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PODCAST

Why Do Pets Matter? Hosted by Debra Hamilton, Esq.

Debra Hamilton, Esq.

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.

kids & family pets & animals

All Episodes

40:06

The Hidden Crisis in Veterinary Medicine: Burnout,...

Why Do Pets Matter? Hosted by Debra Hamilton, Esq. ·

2026/10/01

Why do pets matter, and what happens when the people dedicated to caring for them are struggling?In this episode of Why Do Pets Matter?, Deborah Hamilton sits down with Dr. Gershon Alaluf, a retired veterinarian, practicing relief vet, podcaster, and researcher studying burnout in veterinary medicine. Together, they explore the growing pressures facing veterinarians, from the rising cost of care and emotional exhaustion to inadequate mentorship, difficult client conversations, and the challenges of

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37:53

Hope vs. Certainty: Why Pet Disputes Don't Belong in...

Why Do Pets Matter? Hosted by Debra Hamilton, Esq. ·

2026/09/17

From Courtroom to Conversation: What Mediation Gives Pet Owners That Judges Cannot /When Conflict Meets Compassion: Mediation, Pets, and the Power of Being Heard When Your Pet Is in the Middle: Mediation, Conflict, and the Bond That Changes EverythingPets are crucial for our development as people. They teach us compassion, caregiving, and responsibility. They make us want to build better lives—for them and for ourselves. They teach us about companionship and what it truly means to be a good

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42:25

When Love Isn't Enough: Navigating Difficult Pet...

Why Do Pets Matter? Hosted by Debra Hamilton, Esq. ·

2026/09/10

Valerie Bogie, an animal behaviorist and veterinary social worker, joins host Debra Hamilton to explore the realities of living with pets whose behavior doesn't match expectations. Valerie explains how mismatches between what pet owners hoped for and the pet they actually have can trigger a real sense of grief, and walks through how she helps families navigate everything from simple management fixes to harder conversations about rehoming or euthanasia when a pet's suffering or safety risk becomes

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40:07

The intersection of animal welfare and human...

Why Do Pets Matter? Hosted by Debra Hamilton, Esq. ·

2026/05/09

The legal landscape is shifting. Animals are no longer simply property, they're something closer to sentient beings whose welfare demands serious legal consideration.In this episode of "Why Do Pets Matter?", I speak with Mark Momjian, a family law attorney who's been at the forefront of integrating animal law into family law practice and legal education. Mark teaches at Villanova Law School, serves on Pennsylvania's domestic relations advisory council, and has pioneered animal-assisted therapy in

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32:14

Ask Mambo

Why Do Pets Matter? Hosted by Debra Hamilton, Esq. ·

2026/04/24

In this engaging episode of Why Do Pets Matter?, Debra Hamilton welcomed Anthony Cospito and Arlu Gomez, the founders of Ask Mambo, an AI-powered assistant designed specifically for dog owners. Born from their personal journey with their beloved dog Mambo, whose health challenges inspired them to create a resource they wished had existed, Anthony and Arlu shared how their platform is transforming the way pet owners connect with, understand, and care for their dogs.Ask Mambo, which launched in

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39:37

When Environmental Law Meets Animal Law: The Case of...

Why Do Pets Matter? Hosted by Debra Hamilton, Esq. ·

2026/04/10

Welcome to Why Do Pets Matter Podcast where we explore the conflicts, the care, and the connections that define our relationships with animals.I'm Debra Hamilton, and today I'm joined by Dr. Mark Bamberger, an attorney who's carved out one of the most unique niches in animal law. Today, we're diving into something extraordinary: a case that sits at the intersection of environmental law, animal law, and the fight to preserve one of the rarest horse bloodlines on the planet. We're talking about

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33:26

Mediation, Man's Best Friend & Breaking Impasse

Why Do Pets Matter? Hosted by Debra Hamilton, Esq. ·

2026/04/03

Why Do Pets Matter? PodcastEpisode Feature: David A. Hoffman Mediation, Man's Best Friend & Breaking Impasse 🎙️ Podcast Episode Introduction What if the secret to breaking a legal deadlock walked into the room on four legs? Welcome back to Why Do Pets Matter? — the podcast where we explore the profound, complicated, and sometimes hilarious ways animals shape our lives, our relationships, and yes, our legal disputes. I'm Debra Hamilton, and today's guest is someone who has been quietly

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37:54

From Exam Room to Trail Ride: Leadership, Boundaries,...

