Advertise on podcast: All My Children Wear Fur Coats with Peggy Hoyt

Peggy interviews Amy Hurst, Partner at Birds in the Dog House and the founder of the PRISM Bird Program. This podcast focused on Amy's work with birds in therapy and the origin of the Prism Bird Program.  Amy shared how hand-feeding baby parrots during her chemotherapy provided her with physical and emotional support, which inspired her to explore how birds could help others. She described her experience with Pogo, a Quaker parrot born without feet, who formed a unique connection with a young girl with autism. Amy explained that she pursued certifications in animal-assisted therapy and intervention, eventually creating her own research on juvenile Quaker parrots and autism. She told the story of Boo, a 42-year-old cockatoo who was blind for ten years and later regained his sight through a surgery at NC State. Boo became a certified complex therapy bird and has worked with neurodivergent children, senior citizens, and people in drug and alcohol rehab. Amy also discussed the Prism Bird Program, which places birds in special needs households to help children with transitions and emotional regulation. She described the program's success with a boy named Adam and explained that the program has expanded to address PTSD, anxiety, depression, and grief. Amy detailed the history of Birds in the Doghouse, her partnership with Nathaniel, and the organization's various initiatives, including education, community outreach, and bird location services. She emphasized the importance of long-term care and estate planning for birds due to their long lifespans. Finally, Amy announced that Birds in the Doghouse is becoming a nonprofit and plans to expand its services to include other types of therapy animals. Support the show

Peggy interviews Cynthia Chomos, founder of Catio Spaces. They discuss the benefits of Catios as well as Catio safety and construction. Peggy Hoyt hosted a special episode of "All My Children Wear Fur Coats" featuring Cynthia Chomos, founder of Catio Spaces, to discuss outdoor cat enclosures called catios. Cynthia explained that catios provide safe outdoor access for cats while protecting them from dangers like vehicles, predators, and toxins, and can help reduce veterinary bills. She outlined three options for catios: pre-built kits, custom builds, and DIY plans, emphasizing the importance of proper location selection, level foundations, and escape-proof design. Cynthia shared her personal inspiration for creating catios after adopting a cat and witnessing the positive impact of outdoor access on feline well-being. The discussion covered important considerations including wire selection (avoiding chicken wire in favor of 14-16 gauge welded grid), proper roofing with polycarbonate materials, and the inclusion of bird feeders to provide enrichment while protecting wildlife. Peggy noted that catios should not be used for forcing cats to live outside 24/7 and encouraged responsible pet ownership. Support the show

Peggy interviews Amanda Graham, the founder of Pawmize. They discussed the importance of a care plan and pet trust to care for your pets. In this podcast episode of "All My Children Wear Fur Coats" Peggy Hoyt interviewed Amanda Graham, the founder of Pawmize, a pet care continuity service. Amanda explained that Pawmize helps pet owners create a comprehensive care plan and provides check-in services to ensure pets receive immediate care if something happens to their owner. They discussed the importance of having a plan for pets, especially for those without a local support network, and Amanda shared her efforts to partner with organizations like NAPS and Pet Sitters International to provide short-term and long-term care solutions. Peggy highlighted the synergy between Pawmize and her own work with Animal Care Trust USA, emphasizing the need for both a care plan and a pet trust. The conversation also covered the renaming of the service from "The Promise Plan" to Pawmize, the features of the platform, and personal anecdotes about the need for such a service. Support the show

Peggy interviews Mandy Kimmer, the public information officer for Orange County, Florida Parks and Recreation.  They discussed the county's dog parks. In this episode, Peggy spoke with Mandy Kimmer, the public information officer for Orange County, Florida Parks and Recreation. Mandy shared her nearly 19-year career with the county and discussed the history of Orange County's park system, which has grown from early family donations in the 1920s to now encompassing 114 parks, trails, and facilities serving 1.5 million residents and 200,000 daily visitors. They discussed the 14 dog parks throughout the county, which are fenced areas with separate spaces for large and small dogs, costing approximately $170,000 to install, and Mandy explained how these parks are important for residents who live in apartments or have limited outdoor space for their pets. The conversation also covered safety considerations, including restrictions at certain parks due to alligators and other wildlife, and Mandy emphasized that Orange County is a very dog-friendly destination for both residents and tourists. Support the show

