Maria's Mutts & Stuff

Maria chats with Stacy Kisla, Senior Director of Marketing at Hartz about their 100th anniversary. They discuss the initiatives Hartz has taken this year to celebrate, with the focus on fostering and adoption!  From Hartz staff members volunteering at local animal shelters to the relationship with Pilots to the Rescue,  Hartz continues the celebration while giving back. Learn more at HAR...

Maria chats with Amy Hurst, Boo the Bird's handler/owner, about their incredible connection and history together. This year, Boo made history as the first bird ever to be named Pet Partners Pet of the Year !! Give a listen and learn how Boo has helped people, especially people with autism. For more info, visit BirdsInTheDoghouse.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Born Free USA returns to Maria's Mutts & Stuff! Maria chats with CEO Angela Grimes about all the work they do to protect wild animals around the world, with campaigns, sanctuaries and more. This Thursday Oct 1st is their Wild at Heart fundraiser in NYC (mc'd by Maria) Learn more and see how you can help:  BORNFREEUSA . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maria chats with Julie Choi, founder of the grass roots rescue YongSanCats, that saves street cats left behind in Seoul's redevelopment zones. Julie and her volunteers have rescued over 300 cats--both domesticated and feral--in two years!  Julie's message and reach is worldwide as she's creating a community and support system. You can learn more at yongsancats.com or on IG @yongsancats  ...

Maria chats with Gretchen Primack--writer, poet and educator and Ella Magers--CEO of Sexy Fit Vegan; both are animal activists and co-directors of The March to Abolish Animal Testing at Marshall BioResources in North Rose NY. The 14-day march starts Sept 12th in Albany and travels 207 miles to Marshall on Sept 26th.   You can be a part of it:  March, Volunteer, Donate, Buy Merch:&nb...

Hydia Cohen aka "The Dog lady" helps families and their pets with her pet pantry, which provides pet food, supplies, winter gear and more to residents. Bronx Dog Haven is her non-profit which partners with Animal Farm Foundation , Voters For Animal Rights , the City Council's Animal Welfare Caucus , Mayor's Office of Animal Welfare and more. You can help! Follow on IG @bronxdoghaven See omnystudio...

Maria chats with Tonilynn McCaffery who oversees Community Relations and Field Marketing for The Red Bulls soccer team. In partnership with America's VetDogs, The Red Bulls just "signed" Harrison (named for the town where The Red Bulls play), a black lab puppy who's spending the next 18 months training and socializing with the team before he starts formal training with America's VetDogs . Ultimate...

Maria chats with award-winning producer and director Steven Latham about his latest documentary The New Gold Standard . Executive-produced and narrated by Emmy & Golden Globe-winning actor Edie Falco, the film will capture your attention while educating you on the progress made by scientists. Many people aren't aware of the stats but over 42,000 dogs and over 106,000 monkeys are being experime...

Maria chats with writer Melanie Kaplan about her book Lab Dog ; the story of her adopted dog Hammy who came from a research lab.  On their journey together, they discover the horrors of animal research, which many people don't realize.   Learn more at melaniedgkaplan.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maria chats with writer Joanna Zelman and her dad Jared Zelman, about their documentary Cow Trip;  their road trip with Mickey and Moose--two calves saved from dairy farms and transported  hundreds of miles to Rosie's Farm Sanctuary. To learn more about their journey COWTRIP.ORG . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maria chats with Jackie Ducci:  Founder of the Human-Animal Alliance ( h-aa.org ) and documentary creator of Unspoken Bond. The documentary focuses on three people and their connection to animals. (One of the featured stories is with Nicole Navarro from Pawsitive Beginnings who was on Maria's Mutts & Stuff last April 2025!) Listen and learn about the connection we have with animals and th...