Why Do Pets Matter? Hosted by Debra Hamilton, Esq. ·

2026/03/19

In this episode of Why Do Pets Matter, I sit down with Stith Keiser, CEO of Blue Heron Consulting, son of a veterinarian, husband to a small animal veterinarian, and lifelong horse-and-dog guy. Stith shares why pets matter to him on a soul-deep level, from the heelers who work cattle with him in Wyoming and sleep in their own sleeping bags, to the horse who helps him reset after a long day, to the shelter dog who quietly helped a struggling family member choose to keep going. We talk about how

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43:53

Living On Purpose (With a Corgi): Belief, Biology,...

Why Do Pets Matter? Hosted by Debra Hamilton, Esq. ·

2026/03/05

In this episode of Why Do Pets Matter, I sit down with leadership coach and Conjunction Leadership founder, Jim Bishop, for a conversation that goes straight to the heart of why we feel stuck, burned out, or stretched too thin. Jim shares how growing up on a farm and now walking with his corgi still helps him feel grounded and unconditionally loved, and how animals have always been his anchor when life feels overwhelming.We explore his powerful framework of beliefs, biology, and behavior, how the

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35:10

Connection Heals: Turning Medicine Into Meaning with...

Why Do Pets Matter? Hosted by Debra Hamilton, Esq. ·

2026/02/19

In this episode of Why Do Pets Matter, I sit down with the incomparable Dr. Adam Christman, Chief Veterinary Officer at dvm360, podcaster, content creator, and proud “pet parent first, veterinarian second.”Adam shares why pets are, in his words, “living, breathing proof that connection heals” and how they turn medicine into meaning for veterinary professionals and families alike. We talk about what it really feels like to be the “other family doctor,” the emotional glue pets create in homes, and

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27:43

Interview with Mindy Dutka - Helping communities in...

Why Do Pets Matter? Hosted by Debra Hamilton, Esq. ·

2026/02/13

Welcome back to "Why Do Pets Matter?" I'm your host, Debra Hamilton, coming to you from a very snowy Morehead City, North Carolina. I'm thrilled to welcome back Mindy Dutka, a passionate dog photographer and storyteller who uses her camera to advocate for the human-animal bond and raise awareness about animal welfare. Since we last spoke in June 2023, Mindy has been incredibly busy documenting life-changing spay-neuter clinics around the world.Today, Mindy shares her recent experience in

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33:09

Being the Person Your Pet Thinks You Are with Dr. Amy...

Why Do Pets Matter? Hosted by Debra Hamilton, Esq. ·

2026/02/05

In this episode of Why Do Pets Matter, I sit down with Dr. Amy Grimm, veterinarian and founder of Daring DVM Coaching, for a heartfelt conversation about burnout, nervous system health, and the human animal bond. Amy shares how our pets literally help regulate our nervous systems, why that sense of calm and belonging matters so much, and how we can bring the same compassion we offer our animals back to ourselves.We talk about perfectionism in veterinary medicine, clients who arrive in survival

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40:01

Mattering Repair and Getting It Right with Josh Vaisman

Why Do Pets Matter? Hosted by Debra Hamilton, Esq. ·

2026/01/22

In this episode of Why Do Pets Matter, I welcome back my dear friend and returning guest, Josh Vaisman, founder of Flourish. Josh and I dive into what it really means to matter in our relationships with both people and pets, and how that feeling of mattering is at the heart of wellbeing for all of us.We talk about the difference between always trying to be right and working together to get it right for each unique pet family. Josh shares powerful insights on collaboration versus compromise,

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38:11

Pets, People, and One Health: Why Our Animals Make Us...

