The Pet Parent Hotline | Calm The Chaos, Cut The Costs, and Love Life With Your Pets Again
If you’re a busy pet parent whose dog won’t stop barking, your cat is peeing everywhere, your house feels out of control, and you’re exhausted from wasting time and money trying everything to fix it, this show is for you.
You thought a pet would make life better, not drain your bank account, wreck your sleep, and turn your home into a mess you’re embarrassed to let anyone see. You’ve paid for trainers, followed your vet’s advice, and still find yourself up at 2 a.m. scrolling for answers. Most pet podcasts assume you have unlimited time, unlimited money, and a perfectly behaved pet. This one doesn’t.
I’m your host, Amy Castro, a longtime animal rescuer and trusted advisor to thousands of pet parents. After fostering more than 4,000 animals, I’ve learned this, you’re not a bad pet parent. You just haven’t gotten advice that fits real life.
Each week, I help you make smarter decisions faster, so pet care stops dominating your whole life. We talk behavior, budget, home life, and the curveballs that make pet parenting harder than it should be. On the first Wednesday of each month, you’ll get a Pet Parent Power-Up, a short reset to help you show up with better boundaries, clearer communication, and calmer decision-making.
You’ll walk away with practical pet caregiving steps that fit your schedule, your budget, and your perfectly imperfect pets, so you can stop chasing your tail and actually enjoy life with them again. Start with the episode that matches what you’re dealing with today.
Episodes
144 episodes
Seniors With Pets: The Crisis You’re Not Ready For
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...
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43:00
Do Pets Grieve After a Loss? A Pet Loss Doula Explains
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? <...
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32:23
Pet Parent Power-Up: 1 Question Ends Wasted Time (Quick Fix)
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...
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8:00
Why Your Pet Resolutions Fail By Week 2
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...
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23:25
Stop Your Home From Looking Like You Have Pets
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...
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44:49
10 Rescue-Tested Pet Essentials We Can’t Live Without
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. <...
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34:23
How to Get Through the Holidays When Facing Pet Loss
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 ...
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37:48
Holiday Hazards 2.0: The Risks You Didn’t See Coming
Are you sure your home is holiday-ready, or are there hidden dangers that could land your pet at the emergency vet? Most pet parents prep for the obvious hazards, but the real risks are the sneaky ones that slip in without you notici...
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31:51
Pet Parent Power-Up: Set Boundaries With Pet-Complaining Guests (Quick Fix)
Do your holiday guests expect your pets to be quiet, invisible, or perfectly behaved on command? If you have friends or family visiting who are not big pet lovers, it can put pressure on you and cause a lot of confusion for your pets...
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7:23
Is Your Child Really Ready for a Pet? 6 Signs You Can’t Ignore
Are you wondering whether your child is actually ready for a pet, or are they just deep in the “please please please” phase? Most parents hear “Can we get a dog?” on loop, but pet parenting isn’t as simple as saying yes. When kids aren’t...
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31:56
Pet Bills Keep Surprising You? Here’s How to Plan
Are pet care costs sneaking up on you every month? Instead of scrambling when a vet or food bill hits, what would change if you planned for every common expense ahead of time?Most pet parents underestimate pet care costs because t...
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30:44
How a Microchip Brought My Pet Home After 5 Years, But Yours Might Not
When my cat disappeared suddenly, I thought I’d never see her again. Five years later, a microchip brought her home to me, but your pet's chip might not.In this episode, I share the incredible story of my barn cat,...
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17:21
What Happens to Your Pet If You Don’t Make It Home?
Most pet parents never stop to ask this question until it’s too late. Every week, rescues like mine get heartbreaking calls from families who can’t take their loved one’s pets after a death, move, or medical emergency. The pets - confused, grie...
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33:29
Choosing a Dog Boarding Facility? Watch for These Red Flags
Great dog boarding facilities can be hard to find and leaving your dog (or cat) in someone else’s care can be nerve-racking, especially when you’re not sure what goes on behind those kennel doors. In this episode, Amy sits down with Carm...
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40:45
Stop Your Pet Care Guilt Spiral For Good
Ever feel guilty for working too much, missing walks, or not giving your pet enough attention? You’re not alone. Pet parenting struggles like guilt, burnout, and overwhelm are more common than most people admit. But what if guilt isn’t the r...
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41:52
Stop Trusting Pet Care Advice on Social Media
Ever searched online for pet care advice and ended up more confused than when you started? One post about your dog throwing up turns into 60 conflicting comments, arguments, and fear-filled stories, and suddenly you’re spiraling.I...
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21:31
Stop Overpaying for Grooming: What You Can DIY vs Leave to the Pros
Trying to save money on grooming? Whether you’ve got a dog or a cat, this episode will give you DIY dog grooming tips for beginners, and help you figure out what you can safely and confidently do at home versus what’s better left to the ...
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48:01
Dog Training: Crate Training Without The Stress
Think crate training is as simple as putting your dog in the crate and calling it a night? That’s the biggest reason it fails.Crate training isn’t instant. It’s a step-by-step process that builds your dog’s trust and confidence ov...
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38:03
Dog Training: Stop Buying The Wrong Crate
Confused about which crate is right for your dog? With so many sizes, styles, and price points, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and to end up wasting time and money on the wrong crate for your dog. The right crate isn’t just about convenie...
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30:18
Cat Won't Use the Litter Box? 6 Rules You’re Probably Breaking
Understanding cat litter box issues is one of the top problems cat owners face. You think your litter box setup is fine, yet your cat is still peeing on the bath mat or worse, on your bed! In this episode,...
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22:08
5 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Get a Pet for Your Child Under 5
Thinking about getting a puppy or kitten for your preschooler? It might look adorable on social media, but in real life it’s often a recipe for stress, safety risks, and heartbreak.Well-meaning parents often believe getting a pet ...
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18:01
Is Crating Cruel? 5 Surprising Benefits for Your Dog
Is crating your dog cruel, or could it actually be one of the kindest things you do for them? Many pet parents picture their pup feeling trapped or lonely, so they avoid crates altogether. But when used the right way, a crate can become ...
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22:39
Dog Training Isn’t Working? Find The Right Trainer
Are you at the end of your rope with your dog’s behavior, but not sure if it’s time to hire a professional dog trainer, or worried about picking the wrong one?You’re not alone. The dog training world can feel like the Wild West. W...
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38:24
Bringing Home a New Cat? Build Trust Fast With the CATS Method
That friendly, purring shelter cat you fell in love with can sometimes turn into a ghost or even a hissy ball of nerves the moment you get them home. It’s not rejection. It’s survival mode. And how you handle those first few days sets th...
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18:28