Text Message. There's something magical about lacing up your sneakers, clipping on a leash, and hitting the pavement with your furry best friend by your side. This episode is not just about the pride of crossing a 5K finish line. It's about the profound shift that occurs within us when grief catalyzes a journey toward better mental and physical health for you and your pet. Our pets truly are our biggest and best supporters. Joining your host, Julie Marty-Pearson, is guest Nita Sweeney,...

Send us a Text Message. Join me, Julie Marty Pearson, as I cozy up with a heart full of gratitude and a treasure trove of tales to celebrate the second anniversary of The Story of My Pet podcast. I take you behind the scenes of my own adventures in animal rescue, revealing the joys and challenges of volunteering, fostering, and spreading the word on pet adoption and spay/neuter initiatives. With each narrative, we've woven a tapestry of love and advocacy for our four-legged friends, and now, I'm...

Taking care of our pets is something most pet parents take great pride in; however, we don’t always plan for the “what if’s”. Thinking about what would happen to our pets if we were no longer able to care for them is SO important. Yet, no one wants to think about death and dying, but if something happened to you and you were in the hospital or worse, who will care for your pets? I dive into this topic with my friend, fellow podcaster, and Fur Mom Rebecca Johnson.