Why Do Pets Matter? Hosted by Debra Hamilton, Esq. ·

2026/01/08

In this episode of Why Do Pets Matter, I welcome back my dear friend and repeat guest, Dr. Michael Blackwell. Michael has worn many hats in veterinary medicine and public health, and now he is leading powerful work through the Program for Pet Health Equity and the One Health Forum.Together, we talk about how families have changed and why most households today are truly “biodiverse families,” made up of both humans and animals. Michael shares why our current systems for housing, healthcare,

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30:30

Raising the Bar for Pet Safety and Community Impact...

Why Do Pets Matter? Hosted by Debra Hamilton, Esq. ·

2025/12/24

In this episode of Why Do Pets Matter, I sit down with my longtime friend and fellow Irish Setter enthusiast, Chris Murphy, the founder and CEO of Lucky Plus Dog. We dive into how he took a simple idea; beautiful, durable collars, and turned it into a mission-driven company that supports rescues, empowers refugee artisans, and helps pet parents keep their animals safer than ever. Chris shares how his partnership with the FI GPS tracker has transformed the way families protect their dogs, why peace

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47:06

Root-Cause Healing and the Soul of Our Pets with Dr....

Why Do Pets Matter? Hosted by Debra Hamilton, Esq. ·

2025/12/10

In this episode of Why Do Pets Matter, I sit down with @drmarlenesiegel, an integrative veterinarian and bio-regulatory medicine practitioner who is deeply committed to finding the root cause of “dis-ease” in our pets. Our conversation goes far beyond symptoms and lab work and into the deeper questions of why we are here, what our pets are really doing in our lives, and how nature itself holds clues to our healing.Marlene shares her belief that we are living in a kind of hologram where animals,

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38:33

Heal the Beasts: A Curious History of Veterinary...

Why Do Pets Matter? Hosted by Debra Hamilton, Esq. ·

2025/11/26

In this episode of Why Do Pets Matter, I sit down with Dr. Philipp Schott, a retired veterinarian from Winnipeg and author of The Accidental Veterinarian and his latest book, Heal the Beasts: A Jaunt Through the Curious History of the Veterinary Arts.We take a fascinating walk through time to explore how humans have cared for animals for thousands of years – from a 12,000 BC puppy buried with its people, to medieval “elfshot” cattle, all the way to modern small animal practice. Dr. Schott and I

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29:06

Unleashing the Future of Pet Care: Trends, Cats, and...

Why Do Pets Matter? Hosted by Debra Hamilton, Esq. ·

2025/11/12

Hey friends! In this episode of Why Do Pets Matter, I sit down with my dear friend Bruce Truman, founder of BLT Technology & Innovation Group, to talk about where pet care is really headed, and what that means for all of us who love animals.We chat about: 🐾 Why pets truly enrich our lives (beyond what the science now proves) 🐱 Why Bruce calls this the “Decade of the Cat” and how vet practices need to prepare 🐶 Where our pets are actually coming from; breeders, shelters, transports, and why

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45:01

Owning Your Energy: How Awareness Transforms Care for...

Why Do Pets Matter? Hosted by Debra Hamilton, Esq. ·

2025/10/29

Hey friends!A new episode of Why Do Pets Matter just dropped, and this one is a heart-opener. I sat down with @drjenniferedwards, a veterinarian and leadership energy coach, to talk about the power of awareness, breath, and boundaries that actually support us. We dig into how our energy shows up in the exam room and at home, why taking responsibility is empowering (not blame!), and simple ways to pause, reset, and communicate with more ease, so pets, clients, and teams all win. If you’ve

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49:15

Ask About the Pet: How a Simple Question Can Change...

Why Do Pets Matter? Hosted by Debra Hamilton, Esq. ·

2025/10/16

On this episode of Why Do Pets Matter, I sat down with my dear friend Dr. Janet Hoy Gerlach, a licensed social worker and the driving force behind Ask About the Pet at the Open Door Veterinary Collective. We talked about how one small question, “Do you have a pet?”, can open the door to empathy, understanding, and better care for people in crisis.Janet shared powerful stories about how pets ground us during difficult times, how asking about them builds trust between providers and clients, and how

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