82. Honoring, Healing & Holding On

In this gentle, heart-opening episode of Pets Add Life, Kristin Levine is joined by guest co-host Jamie Popper to guide us through moments of love, loss, and memory. With end‑of‑life conversations, tools for grief, and ways to honor our pets, this show is all about preparing, remembering, and celebrating the strength of the human‑animal bond. Story Time Jamie’s Wearable for Competition Dogs & Their Longevity Jamie shares about a project by the AKC Canine Health Foundation developing a wearable sensor + app that tracks small changes in agility and performance—movement in jumps or wave poles—to detect early strain or fatigue. It’s for competitive dogs, but it could help all dogs stay healthier longer. Kristin’s Pet Memorial Practices To mark National Pet Memorial Day, Kristin describes how she built a small home memorial for Chili: favorite toys, photos, a candle, and a place you walk by each day. She also suggests how friends can help—sympathy cards, shared memories, small donations—all to honor a pet’s life.   Special Guests Adam Greenbaum, Founder of Love, Baxter A tech‑and‑empathy entrepreneur who built Love, Baxter—an end‑of‑life pet platform offering support, content, & tools for pet parents navigating grief, loss, and legacy. Love, Baxter Dr. Monica Mansfield, D.V.M. Veterinarian & author of When You Have to Say Goodbye: Loving and Letting Go of Your Pet, a fully illustrated children’s book written to help kids and families understand pet loss with compassion. whenyouhavetosaygoodbye.com+1 Pet Product Recommendations Respondix Animal Therapeutics PEMF Bed (Jamie’s pick) A bed equipped with pulsed electromagnetic field therapy. Jamie uses it with her senior Australian Shepherd and her sport dog to reduce inflammation, boost circulation, ease pain and help with recovery. Gentle, restorative, non-invasive. Sable & Sage Sympathy & Pet Greeting Cards (Kristin’s pick) Beautiful, pet‑themed cards, including sympathy cards specific to different pets (dogs, cats, horses, etc.). Having them on hand means you can quickly send something heartfelt when someone is grieving. Q&A from Audience “How do I know if my current dog is ready for a second dog—and how to introduce them well?” Tips: assess your dog’s temperament & social behavior; match energy & play styles; arrange a neutral meet & greet; proceed slowly with introductions. (Answered by Kristin & Jamie.) “My 4‑month‑old puppy still has accidents at night, even with crate training. What’s an effective potty training method?” Advice: rule out medical issues first (UTI, parasites, loose stool); use enzyme cleaners to remove odor; schedule feedings and bathroom breaks; teach signals and supervise; take puppy out after naps, after drinkings, before bedtime. (Answered by Jamie.) Related Links Love, Baxter – Resources, grief support, and memorial store: https://lovebaxter.com/ Love, Baxter When You Have to Say Goodbye: Loving and Letting Go of Your Pet by Dr. Monica Mansfield: https://whenyouhavetosaygoodbye.com/ whenyouhavetosaygoodbye.com Social & Where to Watch Watch this episode on Dog TV Unleashed channel (Amazon FAST Channels) and the Pets Add Life YouTube page. Follow Pets Add Life on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/petsaddlife Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/petsaddlife TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@petsaddlife