This podcast discussed the importance of professional certification in the dog training industry. This episode of "All My Children Wear Fur Coats" featured Bradley Phifer, Executive Director of the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT), discussing the importance of professional certification in the dog training industry. Bradley explained that while anyone can call themselves a dog trainer, CCPDT provides independent credentialing through three levels of certification (CPDT-KA, CPDT-KSA, and CBCC-KA) that require 300 hours of hands-on experience and demonstrate competence through both knowledge and skills assessments. He highlighted how social media and the pandemic have changed dog ownership, making pet owners more knowledgeable but also creating challenges with behavior issues in dogs that were sheltered during COVID-19. Bradley emphasized that potential dog owners should ask certified trainers about their credentials, experience with specific breeds, training methods, and observe training sessions before hiring someone, noting that CCPDT's website offers a directory to help find certified professionals in any area. Support the show

Peggy Hoyt interviewed Fiona Dobbrick, co-founder and CEO of Collagenie, about their certified organic collagen wellness products for pets. Fiona explained that Collagenie offers three types of certified organic meal toppers for pets: joint and mobility support, skin and coat health, and whole body boost blends. She discussed the benefits of collagen for pets, particularly supporting joint health and mobility, and emphasized that the products can be used preventatively rather than just for treating symptoms. Fiona shared challenges of bringing the Australian-made product to the US market, including compliance differences and shipping delays, but noted they are working with NASC (National Animal Supplements Council) to gain certification. She predicted that pet parents will increasingly adopt preventative wellness approaches over the next five years, following human health trends. The conversation concluded with information about Collagenie's upcoming product launches, including a functional range and dental chews, and a current 15% discount offer on their website. Support the show

Peggy Hoyt, host of "All My Children Wear Fur Coats," interviewed Bill Bookout, president and board chair of the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC), to discuss pet supplement safety and upcoming legislation. Bill explained how NASC has worked for 25 years to establish quality standards for animal health supplements through co-regulation with regulators, representing over 330 brands in the industry. He highlighted significant concerns about low barriers to entry in the supplement market, sharing examples of scam companies creating fake products and misrepresenting NASC membership. Bill discussed the proposed Animal Health Supplement Act, legislation that would formally recognize health supplements as a distinct category under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, providing FDA oversight while maintaining reasonable barriers for small businesses. He emphasized that while the legislation would require companies to register with FDA, it would not necessarily mean product approval, and consumers should look for NASC quality seals and verify company credibility before purchasing. Bill also mentioned NASC's expansion into pet treats and global markets, and encouraged listeners to support the legislation by contacting their elected officials through the website saveanimalsupplements.org when the bill is introduced. Support the show

Peggy interviewed Todd Dittman, Executive Director of IndiePet, a trade association representing independent and neighborhood pet stores. Todd explained that IndiePet was formed about 5 years ago to help small pet stores compete against mass merchandisers like Chewy and Amazon, currently representing 150 supplier members and 400 retailers with 1,600 store locations. They discussed the benefits of shopping at independent pet stores, including personalized product knowledge, ability to test products with pets present, and enhanced customer experience through services like grooming and self-bathing. Todd highlighted their annual Neighborhood Pet Store Day event happening September 25-27, 2026 which expects over 3,000 participating stores across the country, and mentioned that membership for retailers is only $50 per store per year. The conversation also covered upcoming trade shows like Global Pet Expo and SuperZoo, where new product innovations are showcased, and Todd shared his personal passion for working in the pet industry after previously working in retail and store fixtures. Support the show

Peggy Hoyt interviewed Jamie Smith, CEO and co-founder of Innovative Pet Lab, about their at-home pet health testing services. Jamie explained that Innovative Pet Lab was founded by three former human diagnostics professionals who recognized gaps in pet healthcare testing, particularly for gut health issues. The company offers stool-based tests that screen for inflammation, immunity, leaky gut, digestion, microbiome status, detoxification, stress levels, and parasites, with results providing actionable recommendations for dietary changes, supplements, and lifestyle modifications. Jamie shared that their tests can help identify health issues before symptoms appear, allowing pet parents to address problems proactively rather than reactively. The company recently launched tests for horses and is working on partnerships with pet food and supplement brands to validate product claims. Jamie offered listeners a 25% discount code (GUTHEALTH25) for any test when visiting: https://www.innovativepetlab.com/discount/GutHealth25 , and encouraged them to sign up for the newsletter to learn about upcoming trials and brand partnerships. Support the show

