Story of My Pet: Tales of Animal Rescue, Fostering & Adoption

Pet Protect and Connect: Using AI to Simplify Pet Adoption for Shelters, Rescues and Adopters Host Julie Marty Pearson welcomes Liz Adams to The Story of My Pet podcast to discuss Liz’s longtime background in animal rescue and her career in healthcare technology and communications, which inspired her to create Pet Protect and Connect. Liz explains how shelters and rescues often lack time and moder...

Pawsitive Change Non-Profit: Safer Cleaning and Biosecurity Kits Helping Animal Shelters Fight Outbreaks In this episode of The Story of My Pet, host Julie Marty-Pearson interviews Keri Lestage, Adrian Fulle, and Zach O'Shea, animal lovers working in human health, They discuss Pawsitive Change, a volunteer-driven initiative donating biosecurity kits to U.S. shelters to improve cleanliness, re...

From Shelter Work to Nomad Life: Katherine Lacefield on Rescue, Fundraising, and Ending Judgment in Animal Welfare In this episode of The Story of My Pet podcast, host Julie Marty-Pearson is joined by Katherine Lacefield who shares how early involvement in environmental and animal rights movements led her into shelter work, fostering, and the realities of overcrowding and euthanasia. Now living a...

Senior Dogs Deserve Love: Adopting, Caring for, and Advocating for Older Pets with Angela Dinsmoor. Host Julie Marty Pearson welcomes Angela Dinsmoor to discuss senior pets, sharing Julie’s experience caring for her 16-year-old diabetic cat and Angela’s lifelong love of animals and rescue work. Angela explains why she and her husband adopt—not foster—senior dogs, noting their six senior adoptions...

Dogs Have Angels Too: Your Host Julie Marty-Pearson, interviews Sarah Cavallaro on Healing, Storytelling, and Dog Adoption Advocacy In this episode of The Story of My Pet podcast, Sarah shares how she became an animal lover after growing up without pets, including the childhood loss of a rescued kitten and later adopting a puppy, Athena, while in college and bringing her to New York City. Athena’s...

Legacy of Ebenezer the Donkey. How One Animal Became a Local Community Legend In this episode of The Story of My Pet podcast, Julie Marty-Pearson interviews Joe Dimino about his lifelong love of animals and the remarkable community bond formed around Ebenezer, a donkey in a roadside pasture near Grandview, Missouri. Joe shares how he and his son Miles (on the spectrum) regularly visited Ebenezer w...

Kristin on Animal Communication, Shelter Stress, and Seeing Animals for Who They Are Host Julie Marty Pearson welcomes Kristin Hadley to The Story of My Pet to discuss Kristin’s lifelong love of animals, beginning with her first horse Snowbird, and her path to becoming a professional animal communicator. Kristen describes telepathy as a learnable, two-way language that helps animals and people und...

Cats That Kept Him Going: How David Maeda's Cats Shaped His Story.  Your host, Julie Marty-Pearson sits down with David Maeda to trace that arc from his first cat, Mr Max, to a home shaped by bonded pairs, big personalities, and the kind of attachment that turns ordinary days into a shared routine you never want to lose. David  adopted Max in college and discovered what “cat people” mean when...

Unleashing Stories: How Unique Dogs Inspired Children's Books with Leia Barrett. Host Julie Marty Pearson welcomes children’s author and rescue advocate Leia Barrett, who shares growing up with dogs (including longtime family “unicorn” Dixie) and later adopting her own unicorn rescue, Layla. They discuss common challenges in rescue adoptions, why quick returns can traumatize animals, and the...

Podcasthon Special: How Love Your Feral Felines Is Saving Cats in San Diego County with Volunteer Tammy Kaehler Host Julie Marty Pearson shares a special Podcasthon episode of The Story of My Pet Podcast, part of a coordinated March 2026 global charity event, featuring an interview with Tammy Kaehler, a volunteer with Love Your Feral Felines (LYFF), an all-volunteer cat rescue serving San Diego Co...

Learning Pet Nutrition Science may be easier than you realize. In this episode, I sit down with Holly Baer from Superior Feline to explore the world of homemade pet nutrition. Holly's journey began when her own cats faced serious health challenges—kidney disease, fish allergies, and inflammatory conditions that commercial foods couldn't address. What started as a desperate search for sol...

Have you ever wondered about the profound impact pets can have on our lives? In this heartwarming episode, Julie sits down with Amy King, a fellow animal lover and writer, to explore the joys and challenges of pet ownership. Amy shares her journey from childhood fish tanks to adopting rescue dogs with complex needs. We discuss the emotional rollercoaster of caring for pets with health issues and t...

