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, transportation, and social services were never really designed with pets in mind and how that creates real heartbreak and barriers for people who love their animals.

We explore the emotional and physical health benefits of pets, the importance of keeping seniors and their animals together, how laws and policies are slowly catching up, and why cross sector collaboration is the only way forward. You will hear stories that capture exactly why pets matter so deeply and how much better we can do when we see them as true family members.

If you care about animal welfare, human wellbeing, and the future of the human animal bond, this conversation will stay with you.

Watch It: https://youtu.be/jQgBPKlJOOo

Guest Links:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-blackwell-06a6066/

https://pphe.utk.edu/

https://aligncarehealth.org/

Show Links:

https://hamiltonlawandmediation.com/

https://www.facebook.com/HLawMediation

Debra's Book: "Nipped in the Bud, Not in the Butt: How to Use Mediation To Resolve Conflicts Over Animals," https://www.amazon.com/Nipped-Bud-Not-Butt-Mediation/dp/151502024X/ref=sr_1_1

SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/@HLawMediation

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 of mind matters just as much as style, and how data like steps, barking activity, and even water intake can help us understand our pets on a deeper level.

We also talk about his love for the Irish Setter breed, the joy and chaos of raising active dogs, the way shelter needs have shifted since the pandemic, and how Lucky Dog gives back to the organizations doing the hardest work in animal welfare. This conversation is full of heart, practicality, laughter, and a shared passion for helping people and pets live safer, happier lives together.

Watch It: https://youtu.be/JX_hojr4EGM

Guest Links:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrispmurphy/

https://luckyplusdog.com/?srsltid=AfmBOopQ6GsgnocbBKVYGt9N6EDHQWWaCSqvkqcmoBn7QFOG6S9wvqgx

Show Links:

https://hamiltonlawandmediation.com/

https://www.facebook.com/HLawMediation

Debra's Book: "Nipped in the Bud, Not in the Butt: How to Use Mediation To Resolve Conflicts Over Animals," https://www.amazon.com/Nipped-Bud-Not-Butt-Mediation/dp/151502024X/ref=sr_1_1

SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/@HLawMediation

#WhyDoPetsMatter #LuckyDog #PetSafety #FiCollar #DogParents #PetTracking #PetWelfare #RescueDogs #HumanAnimalBond

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, bees, trees, and the natural world are constantly communicating with us and offering solutions. We talk about how our pets often mirror our emotional and physical imbalances, how their presence can help regulate our nervous systems through energetic “entrainment,” and why the animals in our lives at any given moment are rarely an accident.

Watch It: https://youtu.be/LhdrL9Xa6rc

Guest Links:

https://drmarlenesiegel.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmarlenesiegel/

https://www.youtube.com/@drmarlenesiegel/featured

https://pascovet.com/

Show Links:

https://hamiltonlawandmediation.com/

https://www.facebook.com/HLawMediation

Debra's Book: "Nipped in the Bud, Not in the Butt: How to Use Mediation To Resolve Conflicts Over Animals," https://www.amazon.com/Nipped-Bud-Not-Butt-Mediation/dp/151502024X/ref=sr_1_1

SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/@HLawMediation

#WhyDoPetsMatter #DrMarleneSiegel #IntegrativeVeterinaryMedicine #HolisticPetCare #RootCauseHealing #BioRegulatoryMedicine #PetParents #HumanAnimalBond #ConsciousPetParenting #MindBodySpiritPets