Peggy interviewed Anette Torjussen, founder of the Nordic School of Holistic Equine Therapy. Anette shared her 22-year journey from accounting to becoming an equine therapist, explaining how horses taught her humility and the importance of looking beyond symptoms to understand the whole horse. She discussed her comprehensive two-year education program starting August 14th at the Wild Horse Rescue Centre in Florida, which combines osteopathy, acupuncture, and craniosacral therapy approaches. Anette emphasized that horses constantly communicate through movement, posture, and behavior, and owners should focus on understanding what horses are trying to tell them rather than assuming bad behavior. The interview concluded with plans for Anette to visit Peggy's facility in Florida in December and potential collaboration on Peggy's horse sanctuary project. Support the show

In this podcast episode our host, Peggy Hoyt, interviewed Austin Collins, CEO and co-founder of Five Strands, a wellness company that provides intolerance testing for both people and pets.  Through their testing, they can help to identify dietary and envrionmental stressors. Austin explained how Five Strands has tested 500,000 people and pets over nearly 10 years, offering four main categories of testing: food intolerances, environmental sensitivities, nutritional imbalances, and heavy metal sensitivity, with results provided through a CLIA-certified lab using hair sample collection. The company recently released an updated mobile app and continues to focus on personalized testing rather than generalized DNA panels, with Austin emphasizing the importance of early dietary rotation and environmental awareness for pet health. Support the show

In this episode of All My Children Wear Fur Coats, Peggy interviewed Garrett Bewkes, CEO and founder of Pet HSA, a financial wellness platform designed to help pet owners prepare for and manage rising veterinary costs.  Garrett discussed the significant financial and emotional costs of pet ownership, highlighting how veterinary expenses have been increasing substantially.    Garrett shared his personal experience with his dog Mia, who accumulated over $100,000 in vet expenses throughout her life, which inspired him to create Pet HSA after earning his MBA. The platform features a pet calculator that helps owners estimate lifetime costs based on breed, location, and care choices, along with educational resources and community support to help families plan for both routine and emergency veterinary expenses. Garrett discussed the challenges of pet ownership costs increasing up to 300% over recent years and the emotional burden on pet owners, emphasizing the importance of routine care and not skipping veterinary visits despite current financial pressures. Support the show

This was an interview with Matt Terrell, founder and CEO of InnoVet Pet Products, discussing his latest innovation called ChefPaw, the world's first pet food maker designed to help pet parents create fresh, customized meals at home. Matt explained how ChefPaw addresses the challenges of fresh pet food preparation, including proper cooking temperatures, ingredient balancing, and cost efficiency, with machines capable of making 3 to 30 pound batches in under an hour at temperatures below 100°C to preserve nutrition. The conversation also covered Matt's other innovative products, including Purotic ear cleaner and Tracers scent markers for blind dogs, and his personal story of how his dog Maximus inspired the creation of his first product after struggling to treat ear infections. Matt emphasized that ChefPaw provides significant cost savings compared to fresh food subscription services, with economy recipes costing around $1.90 per pound including supplements, and noted that the product recently won a Purina Innovation Award and Best Overall Product at SuperZoo.  For more information visit https://www.innovetpet.com/ Support the show

This was an interview episode of "All My Children Wear Fur Coats" with host Peggy Hoyt and guest Jackie Ducci, an animal advocate, philanthropist, and equestrian. Jackie shared her lifelong connection with animals, particularly horses which she started riding at age seven, and how animals taught her self-worth beyond traditional measures during challenging childhood experiences. She discussed her documentary film "Unspoken Bond" which premiered in March and explores how animals support healing and well-being, with plans for future screenings and a podcast series launching in September. Jackie also explained her nonprofit Human Animal Alliance, which operates as a private foundation granting funds to other organizations that prioritize the human-animal bond, including recent support for PAWS for People's prison program. The conversation covered Jackie's current animal family consisting of two bulldogs and two horses, and how horses serve as teachers while dogs function as best friends, with both providing different but equally valuable roles in her life. Support the show

Peggy Hoyt interviewed Dr. Kevin Toman, known as the "longevity vet," about helping pets live longer on her podcast "All My Children Wear Fur Coats." Dr. Toman discussed how veterinary medicine lags behind human longevity science by about 20 years, explaining that while human drugs like rapamycin and acarbose show promise for extending pet lifespans, the biggest impact comes from dietary changes, lifestyle modifications, and supplements rather than prescription drugs alone. He emphasized that calorie restriction, improving dietary quality, and avoiding high-impact activities like jumping can significantly extend pet lifespans, while warning against overuse of certain supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin that have been disproven by recent research. The conversation also touched on vaccine practices, with Dr. Toman advocating for more judicious use of pet vaccines based on individual risk factors rather than universal recommendations. Support the show