Every Pawprint! Every Story!

A Beloved Labrador Changes One Life Forever

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2590104/fan_mail/new] A dog can change your entire life and then break your heart on the way out. I sit down with John in Seattle to trace that full arc, from the goofy, everyday moments of raising a young English Labrador named James to the deeper story behind his full name: James Charles, a quiet tribute to Charlie, the Labrador John lost after 12 years together.  We talk about how James came into the family only after a year and a half of healing, and why “ready” looks different for everyone after pet loss. John shares what he learned from doing the work up front: researching breeders, focusing on temperament and health, and recognizing that rare moment when a puppy seems to pick you. Along the way, we swap the kind of real-life dog stories every owner knows, from bathroom quirks to the relief of a puppy who simply is not that destructive.  Then we go back to Charlie. John describes bringing him home during grad school, learning dog ownership on the fly, and eventually bringing Charlie into a special education classroom as a beloved classroom dog. We also get honest about the hard part: hemangiosarcoma, an emergency splenectomy, the agony of waiting for biopsy results, and the overwhelming menu of cancer treatment decisions, including chemotherapy options and quality-of-life tradeoffs. The conversation stays grounded in what matters most: comfort, dignity, enrichment through “search and sniff” games, and the honor of being there through the very end, including at-home euthanasia.  If you’re navigating pet grief, dog cancer, euthanasia decisions, or the question of when to adopt again, you’re not alone. Subscribe, share this with someone who misses a pet today, leave a review, and tell us this: what helps you keep their love close? 1. Purchase the Book [https://pawpads.pet/pawprints] that inspired the Podcast 2. Want to share your pets story on a future podcast?   1. Send us a message: SUBSCRIBE [https://pawpads.pet/sign-up-for-book-release] 3. All new, the first ever Pet Journal - start logging your memories with your Pet 1. Click -> Pet Journal [https://paw-pads-240ecf88.base44.app/]

Three Dogs Who Shaped A Family And A Writer

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2590104/fan_mail/new] A rescue dog who arrives broken, a cattle dog genius who never stops working, and a black lab who turns every day into a reason to play. That’s where our conversation with Angie begins, and it quickly becomes something bigger: a clear-eyed look at why the love we build with pets can reshape an entire life. We talk about Indy, Angie’s black lab named after Indiana Jones, and how she became part of the family after being unable to compete as a show dog. Then we zoom into Nyah, an Australian cattle dog with a mind that seems almost human: opening doors, solving puzzles instantly, launching for Frisbees, and shadowing her people like a true Velcro dog. If you’ve ever lived with a high-drive working breed, you’ll recognize the mix of awe, laughter, and exhaustion. From there, the story turns to pet loss and pet bereavement in the most honest way: Ozzy’s rescue and rehabilitation, his sudden passing after what seems like a stroke or heart event, and the tender memory of a little girl whispering into an old dog’s ear. Angie also shares Nyah’s rapid decline, the medical unknowns, and the moment the vet makes it clear she’s dying. We talk about the hard choice of euthanasia, the guilt that can follow, and the reminder many of us need: grief is real, grief is normal, and grief is not linear. We end on something hopeful: Angie’s children’s book series, The Adventures of Liv and Indy: You Make the Call, a nine-book choose-your-own-adventure style collection where Indy helps solve mysteries and other beloved dogs live on as characters.  Click the following link to find the book series -> Liv and Indy [https://www.amazon.com/Liv-Indy-Anthology-Books-Make/dp/B0FT3LBQGQ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1NNW8MQLA2JK7&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ddz4PljbznZp3giDnJbJO-Wbs7BixWDfC3Sxei8aYi2yFqsXtOOfVv-j26ddB8rTFvcpqO4KHJACkrAXt3WrgA7AGzrzn2qsiorS2dsjJEIhXhXtKwXg2sSVq4sORPIRHtUnWe9NwADJA1y5Z9j8fLnZr_dgXJpaBJsmrc1BcqMxF10cpUEUW4_3rCiWk5PvNjEWWP2SVEOqwNEpCi393l2Zo4Ce1jpZrOlgqqIAzEE.EZUTuyC49FcfQkfOXnUPA4FVzNY7lhXkLdtGitxGa08&dib_tag=se&keywords=liv+and+indy&qid=1778675807&s=books&sprefix=liv+and+indy%2Cstripbooks%2C161&sr=1-1] If this episode helps you feel less alone, subscribe, share it with a fellow pet lover, and leave a review so more people can find this kind of support. 1. Purchase the Book [https://pawpads.pet/pawprints] that inspired the Podcast 2. Want to share your pets story on a future podcast?   1. Send us a message: SUBSCRIBE [https://pawpads.pet/sign-up-for-book-release] 3. All new, the first ever Pet Journal - start logging your memories with your Pet 1. Click -> Pet Journal [https://paw-pads-240ecf88.base44.app/]

