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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

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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41:20

My Balto with Dr. Robert Parkins: Community-Powered...

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

2025/10/02

Watch this episode of Why Do Pets Matter with Dr. Robert Parkins, DVM, the veterinarian behind My Balto. We talk about real solutions that help families afford care without turning vet visits into crisis decisions. Dr. Parkins shares how My Balto lets clinics build their own angel funds, use safe community fundraising, and even support preventive care so pets stay healthy and at home. We also chat about creative ideas that bring neighbors together to help pets in need and how the program is

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41:55

Opening Doors: Breaking Down Financial Barriers in...

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

2025/09/19

I sat down with Aimee St. Arnaud from Open Door Veterinary Collective to talk about real-world ways we can keep pets with their families, without turning vet visits into battles about money. We dig into transparent communication, “financial triage,” pay-over-time options that actually work for clinics, and how small shifts (like normalizing the money conversation and inviting clients into the care plan) can prevent surrender and crisis decisions. We also touch on Open Door’s tools for teams and pet

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35:33

The Weight They Carry: Mental Health, Vet Med, and...

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

2025/09/06

Listen to this episode of Why Do Pets Matter with filmmaker Grace Galletti, creator of the documentary The Weight They Carry. We talk candidly about the mental health challenges facing veterinarians and their teams, the myths that fuel misunderstanding, and how pet parents and practices can support each other with more empathy, transparency, and care.Grace shares why she set out to tell this story, what she learned while filming inside busy clinics, and how we can open healthier conversations

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38:37

Why Pets Make Us More Human: A Conversation on...

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

2025/08/28

Listen to this episode of Why Do Pets Matter for an inspiring conversation with Dr. Aubrey Fine, Professor Emeritus at California State Polytechnic University and an internationally recognized pioneer in animal-assisted therapy. Dr. Fine takes us on his journey from growing up in a pet-free home to becoming one of the foremost advocates for the human-animal bond, a path that began with an unexpected friendship with a gerbil named Sasha.In this heartfelt discussion, Dr. Fine shares the therapeutic

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40:25

Pets as Family: Love, Loss, and the Laws Catching Up...

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

2025/08/08

This week on Why Do Pets Matter, I’m joined once again by the incredible Maribeth Decker for a conversation straight from the heart. We’re talking about a groundbreaking legal case that recognizes pets as immediate family, why our animals inspire us to be the people they think we are, and how to navigate the toughest moments with love and compassion.From celebrating the bonds we share to making difficult end-of-life decisions, this episode is a reminder that pets are never “just property”, they are

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49:46

From Litigation to Collaboration: Transforming Animal...

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

2025/07/17

In this episode of Why Do Pets Matter, I talk with industrial organizational psychologist Taeler Hammond about the growing connection between animal law, veterinary conflict, and the human-animal bond.We explore why treating pets as property in court often falls short, and how empathy and communication can lead to better outcomes for everyone involved. Taeler shares personal stories that show how small moments can turn into big conflicts—or real solutions—depending on how we respond. We also talk

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46:18

Revolutionary Pet Care with Dr. Jeff Grognet

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

2025/07/03

Join us for a groundbreaking conversation with Dr. Jeff Grognet, a veterinarian who's challenging the status quo of modern pet care. In this episode, Dr. Grognet shares his journey from conventional practice to holistic veterinary medicine, offering eye-opening insights that could transform how you think about your pet's health.Dr. Grognet's mission extends beyond individual pet care—he's working to educate both veterinarians and pet owners about the benefits of individualized, holistic approaches

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33:37

Creating Mentally Healthy Veterinary Workplaces With...

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

2025/06/19

On this episode of Why Do Pets Matter, I’m joined by the insightful Terri Stockdreher, LCSW, MPH — a trauma-informed therapist and fellow NAMV Blueprint advisor — for a powerful conversation about mental health in the veterinary field.Terri specializes in helping high-achieving veterinary and healthcare professionals who are burned out, emotionally exhausted, and struggling to keep up the appearance that everything is “fine.” Together, we discuss the deep emotional connections we have with animals,

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170 results

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