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Shelters in the United States are in crisis.  Intake is up 4% this year, and adoption is down 10%. Cages are full, fosters are overwhelmed and euthanasia rates are climbing.  Keeping lost pets that have a happy home out of shelters is more critical than ever. Pet Lover Geek digs deep into community driven returned to home efforts. What things can pet parents and their community do to keep local lost pets out of local shelters, and get them home quickly and safely.  Host Lorien Clemens is joined by Kristen Hassen, animal welfare and return to home expert, to explore programs from across the world that help reduce stray and lost animal intake in community shelters.  With decades of experience in the animal welfare industry, most recently, Kristen served as co-founder of the Human Animal Support Services project, a collaborative of more than 2,000 animal welfare organizations and 10,000 individuals that work together to transform animal services in the U.S. and Canada.  Thanks for listening! Check out our sponsor, PetHub for more great pet parent resources. Have an idea for a PetLoverGeek episode or have something else you want to share? Drop us a note to [email protected].

According to the American Humane Association, 10 million pets go missing or are stolen every year. One in three pets will get lost in their lifetimes.  And as much as every loving pet parent would like to believe their pet will never leave their sides, the fact of the matter is...a lost pet can happen to anyone.  Lorien chats with Gina Knepp about three tools every pet parent needs to keep their pets safe and HOME.  Learn about Petco Love Lost, PetHub digital IDs and Pawboost from one of the animal welfare industry's leading experts.  Gina Knepp is the National Shelter Engagement Director for Michelson Found Animals. Previously serving as Animal Care Services Manager for Front Street Animal Shelter in Sacramento, California, Gina increased the live release rate from just 20% to over 90% through the development of new RTH policies and robust community engagement programs. She is also a one of the Managing Executive Committee of the Human Animal Support Services project. Thanks for listening! Check out our sponsor, PetHub for more great pet parent resources. Have an idea for a PetLoverGeek episode or have something else you want to share? Drop us a note to [email protected].

No matter if you are an experience pet parent or are just starting with your first fur kid, you probably are experiencing at least some stress with getting veterinary care for your pets.  One solution that is new to the industry and desperately needed is telehealth for pets.  We are all familiar by now with what telemedicine is for us as humans – but how does it work for our pets?  What IS telehealth for pets? When should you use it? How does it work? How can it help you save time and money?  To answer these questions and more, we’ve invited Dr. Seth Vrendenberg from VetInsight to help us dig and learn more. Thanks for listening! Check out our sponsor, PetHub for more great pet parent resources. Have an idea for a PetLoverGeek episode or have something else you want to share? Drop us a note to [email protected].

Sure, you were given a little bag of puppy food when you brought home your new pup. But do you really understand what your new fur baby's nutritional needs are?  What about vaccinations and the first vet visit?  And did you know what common household items are actually su-paw dangerous for your furry little one?   This episode features helpful advice from pet nutrition expert, Dr. Ruth Ann Lobos, and pet health & safety expert, Dr. Jason Nicholas to help you provide optimum health, safety and nutrition for your newest family member.  Thanks for listening! Check out our sponsor, PetHub for more great pet parent resources. Have an idea for a PetLoverGeek episode or have something else you want to share? Drop us a note to [email protected].

Is your pet overweight? Studies show that over 50% of American dogs and cats are clinically overweight. Learn about the dangers of pet obesity and how to keep your pet's weight healthy. Thanks for listening! Check out our sponsor, PetHub for more great pet parent resources. Have an idea for a PetLoverGeek episode or have something else you want to share? Drop us a note to [email protected].

Choosing the "right" food for your dog can be confusing (to say the least!).  The options are overwhelming, the selection is HUGE. Where does one even begin to know where to start? You’ve got "Premium" and "Complete & Balanced" and “Grain Free” and “Natural” and "Raw" and a whole slew of other marketing terms. And what you wanna know, when you're looking at this really cool looking bag that you're pulling off the shelf, "Is it really meeting my dog's nutritional needs? Is this the best I can get for them? How do I know?" The topic of this episode is the science of pet food, specifically dog food, and knowing what to look for when you are choosing nutrition for your fur kids. To help you navigate the dog food aisle and to also help us navigate the wilds of internet opinion about pet feeding, we've invited noted veterinary nutritionist Lisa Weeth to the show. Thanks for listening! Check out our sponsor, PetHub for more great pet parent resources. Have an idea for a PetLoverGeek episode or have something else you want to share? Drop us a note to [email protected].