Maria chats with author Stacy Wilder whose books Liz Adams Mystery Series features Duke, a lie-detecting Lab! Stacy also donates a portion of the proceeds to wildlife conservation and the homeless--both people and pets.   Check out her website for books, info, recipes (!) and more!   storystacy.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maria chats with actor, comedian and author Steve Schirripa about his new book WillieBoy Eats The World , a children's picture book about his dachshund Willie Boy! A fun conversation between the long-time friends about an adorable dog who teaches his owner about all the tasty foods in NYC! Aimed at ages 4-8, it teaches kids to try new things. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maria chats with celebrity animal medium Aliana Ziva about her work focusing on health, emotional wellbeing and finding peace. Living in Denmark, most of her work helps people and animals here in the states. Give a listen and learn about her beginnings and how her gift came to be. Follow "alianazivathemedium" on Instagram, and DM her if you'd like a reading. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

Maria chats with ornithologist, author and Pulitzer Prize finalist Scott Weidensaul about his latest book (he's written nearly 30!!) The Return of The Oystercatcher .   This book is optimistic and focuses on conservation and solutions. And Scott offers tips on what we can all do to help the bird population survive! Learn more at http://www.scottweidensaul.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener...

Maria chats with returning guest Pete Lillo who runs the Bear Brook Feather Friends Rescue and Sanctuary , where he takes care of dozens of ducks, geese and chicks! You'll learn a thing or two about our feathered friends, and  how you can help out Pete with food donations and more. And if you're in the area, he could always use volunteers! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maria chats with Operation Pawpulation Founder Temma Martin about her not-for-profit spay and neuter clinic in Utah. Less than a year old, this clinic has already spayed or neutered over 1500 pets! They discuss how spaying and neutering pets actually saves lives of pets as fewer animals wind up  in shelters as a result. To learn more about Operation Pawpulation CLICK HERE ! To find a low-cost...

Undercover animal investigator Pete Paxton returns in studio to discuss his latest focus on puppy mills and pet stores (specifically Petland).  This interview was also shot for the upcoming documentary Underbelly , which is investigating the mass production system of the $3 BILLION dog breeding industry! Stay tuned for release date. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maria chats with returning guest Brian Reyngoudt, Co-Founder and Vice President of Operation K9 Beethoven , a non-profit organization that rescues shelter dogs and trains them to be service dogs for veterans! If you're a veteran and want or need a service dog, PLEASE reach out to them. You will get a dog an no cost to you! Learn more at OPERATIONK9BEETHOVEN. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

Maria talks with estate planning attorney Don Ford about a subject most of us avoid:   What will happen to our pet(s) when we're gone?  With over 60% of Americans not having a will, chances are very good that there isn't a plan for your beloved 4-legged family members! Don explains what to do so your 4-legged bff doesn't wind up in a shelter when you die! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in...

Maria chats with filmmaker Chris Walters about his documentary Artfully United, a film about art, transformation and the power of community. Chris's other passion is animal advocacy!  He started The Christopher D. Walters Second Chances Fund -- CLICK HERE to learn more. Artfully United will start streaming on 2/20.  LEARN MORE! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maria chats with returning guest Marie Geerman about her 30 years of rescuing pups from Aruba, as well as homing dogs and cats in the states!  Learn about the spaying/neutering in Aruba, and all she's been doing (in spite of the recent hurdles from the CDC) plus Aruba Flight Volunteers and New Life For Paws . You can help! Foster; be a flight volunteer; adopt, donate:  NEWLIFEFORPAWS. See omnystud...

Maria chats with one of her favorite guests, MUTTS creator Patrick McDonnell! Patrick took a few minutes from his book tour to chat about The Gift of Everything and The Gift of Nothing (20th Anniversary edition with a new cover!) Book Tour, plus all that he's been doing! Patrick and his wife Karen do so much for charities (check it out HERE ) plus the Shop of " MUTTS stuff" is perfect this time of...

Maria chats with Russ Fincher, former FBI agent and first responder whose service dog Jethro was trained by the NY Islanders, part of America's Vet Dogs "Puppy With a Purpose" program. Jethro is the fourth Isanders dog; America's Vet Dogs also has puppies training with The Jets and The Mets! Hear how Jethro helps Russ with his ptsd and so much more! To learn about America's Vet Dogs and all they d...

Maria chats with author and co-founder of the BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin, Dexter Patterson, about his book Birds of the Great Lakes ! A "mighty book" as Dexter calls it filled with photos, info, and fun facts about birds of the Great Lakes, many of which can be seen across the country! It's a perfect stocking stuffer! Learn about Dexter, birding, and more plus you can get the book too at WISC...