91. Pet Loss, Healing Hearts & Building Stronger Bonds with Dogs

In this heartfelt episode of the Pets Add Life Podcast, hosts Chris Bonifati and Kristen Levine explore the emotional side of pet ownership—from coping with loss to deepening our connection with the dogs we love. Together, they share moving stories, expert advice, and practical tools to strengthen the human-animal bond. Story Time features: Kristen shares a quirky seasonal story about Florida’s “falling iguanas” phenomenon and how cold weather can cause reptiles to literally drop from trees—reminding pet owners to stay alert during chilly southern nights. Chris recounts a headline-grabbing story from the London Pet Show Live, where the event collapsed due to fraud and mismanagement—offering a behind-the-scenes reminder that successful pet expos like Global Pet Expo take immense dedication and expertise. Special Guests: Renee Talbott Author of Unleash Your Grief: The Truth About Pet Loss Maggie Marton, Author of For the Love of Dog: The Ultimate Relationship Guide for You and Your Dog Pet Product Recommendations: Pride + Groom “The Mane Tame” Dry Shampoo for Dogs – https://prideandgroom.com/products/the-mitt-kit Wowowo Dog Backpack Carrier – https://amzn.to/3WOrift Q&A Topics: How to litter train a newly adopted shelter cat and understand feline behavior (Submitted by Carlos from Austin, TX) How to register a dog as a service animal and determine if they’re a good candidate (Submitted by Janelle from Columbus, OH) Related Links: Unleash Your Grief: https://www.unleashyourgrief.com For the Love of Dog: https://www.maggiemarton.com Neighborhood Pets: https://www.neighborhoodpetscle.org K9s for Warriors: https://www.k9sforwarriors.org American Pet Products Association (APPA): https://www.americanpetproducts.org DOGTV Unleashed FAST Channel: https://www.dogtv.com/unleashed Pets Add Life: https://www.petsaddlife.org Social Channels: Pets Add Life (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/petsaddlife Pets Add Life (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/PetsAddLife Pets Add Life (TikTok): https://www.tiktok.com/@petsaddlife Pets Add Life (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/@petsaddlife Subscribe & Listen: Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts! Submit a question to the podcast: https://www.petsaddlife.org/podcast Presented by: American Pet Products Association (APPA) & DOGTV