Are you ready for a heartwarming tale that combines the thrill of hockey with the joy of pet adoption? In this episode, Julie sits down with Jason Shaver, the play-by-play announcer for the Chicago Wolves Hockey Team , to discuss their incredible Adopt-A-Dog Program . A Unique Blend of Sports and Animal Welfare Jason shares how the Chicago Wolves have been championing dog adoption for decades, res...

Have you ever wished you could hold onto a piece of your beloved pet forever? In this heartwarming episode, I sit down with Dave Latorra and Stephanie Ford, the innovative minds behind DNA is Love , a company that's revolutionizing the way we memorialize our furry friends. As a scientist with a PhD in molecular biology, Dave brings his expertise to the table, explaining the fascinating proces...

Are you ready to discover how rescued dogs are transforming the lives of veterans and first responders? In this eye-opening episode, I welcome back Connor Long, Operations Manager at Marley's Mutts Dog Rescue , to discuss their groundbreaking program, Troops N Tails . Connor shares his personal journey with equine therapy and how it inspired this innovative initiative. We explore how Troops a...

Brian Vermeire and Kristina Hughes, founders of Frame Your Feline , return to the podcast to share their journey from creating innovative cat furniture to landing a spot on Shark Tank . • Frame Your Feline offers wall-mounted frames that cats naturally jump into, becoming "living masterpieces" • Traditional cat furniture takes up floor space and often looks unattractive in homes • Their...

Melissa Brunson, Executive Director of Marley's Mutts Dog Rescue , returns to share critical updates on animal welfare in Southern California where shelters are facing overwhelming challenges. Kern County's 40% euthanasia rate reflects a system in crisis where happy, healthy dogs are being euthanized simply due to lack of space.  Ways to help:  Donate to Marley's Mutts, Follow on Fa...

Welcome back to the Story of My Pet Podcast! After a brief hiatus, I'm thrilled to return with a fresh season filled with heartwarming pet stories and spotlights on remarkable animal organizations. As your host, Julie Marty-Pearson, I'm eager to share how this podcast has not only grown but also profoundly impacted my own life and the lives of countless animals. Over the past three years...

Curious about how a blind golden retriever can change lives? Join us me, Julie Marty-Pearson, as I talk with Joanne George, who shares her incredible journey from being a veterinary technician to a passionate animal advocate and dog trainer. Discover the heartwarming story of Smiley, a golden retriever born without eyes, and how he overcame his challenges to become an inspirational therapy dog. Jo...

Join us on a captivating journey with John Garstang, a human-dog relationship coach whose life is a testament to the transformative power of the bond between humans and their canine friends. From the bustling streets of London to the sun-drenched Greek island of Rhodes, John's story unfolds, revealing his remarkable transition from daycare manager to a beacon of hope for shelter dogs in Zambi...

There's something magical about lacing up your sneakers, clipping on a leash, and hitting the pavement with your furry best friend by your side. This episode is not just about the pride of crossing a 5K finish line. It's about the profound shift that occurs within us when grief catalyzes a journey toward better mental and physical health for you and your pet. Our pets truly are our bigge...

Join me, Julie Marty Pearson, as I cozy up with a heart full of gratitude and a treasure trove of tales to celebrate the second anniversary of The Story of My Pet podcast. I take you behind the scenes of my own adventures in animal rescue, revealing the joys and challenges of volunteering, fostering, and spreading the word on pet adoption and spay/neuter initiatives. With each narrative, we'v...

Taking care of our pets is something most pet parents take great pride in; however, we don’t always plan for the “what if’s”. Thinking about what would happen to our pets if we were no longer able to care for them is SO important. Yet, no one wants to think about death and dying, but if something happened to you and you were in the hospital or worse, who will care for your pets? I, Julie Marty-Pea...

Sharing pet stories that inspire and empower others to help animals in need. Joining your host, Julie Marty-Pearson is Amy Castro, founder of Starlight Outreach and Rescue. Together, we weave through the emotional narrative of animal rescue. We remember the pets that have carved out special places in our hearts, and Amy walks us through the turning points that propelled her from a volunteer to the...

Host, Julie Marty-Pearson, often says our pets find us, and that isn't truer than for guest Tenny Minassian. Tenny's adopted canine companion, Lucy, inspired not only a profound personal transformation but also a children's book, "Lucy Goes to the Gentle Barn." Her tale is one of convincing traditional parents to open their home to a family pet, leading to an adventure of...