Rooted Tails by Rooted Owl

In this episode of Rooted Tales by Rooted Owl, host Jeffrey Mendelson sits down with Dr. Nicole Leibman, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Oncology)—veterinary oncologist and Chief Medical Officer of PAD —to explore how her personal journey of loss and compassion led to creating a new model of in-home veterinary nursing and hospice care. Dr. Nicole shares how the heartbreaking loss of her childhood dog on Christma...

In this episode of Rooted Tales by Rooted Owl, host Jeffrey Mendelson sits down with Dr. Trina Hazzah —integrative veterinarian, cannabis educator, and founder of Green Nile and the Veterinary Cannabis Society. Together, they unpack the evolving science, stigma, and incredible healing potential of cannabis in animal care. Dr. Trina shares how her pivot from conventional veterinary oncology led her...

In this episode of Rooted Tales by Rooted Owl, host Jeffrey Mendelson sits down with Alex Varney, Vice President of Operations at Pinnacle Pets and founder of Considerably Bold . Together, they dive into the emotional toll of running a pet care facility, navigating client red flags, and the burnout that comes when your heart outpaces your limits. Alex opens up about the realities behind the front...

In this eye-opening episode of Rooted Tales by Rooted Owl, host Jeffrey Mendelson sits down with animal naturopath Dr. Kim Bloomer —founder of Aspen Bloom Pet Care —to explore a radically different path in pet wellness. What began with the adoption of a Great Dane-Shar Pei mix named Shadrach became a mission: to challenge the conventional model of veterinary care and return to nature-based healing...

In this episode of Rooted Tales by Rooted Owl, host Jeffrey Mendelson sits down with Irith Bloom, internationally certified dog trainer, behavior consultant, and founder of The Sophisticated Dog. Together, they unpack Irith’s lifelong resistance to harsh training methods and how that early instinct evolved into a professional mission to transform how we relate to our pets. Irith shares her journey...

In this episode of Rooted Tales by Rooted Owl, host Jeffrey Mendelson sits down with Tiana Crane , registered veterinary technician, wildlife enthusiast, and founder of Wayward Wings Travel. Together, they explore how burnout in veterinary medicine led Tiana to create a unique travel business focused on helping fellow vet professionals unwind, reconnect, and heal in the wildest corners of the worl...

In this episode of Rooted Tales by Rooted Owl, host Jeffrey Mendelson sits down with Dr. Tamara Kruse,   Director of Veterinary Care at the San Antonio Zoo. Together, they explore the unseen world of zoo veterinary medicine—from morning rounds with jaguars to reproductive programs and enrichment strategies designed to keep animals both physically and mentally thriving. Dr. Kruse opens up abou...

In this episode of Rooted Tales by Rooted Owl, host Jeffrey Mendelson sits down with veterinary behaviorist Dr. Christopher Pachel, founder of Animal Behavior Clinic and co-owner of Instinct Dog Behavior & Training. Together, they explore a paradigm shift in dog training: from dominance and discipline to curiosity, empathy, and communication. Dr. Pachel shares his journey from traditional trai...

In this episode of Rooted Tales , host Jeffrey Mendelson sits down with Bruce Truman , a seasoned pet tech executive and advisor to Fear Free, to explore how animal health startups can scale smarter. From his roots on an Illinois pig farm to advising startups and industry leaders, Bruce shares how his career in veterinary innovation began with a chance encounter—and evolved into a 20+ year journey...

In this episode of Rooted Tales by Rooted Owl , host Jeffrey Mendelson sits down with Dr. Cindy Trice —relief veterinarian, cancer survivor, and multi-passionate entrepreneur behind Relief Rover, KickIt Pajamas, and HomeLove. Together, they explore how burnout, purpose, and personal hardship can lead to groundbreaking innovations in veterinary care, fashion, and beyond. Dr. Trice shares how relief...

In this episode of Rooted Tales by Rooted Owl, host Jeffrey Mendelson sits down with Dylan Brees—firefighter , pet care professional, and founder of The Doody Crew . Together, they explore how Dylan turned his frontline experiences in emergency response into a grassroots business dedicated to pet waste removal, yard sanitation, and compassionate care for animals and their people. Dylan shares how...

