Ever feel like you're the only one who remembers to feed the dog, clean the litter box, or refill the water bowls? You’re not alone, and you don’t have to keep doing it all.

This bonus summer episode gives you a complete system to get your household to step up and share the pet care load, without nagging, yelling, or turning into the resentful pet parent you swore you’d never be.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL DISCOVER:

• The communication traps that keep you stuck doing everything yourself
• How to host a productive “pet care reset” meeting that works
• Step-by-step ways to assign tasks fairly and create accountability
• What to say when someone forgets their pet care job without starting a fight

If you’re ready to stop being the unpaid CEO of Pet Operations and finally get the help you deserve, this episode is your action plan.

Bonus download mentioned in the episode: Get your FREE guide to getting help with pet care.

Comment on this episode! For questions or if you need a reply- please email us at Amy@StarlightPetTalk.com

Support the show

Love the show? Share with a pet parent who needs less chaos and more clarity and please leave a 5-star review to help more pet parents find support.

🎧Free Guide: 10 Tips for Bonding With Your Pet

Follow:
🌍Official Site |📱Facebook |📺YouTube | 🍏 Apple |🎵Spotify

Contact: Amy@muddypawsandhairballs.com

Shop & support the show:

• Austin & Kat: Natural Wellness Supplements
• Embark Dog DNA Test
• Bonne et Filou: Luxury Dog Treats
• Majestic Pet: Custom Pet Beds & More

UPDATE: We’re back with new episodes August 10! In the meantime, binge from over 100 great past episodes.

©Ⓟ 2025 ...

What if the no-kill movement isn’t saving animals but failing them?

It promised to end unnecessary euthanasia and revolutionize sheltering. But behind the glowing stats and feel-good slogans lies a much messier reality, one most people don’t want to talk about.

In this episode, I sit down with animal welfare expert Daniel Ettinger to expose the unintended consequences of chasing a 90 percent live release rate. From shelters closing their doors to avoid euthanasia to animals being warehoused for years, the system is cracking and those of us on the ground are feeling the weight.

As a longtime rescuer, I’ve seen firsthand how “no-kill” often means no space, no support, and no plan. Daniel introduces a better framework: SMART (Saving More Animals Responsibly Together), a humane, community-based approach rooted in transparency, responsible care, and real solutions.

🎧 By the time you finish listening, you’ll discover:

• Why the 90 percent benchmark is doing more harm than good
• How “saving” animals can sometimes mean compromising their quality of life
• What the SMART approach offers that no-kill doesn't, and how you can help

If you’ve ever felt uneasy about what’s happening behind the scenes in animal rescue, this episode will make you feel seen and give you hope for a more honest path forward.

Comment on this episode! For questions or if you need a reply- please email us at Amy@StarlightPetTalk.com

Support the show

Love the show? Share with a pet parent who needs less chaos and more clarity and please leave a 5-star review to help more pet parents find support.

🎧Free Guide: 10 Tips for Bonding With Your Pet

Follow:
🌍Official Site |📱Facebook |📺YouTube | 🍏 Apple |🎵Spotify

Contact: Amy@muddypawsandhairballs.com

Shop & support the show:

• Austin & Kat: Natural Wellness Supplements
• Embark Dog DNA Test
• Bonne et Filou: Luxury Dog Treats
• Majestic Pet: Custom Pet Beds & More

UPDATE: We’re back with new episodes August 10! In the meantime, binge from over 100 great past episodes.

©Ⓟ 2025 ...

What happens when your love for animals becomes the thing that breaks you?

I broke down in the middle of a hurricane, sobbing, soaked, and desperately trying to keep my barn from blowing away while sick kittens cried in a barely secured shed. That was the moment I knew something had to change.

In this raw, no-holds-barred solo episode, I share the story I’ve kept quiet for too long. The mental, emotional, and physical toll of being the yes person in animal rescue nearly destroyed me.

With more than 4,000 animals fostered, a seven-acre property turned sanctuary, and a rescue I’ve built from the ground up, I hit a wall. I’ve weathered loss, illness, and natural disasters while trying to hold everything together. Now I’m telling the truth behind the polished social media posts.

🎧 In this episode, I share:

• Why saying yes to every animal can mean saying no to the ones you could actually help
• The emotional cost of euthanasia decisions and the savior complex baked into rescue culture
• The exact moment I realized my passion had turned into a compulsion
• Why I’m stepping back, not walking away, to rebuild with purpose
• How I’m reshaping my rescue to focus on advocacy, boundaries, and sustainability
• A preview of my upcoming interview on the truth behind the no-kill movement and what SMART sheltering really looks like

If you're a rescuer on the edge of burnout, consider this your permission to pause and breathe. And if you’ve ever loved someone in rescue, this is your honest, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to save lives without losing your own.

Comment on this episode! For questions or if you need a reply- please email us at Amy@StarlightPetTalk.com

Support the show

Love the show? Share with a pet parent who needs less chaos and more clarity and please leave a 5-star review to help more pet parents find support.

🎧Free Guide: 10 Tips for Bonding With Your Pet

Follow:
🌍Official Site |📱Facebook |📺YouTube | 🍏 Apple |🎵Spotify

Contact: Amy@muddypawsandhairballs.com

Shop & support the show:

• Austin & Kat: Natural Wellness Supplements
• Embark Dog DNA Test
• Bonne et Filou: Luxury Dog Treats
• Majestic Pet: Custom Pet Beds & More

UPDATE: We’re back with new episodes August 10! In the meantime, binge from over 100 great past episodes.

©Ⓟ 2025 ...