Why Do Pets Matter? Hosted by Debra Hamilton, Esq.

Debra Hamilton, Esq.
  • 4.7 (13)
  • PETS & ANIMALS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Pet expert Debra Hamilton interviews other pet lovers on this delightful podcast about pet custody, pet drama, pet problems and pet solutions. Why Do Pets Matter? is a heartfelt podcast dedicated to pets, hosted by pet-focused attorney Debra Hamilton, Esq.

  1. 3D AGO

    Owning Your Energy: How Awareness Transforms Care for Pets and People With Jennifer Edwards

    Hey friends!   A new episode of Why Do Pets Matter just dropped, and this one is a heart-opener. I sat down with @drjenniferedwards, a veterinarian and leadership energy coach, to talk about the power of awareness, breath, and boundaries that actually support us. We dig into how our energy shows up in the exam room and at home, why taking responsibility is empowering (not blame!), and simple ways to pause, reset, and communicate with more ease, so pets, clients, and teams all win. If you’ve ever felt stretched thin or reactive, this conversation will give you practical tools you can use today.   🎧 Listen now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJQHCrqDREg If it resonates, please like, share, and leave a 5-star review so more pet lovers can find the show. Thank you for listening! 💚🐾   Guest Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjenniferedwards/ https://drjenniferedwards.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 #VetMed #Leadership #Wellbeing #PetParents #Communication

    45 min

  2. OCT 16

    Ask About the Pet: How a Simple Question Can Change Lives with Dr. Janet Hoy Gerlach Gerlach

    On this episode of Why Do Pets Matter, I sat down with my dear friend Dr. Janet Hoy Gerlach, a licensed social worker and the driving force behind Ask About the Pet at the Open Door Veterinary Collective. We talked about how one small question, “Do you have a pet?”, can open the door to empathy, understanding, and better care for people in crisis. Janet shared powerful stories about how pets ground us during difficult times, how asking about them builds trust between providers and clients, and how the Open Door team is helping make veterinary care more accessible for everyone. It’s a heartwarming, eye-opening reminder that our connection to animals truly shapes how we heal and help others. Watch Now: https://youtu.be/4ocPQnAnbts   Guest Links: https://opendoorconsults.org/ https://www.pethelpfinder.org/m/phf   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 #Podcast #VeterinaryCare #PositiveCulture #Leadership

    49 min

  3. OCT 2

    My Balto with Dr. Robert Parkins: Community-Powered Vet Care That Keeps Pets and Families Together

    Watch this episode of Why Do Pets Matter with Dr. Robert Parkins, DVM, the veterinarian behind My Balto. We talk about real solutions that help families afford care without turning vet visits into crisis decisions. Dr. Parkins shares how My Balto lets clinics build their own angel funds, use safe community fundraising, and even support preventive care so pets stay healthy and at home. We also chat about creative ideas that bring neighbors together to help pets in need and how the program is expanding across the U.S. and into Canada. If you care about keeping pets with their people, this one is for you. Watch now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOkrKvhhZZM   Guest Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-parkins-93a2a813/ https://charity.mybalto.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

    41 min

  4. SEP 19

    Opening Doors: Breaking Down Financial Barriers in Vet Med with Aimee St. Arnaud

    I sat down with Aimee St. Arnaud from Open Door Veterinary Collective to talk about real-world ways we can keep pets with their families, without turning vet visits into battles about money. We dig into transparent communication, “financial triage,” pay-over-time options that actually work for clinics, and how small shifts (like normalizing the money conversation and inviting clients into the care plan) can prevent surrender and crisis decisions. We also touch on Open Door’s tools for teams and pet parents, including resource finders and practical training that make access to care possible. If you’re a veterinarian, CSR, tech, or a pet parent who wants better partnerships with your clinic, this one’s for you. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w75r2tyTiKw Guest Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aimee-st-arnaud-9055b2177?trk=public_post_feed-actor-name https://opendoorconsults.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   #WhyDoPetsMatter #OpenDoorVet #AccessToCare #VetMedCommunity #PetFamilies

    42 min

  5. SEP 6

    The Weight They Carry: Mental Health, Vet Med, and the Human–Animal Bond with Grace Galletti