In this episode of Rooted Tales by Rooted Owl, host Jeffrey Mendelson sits down with Jill Nelson, pet care entrepreneur, systems strategist, and founder of WunderPetz. As the Director of Operations at Hot Diggity Pet Care, Jill shares her unexpected journey from business coaching to running and scaling a multi-location dog walking and pet sitting franchise. Jill opens up about acquiring her first...

In this episode of Rooted Tales by Rooted Owl , host Jeffrey Mendelson sits down with Ryan Wimpey , master dog trainer and founder of Tip Top K9. Together, they explore the emotional and behavioral transformation of rescue dogs—from traumatized, reactive animals to trusting, well-balanced companions. Ryan shares hard-earned wisdom from years in the field, including one unforgettable case of a fera...

In this episode of Rooted Tales by Rooted Owl , host Jeffrey Mendelson sits down with David Merrick, wellness strategist, behavioral researcher, and passionate advocate for senior dogs. Together, they dive into the science of aging canine brains, the misunderstood link between weight and behavior, and how targeted nutritional support can unlock a new quality of life for older pets. With a backgrou...

In this episode of Rooted Tales by Rooted Owl, host Jeffrey Mendelson sits down with Jessica Almquist veterinary nurse, wellness advocate, and founder of The Cosmic Barbie . Together, they explore the hidden emotional toll of veterinary work and how one woman’s path through burnout, grief, and loss led her to a new calling grounded in spirituality and healing. Jessica opens up about her personal e...

In this episode of Rooted Tales by Rooted Owl , host Jeffrey Mendelson sits down with Pennye Jones Napier —holistic pet health coach and co-founder of The Big Bad Wolf , a trusted raw and lightly cooked pet food supplier in Washington, D.C. Together, they explore how nutrition is directly tied to pet health, longevity, and even behavior—and why so many pet owners are rethinking kibble. Penny share...

In this episode of Rooted Tales by Rooted Owl, host Jeffrey Mendelson sits down with Mickey McDermott —Director of Content and Research at Nurture, and Head of Content and Engagement Strategy at Circa Healthcare. Together, they explore how communication training is transforming veterinary care from the inside out. Through avatar-based simulation tools and immersive team experiences developed with...

In this episode of Rooted Tails by Rooted Owl, host Jeffrey Mendelson sits down with dog trainer, rescue advocate, and mom, Colleen Steckloff an International Dog Behaviorist , for a raw and revealing conversation about what truly makes a dog and a human ready for rescue life. From chaotic film sets to quiet family mornings, Colleen shares the unforgettable story of Buckley , her “soul dog” who tr...

In this episode of Rooted Tails by Rooted Owl , host Jeffrey Mendelson sits down with Elizabeth Ann Johnson—holistic animal healer, wildlife biologist, and author of Know Your Dog’s True Nature . They explore how the ancient Five Element theory from Traditional Chinese Medicine can help pet owners understand their dog’s personality, health imbalances, and healing needs on a much deeper level. From...

In this episode of Rooted Tails by Rooted Owl , host Jeffrey Mendelsohn and co-host Nikki Ferraro sit down with Allie Wilkinson and Jamal Henderson of the K9 Kommittee. They dive deep into how behavior-based dog training, proactive health care, and true rescue advocacy are transforming the lives of countless pets and their owners. From building a business out of a shared passion for rescue dogs to...

In this episode of Rooted Tails , host Jeffrey Mendelsohn chats with animal rehabilitation expert Chris Warner about the critical importance of proactive care in preventing joint issues in pets. From the role of supplements to early intervention strategies, Chris shares how pet owners can help their furry friends stay healthy and avoid costly surgeries later in life. Key Lessons Covered in This Ep...

In this episode of Rooted Tails , host Jeffrey Mendelsohn sits down with Dr. Scott Pless, founder of VETXPS and Holo Health, to discuss the groundbreaking future of veterinary care. Dr. Pless shares how holograms, AI diagnostics, and neurotech could transform how we care for and remember our pets, from their health to their legacies. Key Lessons Covered in This Episode: 🔹 Holograms: A New Way to...

In this episode of Rooted Tails , host Jeffrey Mendelsohn sits down with Nikki Ferraro, founder of Much Love Animal Rescue, to share the incredible comeback story of her senior dog Stubby—and the supplement that made it possible. What starts as a personal journey quickly unfolds into a game-changing discovery for dogs everywhere. Key Lessons Covered in This Episode: 🔹 Stubby’s Second Chance at Li...