I’m sharing some important news about the future of this podcast. I appreciate each and every one of you who has listened, shared and supported the show.”

I’ve come to a decision that has been difficult but necessary: there will be no more episodes of The Companions Collective.

2024 has thrown us a lot of curveballs here at Chez Bella, making life a little more challenging lately. My baby girl is not really a baby anymore and with arthritis setting in on that leg she had TPLO surgery on in January 2023, she needs more from me. More of everything.

As many of you know, she is my world, just as your pets are to you.

She's my ride or die and it’s vital for me to be there for her in this time.

On top of that, my husband and I have faced some challenges dealing with his mother's estate. Navigating this kind of family business has been a heavy burden, and balancing everything has become increasingly difficult.

I need to simplify my life to focus on what matters most right now.

I’ve loved flexing my interview skills and connecting with so many of you through this podcast, especially during episodes that focused on understanding pet loss and grief. I believe our pets—especially our dogs—come into our lives to change us and make us better people. Losing them transforms us in even more profound ways, and those conversations have been close to my heart. I’m proud of the insights we’ve shared together.

I set a personal goal to reach 100 episodes, and while I won’t get there, I’m grateful for the journey and the conversations that brought us all closer together.

I do believe, though, that many of the episodes are a valuable resource to pet guardians who are experiencing anticipatory grief or pet loss grief. I hope you will go back and listen again when you need them or share them with someone who might need to hear them.

This isn’t goodbye forever; it’s just a shift in focus. I have other creative pursuits I want to explore, and I believe there’s a different outlet out there that might align more with where I am in my life right now.

I'll be over at Big White Dog Photography, making art for people who love their dogs that damn much, and getting as much love and as many snuggles as I can from the sweetest Maremmano-Abrusseze to ever exist in the world.

Thank you for being part of The Companions Collective. Your support has meant the world to me, and I hope you continue to honor the beautiful bond we share with our pets. Keep being kind to yourselves and each other. Until we meet again, tell your dog I said hi.

Hand2Paw is a nonprofit that connects homeless youth with meaningful employment opportunities in animal shelters. In this week's episode, we chat with Penny Ellison, Hand2Paw’s leader and passionate animal advocate, about how this innovative program is changing lives and creating a brighter future for young people facing homelessness.

Penny shares her journey from a corporate law career to dedicating her life to animal advocacy, highlighting how her experiences shaped the mission of Hand2Paw. Learn how the organization provides essential job training and support to homeless youth while promoting the well-being of animals in shelters. Discover the transformative power of compassion and connection, and how caring for animals can foster personal growth, responsibility, and a sense of purpose.

We also discuss the challenges and successes of working with at-risk youth, the importance of community involvement, and how listeners can get involved to make a difference. Tune in to hear how Penny's vision is not just about saving animals, but about empowering youth to rise above their circumstances and build a brighter future.

Where to find Hand2Paw

Hand2Paw.org

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Crates can be … ah … not the most attractive piece of furniture in your home.

But some people find them quite useful in training and containing their dogs. So why not have a crate that becomes a part of your décor?

That's where Danny Nathan comes in.

He's the founder and CEO of Apollo 21, a company that sits at the intersection of a business consultancy, a product design studio and a venture studio.

Essentially, he designs cool shit.

Like a sleep platform to overland in his SUV.

And more recently, dog crates.

But you don't just buy the crate. Oh no, my friends. Danny designs cool shit then creates design manuals so you can do it yourself.

I think it sounds like fun, and Danny fills us in on the how and why in this episode.

Where to find Stay. Good Dog crates

StayGoodDog.com

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You're not weird if you see a dog in a muzzle and think, "He's so scary looking."

You're not weird if you see a dog in a muzzle, pick up your chihuahua and hurriedly cross the street.

But you might be wrong.

Kylee Doyle of Kylee Doyle Photography in Sacramento, California, has embarked on an incredibly meaningful personal project: photographing dogs in their muzzles.

She hopes to educate people that dogs wear muzzles for a variety of reasons, not just because they might be aggressive or reactive.

Kylee sits down with me today to tell me all about her project and what she hopes it can mean to the dog community, not just in Northern California but around the world.

Where to find Kylee

KyleeDoylePhotography.com

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Do you end up with a wooly ball of anxiety every time you have to go to the vet? I do. In fact, we've been having to go to a lot of appointments lately as arthritis has set in with the knee Bella had TPLO surgery on last year. Now … we adore our general practice vet here in Spokane Valley but if Latah Creek Animal Hospital was a little bit closer, I would be seriously considering a switch. Based right here in my town, Spokane, Washington, Latah Creek is a fear-free clinic. I've been following their Instagram account for a while and I just love the energy that comes out in their posts: informative, educational, kind … I reached out for a chance to interview the top dogs there and clinic owners Jessica Osborne and Dr. Megan Bauer couldn't wait to share the good word of fear-free veterinary practices. We talk about this innovative approach to reduce stress and anxiety for pets during vet visits and how Jessica and Dr. Megan create a calm environment for both stressed-out animal and stressed-out human guardian.

Where to find Latah Creek Animal Hospital

LatahCreekAH.com

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I get so fired up when I connect with someone who wants to talk about the deeper meaning for dogs in our lives.

Like when I chat with a fellow believer that dogs teach us who we are and who we need to be.

It didn't take long before I was mesmerized with Saro Boghozian's words.

After becoming a certified dog trainer through The College of Canine Behavioral Science, Saro quickly recognized he also needed learn about human psychology so that he could help his two-legged clients understand the root causes of their dogs' behavior.

Together, we explore the profound impact dogs have on our personal growth and well-being.

Where to find Saro

Saro Dog Training

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I know you know what I'm talking about when I say sometimes our veterinarians aren't the best communicators.

Hell's bells, Dani McVety told us as much on the podcast last fall. They're introverts. They'd rather be dealing with our animals, not us.

So sometimes they tell us a lot of words that go in one ear and out the other. Or we run home and start Googling, doing our best to remember the words and take our best shot at spelling them.

Enter Tyler Sugerman.

An emergency vet in Tacoma, Washington, Tyler bridges the gap between vet jargon and pet guardians on his podcast Vetsplanation.

With a goal to help pet guardians keep their animals happy, healthy and safe, Tyler breaks the science of vet care down into simple, understandable terms.

Today, he shares that journey with us.

Where to Find Tyler

Vetsplanation website

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We've spent a lot of time on this podcast talking about grief over the loss of our beloved companion animals.

Much of the content has revolved around anticipatory grief and the loss of a pet due to a terminal illness or old age.

But there are many more types of loss pet guardians can face.

Runaways.

Accidents.

Surrenders.

Custody battles.

Behavioral euthanasia.

And they all carry with them trauma and nuanced, complex emotions.

My dear friend Coleen Ellis of Two Hearts Pet Loss Center joins me to unravel those emotions and how guilt and grief intertwine.

Where to Find Coleen

Two Hearts Pet Loss Center

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