    Listen to this episode of Why Do Pets Matter with filmmaker Grace Galletti, creator of the documentary The Weight They Carry. We talk candidly about the mental health challenges facing veterinarians and their teams, the myths that fuel misunderstanding, and how pet parents and practices can support each other with more empathy, transparency, and care. Grace shares why she set out to tell this story, what she learned while filming inside busy clinics, and how we can open healthier conversations around grief, burnout, and the human–animal bond. If you work in vet med or love someone who does, this one matters.   Guest Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gracegalletti/ https://www.gracegalletti.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

    36 min

  6. AUG 28

    Why Pets Make Us More Human: A Conversation on Animal-Assisted Therapy with Dr. Aubrey Fine

    Listen to this episode of Why Do Pets Matter for an inspiring conversation with Dr. Aubrey Fine, Professor Emeritus at California State Polytechnic University and an internationally recognized pioneer in animal-assisted therapy. Dr. Fine takes us on his journey from growing up in a pet-free home to becoming one of the foremost advocates for the human-animal bond, a path that began with an unexpected friendship with a gerbil named Sasha.   In this heartfelt discussion, Dr. Fine shares the therapeutic benefits of animals for children with learning disabilities, autism, and ADHD, while emphasizing why animal welfare must always come first in therapy settings. He reflects on more than four decades of groundbreaking work, his deep relationships with animals from therapy dogs to his horse’s foal “Fine-tastic,” and the profound lessons animals teach us about empathy, resilience, and responsibility.   Dr. Fine’s contributions to the field are immense. He served 42 years as a professor at Cal Poly, is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in children with ADHD, learning disabilities, and developmental disorders, and has been recognized with the William F. McCulloch Award for Excellence in Human-Animal Interaction Education and Practice as well as the CSU Wang Award for Distinguished Professor. His publications include Handbook on Animal-Assisted Therapy (6th Edition, 2024), Afternoons with Puppy: Inspirations from a Therapist and His Animals, and Our Faithful Companions: Exploring the Essence of Our Kinship with Animals. Watch It: https://youtu.be/UzkTmHJO6S8   Guest Links: Dr. Fine's website: www.aubreyhfine.com Cal Poly faculty profile: www.cpp.edu/faculty/ahfine/ Clinical practice: www.aubreyhfine.com (Claremont, CA)   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

    39 min

  7. AUG 8

    Pets as Family: Love, Loss, and the Laws Catching Up With Maribeth Decker

    This week on Why Do Pets Matter, I’m joined once again by the incredible Maribeth Decker for a conversation straight from the heart. We’re talking about a groundbreaking legal case that recognizes pets as immediate family, why our animals inspire us to be the people they think we are, and how to navigate the toughest moments with love and compassion. From celebrating the bonds we share to making difficult end-of-life decisions, this episode is a reminder that pets are never “just property”, they are family. Watch Now: https://youtu.be/eNiw8VU--fA   Guest Links: https://sacredgrove.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/maribethdecker/   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

    40 min

  8. JUL 17

    From Litigation to Collaboration: Transforming Animal Law Through Empathy

    In this episode of Why Do Pets Matter, I talk with industrial organizational psychologist Taeler Hammond about the growing connection between animal law, veterinary conflict, and the human-animal bond. We explore why treating pets as property in court often falls short, and how empathy and communication can lead to better outcomes for everyone involved. Taeler shares personal stories that show how small moments can turn into big conflicts—or real solutions—depending on how we respond. We also talk about de-escalation techniques, the role of social media in disputes, and why including clients in the problem-solving process builds trust. If you work with animals or care about the people who do, this conversation is full of helpful tools and perspective. Watch Now: https://youtu.be/Qs1CqBQzy7Y   Guest Links: Website: https://www.deiprofinder.com/california/los-angeles/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-consultant/nouveau-paige-consulting Instagram: @nouveau_paige_consulting Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taelerhammond/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWC4p9h06_s   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

    50 min
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4.7
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

Pet expert Debra Hamilton interviews other pet lovers on this delightful podcast about pet custody, pet drama, pet problems and pet solutions. Why Do Pets Matter? is a heartfelt podcast dedicated to pets, hosted by pet-focused attorney Debra Hamilton, Esq.

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