This episode sniffs around the subject of how video content can effectively stimulate and even comfort your dog’s brain. We dig into DogTV, who have successfully created scientifically-backed programming that can help reduce stress and anxiety in dogs. You'll learn about:  How visual stimuli can impact a dog’s behaviorWays in which exposure to sounds can help dogs become acclimated to the sounds and reduce their anxietyHow dogs are more positively impacted by listening to specific music than by other auditory stimulation.How DogTV has scientifically refined their content production over the years to optimize your dog's viewing experienceThanks for listening! Check out our sponsor, PetHub for more great pet parent resources. Have an idea for a PetLoverGeek episode or have something else you want to share? Drop us a note to [email protected].

Training is a huge part of keeping pets happy safe and home for the rest of their lives. 1 in 10 rescued pups are rehomed in 6 months due to obedience issues, according to some studies, as high as 85% of dogs have behavior issues…and almost half of those issues are due to fear and anxiety. There’s been more research on dog behavior in the last 10 years than in the entire 20K years that humans and dogs have been hanging out together, so this episode sniffs around the subject of the science behind dog training. You’ve probably seen some famous dog trainers on mainstream TV or social media, but are they really using scientifically proven methods to help a dog learn to be a good canine citizen?  And what exactly is behind your dog’s smelly behavior? All doggos can be very good boys or girls, and the problem is very often at the other end of the leash. Listen in as Lorien chats with  Gentle Beast founder and CEO, Ben Green.  Thanks for listening! Check out our sponsor, PetHub for more great pet parent resources. Have an idea for a PetLoverGeek episode or have something else you want to share? Drop us a note to [email protected].

Not all leashes, collars and harnesses are the same when it comes to calm and controlled walks with dogs that are triggered by other dogs, people or other distractions.  Learn how different types of tools can help make "walkies" better. In this  episode, Lorien chats with Heather Beck, the owner and founder of Heather's Heroes. Heather knows all about tough-to-train dogs and how the right tools can make a world of difference. Don't miss out on this informative episode that could help you with your fur buddy! Show Notes:  Heathersheroes.com  k9lifeline.dog Thanks for listening! Check out our sponsor, PetHub for more great pet parent resources. Have an idea for a PetLoverGeek episode or have something else you want to share? Drop us a note to [email protected].

We pay a lot of attention to dogs on this show but we don't forget about the cats! Join Lorien as she interviews four different cat industry experts on how to enrich your cat's life. In part one of this From the Vault episode, you will hear from Marci Kowski and Damien Hall about some solutions to a bored cat and how to improve your bond with them! Show Notes: https://felinebehaviorsolutions.com/ https://catit.com/ Thanks for listening! Check out our sponsor, PetHub for more great pet parent resources. Have an idea for a PetLoverGeek episode or have something else you want to share? Drop us a note to [email protected].

Do you pay attention to how your dog is feeling? Probably. Do your KIDS pay attention? Likely not...and that can lead to chaos and potential big issues (bites and other injuries for both the kids and dogs!).  Join us to hear Lorien's chat with Justine Schuurmans, the CEO and Founder of The Family Dog about how "listening" to your dog, and teaching kids how to properly behave around dogs can help create peace in your household.  Did you know that dogs have 16 different ways they show us they are unhappy before they growl, and 18 before they bite!? Tune in to this episode of Pet Lover Geek to learn more about your relationship with your dog. Thanks for listening! Check out our sponsor, PetHub for more great pet parent resources. Have an idea for a PetLoverGeek episode or have something else you want to share? Drop us a note to [email protected].

Many of us love to hike, and most of us love to be able to take our four-legged friends with us, but how do you know what to take? What steps do you need to take to make sure your pet will have an enjoyable and safe time? How can you find the best places to take your pups on an adventure with you? On today’s show, we will be talking to some of the best in the industry when it comes to hiking with your beloved fur kids! Show Notes: https://youdidwhatwithyourweiner.com/ https://www.gopetfriendly.com/ Thanks for listening! Check out our sponsor, PetHub for more great pet parent resources. Have an idea for a PetLoverGeek episode or have something else you want to share? Drop us a note to [email protected].