When Pet Loss Hits Like A Landslide

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2590104/fan_mail/new] Pet loss can knock you flat, and what hurts most isn’t only the goodbye, it’s how quiet the world can get afterward. I sit down with Koryn in Toronto to talk about the love that rescue animals bring, the trauma they can carry, and the kind of grief that follows when they’re gone. Koryn introduces her current “furkids” Lenny, an 85-pound German Shepherd Australian Kelpie mix with a sweet, chaotic spirit, and Zelda, a tiny Turkish Angora cat who runs her day like a sundial. Then we go deeper into Georgia’s story, a Husky Shepherd Collie rescue who survived abuse, took her time choosing trust, and eventually became the heartbeat behind Koryn's work. We unpack what it really looks like to help a shutdown rescue dog settle in, why small moments can become lifelong memories, and how a pet can inspire a complete career shift, including the creation of Urban Dog Walks. We also name what so many people feel but don’t have words for: anticipatory grief, caregiver fatigue, and the pressure of sudden end-of-life decisions. Koryn shares how Georgia’s emergency loss revealed a painful gap in pet bereavement support, and how that experience led her to build The Parted Paw, a pet loss grief and bereavement support company so no one has to feel alone. If you’re coping with an aging pet, grieving a dog or cat, or searching for real pet loss support, you’ll leave with language, validation, and practical perspective. To learn more about Koryn's work check out her website -> The Parted Paw [https://www.thepartedpaw.com/]  If this conversation helps, subscribe for more stories, share it with a friend who’s hurting, and leave a review so more pet parents can find this community. 1. Purchase the Book [https://pawpads.pet/pawprints] that inspired the Podcast 2. Want to share your pets story on a future podcast?   1. Send us a message: SUBSCRIBE [https://pawpads.pet/sign-up-for-book-release] 3. All new, the first ever Pet Journal - start logging your memories with your Pet 1. Click -> Pet Journal [https://paw-pads-240ecf88.base44.app/]

Cat Rescue Stories And A Family’s Fresh Dog Grief

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2590104/fan_mail/new] Your pets don’t just live in your home. They live in your calendar, your nervous system, and the tiny rituals that shape a day. Dan sits down with Jill in Dover, Delaware to talk about a life filled with rescued cats, surprise “drive-bys” on camera, and the kind of pet bond that feels funny and ordinary right up until it becomes sacred. We swap stories about Noodlebean the dilute calico content-creation sidekick, Mittens the carport kitten turned troublemaker, Ming the unmistakable Scottish fold, and Salem the “grandkitty” who proves how fast an adoption can become a best-friend situation. Jill also shares practical, lived experience from a busy multi-cat household, including what helps when cats compete for dominance and why consistency matters when you’re trying to reduce stress. Then the conversation turns. Jill opens up about losing Adora, a pit bull lab mix, after an advanced lymphoma diagnosis. We talk through the moment the lymph nodes didn’t feel right, the realities of dog cancer treatment costs, what steroid treatment can and can’t do, and how a family makes end-of-life decisions before suffering takes over. There’s grief here, but there’s also clarity: keep talking about your pet, build a memorial shelf, use journaling for kids, and let the love stay visible. If you’re navigating pet loss, pet grief, or anticipatory grief, this one will meet you where you are. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs it, and leave a review so more pet parents can find these stories. 1. Purchase the Book [https://pawpads.pet/pawprints] that inspired the Podcast 2. Want to share your pets story on a future podcast?   1. Send us a message: SUBSCRIBE [https://pawpads.pet/sign-up-for-book-release] 3. All new, the first ever Pet Journal - start logging your memories with your Pet 1. Click -> Pet Journal [https://paw-pads-240ecf88.base44.app/]

From Obedience Trials To Film Sets With A Golden Retriever Pack

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2590104/fan_mail/new] Eight dogs at once sounds impossible until you hear how it happens. Tina Frausto joins me to tell the story of building a real “pack” over years of rescue, breeder dogs, and competitive training, and what that daily life teaches you about leadership, routines, and the weird little quirks that make each dog feel like a full person in fur. If you’ve ever wondered how obedience training actually works in the real world, Tina breaks it down in plain language, from positive reinforcement to the way a group of dogs naturally sets boundaries. Then things get wild in the best way. A call from an animal wrangler pulls Tina and her golden retriever into the film industry, where hand signals become a secret weapon on set. We talk about why silent cues matter for commercials and movies, what it’s like watching a production crew work, and how a dog can become the “star” that everyone recognizes before the handler does. It’s a fun reminder that dog sports skills can lead to unexpected adventures. But this conversation also goes where pet owners live when the house gets quiet. Tina shares the recent loss of Carson and the painful reality that even the best plan for a calm goodbye can change fast. She also opens up about losing Whiskey, her heart dog, suddenly and without warning, and what it took to make peace with a grief that doesn’t follow logic. If you’re moving through pet loss, pet grief, or anticipatory grief right now, you’ll hear language that makes space for the love and the mess of it. Subscribe for more stories of love and loss, share this with someone who misses a pet, and leave a review so more grieving pet parents can find us. 1. Purchase the Book [https://pawpads.pet/pawprints] that inspired the Podcast 2. Want to share your pets story on a future podcast?   1. Send us a message: SUBSCRIBE [https://pawpads.pet/sign-up-for-book-release] 3. All new, the first ever Pet Journal - start logging your memories with your Pet 1. Click -> Pet Journal [https://paw-pads-240ecf88.base44.app/]