Unleashed Curiosity: Dog & Cat Health, Nutrition & Vet Advice by Vital Pet Life

Big dogs aren’t entering shelters at a higher rate than smaller dogs, yet they wait the longest and make up the smallest share of adoptions. Why?In this episode, Donie and Dr. Amber Da Silva, DVM, unpack the 2026 State of Shelter Pet Adoption Report and what it reveals about large dog adoption. The answer isn’t what most people expect. It isn’t about loving big dogs less. It’s about confidence, cost, and housing rules stacking up in the way.What you’ll hear:Why large dogs wait longest in U.S. sheltersThe confidence gap: almost 90% of likely adopters feel ready for a big dog, compared with about a third of those unlikely to adoptWhat would actually help: lower adoption fees, training access, and financial help with startup costsWhy Gen Z and millennials are the most open to adopting a big dog and the most likely to run into rental restrictionsIf you’ve ever scrolled past a big dog’s shelter profile and talked yourself out of it, this one is for you. Naming the real barrier is the first step toward solving it.❤️ Connect with us:ᐧ Check out our website: http://www.unleashedcuriosity.com/ᐧ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/showcase/unleashed-curiosity-podcastᐧ Facebook -facebook.com/vitalpetlifeᐧ TikTok:@vitalpetlifeᐧ Instagram:@vitalpetlifeᐧ X:@vitalpetlifeᐧ YouTube:@vitalpetlifeᐧ Check out our website: www.vitalpetlife.com🎧 You may also enjoy: Beyond the Bowl: How Keepsakes Help Pet Parents Hold On ft. Scott Meier https://smartlink.ausha.co/unleashedcuriosity/beyond-the-bowl-how-keepsakes-help-pet-parents-hold-on-ft-scott-meierMusic: Life of Riley by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)Don't forget to follow us or send us your questions at [email protected]. Thank you for tuning in!#LargeDogAdoption #BigDogs #ShelterDogs #AdoptDontShop #DogAdoption #RescueDogs #PetAdoption #FirstTimeDogOwner #PetParents #PetPodcast #UnleashedCuriosity #VitalPetLifeHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Beyond the Bowl: How Keepsakes Help Pet Parents Hold On ft. Scott MeierMost pet parents think of the bond in terms of daily life. Scott Meier thinks of it in terms of what's left after. As the owner of Budsies, Petsies, and Stuffed Animal Pros, he turns that bond into custom plush keepsakes. Donie Yamamoto and Dr. Amber Da Silva, DVM, talk with Scott about why pets become central to our lives, what customer stories taught him about comfort and connection, and his mission flying 100 rescued dogs and cats from Puerto Rico with The Sato Project and Wings of Rescue.Topics covered:🎬 From film and television to the pet keepsake business🐾 Why pets become part of our identity and daily routines🧸 How custom plush keepsakes are made from a pet's own photos💙 What thousands of customer stories reveal about comfort and connection🎨 Why personalization matters and how artists capture every detail✈️ Flying 100 rescued dogs and cats with The Sato Project and Wings of Rescue💙 Connect with our guest, Scott Meier:ᐧ Website: mypetsies.comᐧ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Petsiesᐧ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/petsies❤️ Connect with us:ᐧ Check out our website: http://www.unleashedcuriosity.com/ᐧ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/showcase/unleashed-curiosity-podcastᐧ Facebook -facebook.com/vitalpetlifeᐧ TikTok:@vitalpetlifeᐧ Instagram:@vitalpetlifeᐧ X:@vitalpetlifeᐧ YouTube:@vitalpetlifeᐧ Check out our website: www.vitalpetlife.com🎧 You may also enjoy: Why Nearly Half of Pet Parents Say Their Dog Is Their Soulmatehttps://smartlink.ausha.co/unleashedcuriosity/why-nearly-half-of-pet-parents-say-their-dog-is-their-soulmateMusic: Life of Riley by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)Don't forget to follow us or send us your questions at [email protected]. Thank you for tuning in!#UnleashedCuriosity #VitalPetLife #HumanAnimalBond #PetKeepsakes #Petsies #Budsies #ScottMeier #RescueDogs #PetCare #PetPodcastHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Half of dog owners say their dog, not a romantic partner, is their soulmate. Donie and Dr. Amber Da Silva, DVM break down a new survey on the pet-owner bond, and the science that explains why it might not be an exaggeration at all.🐕 The stats: 88% call it a soul-level connection, and half turn to their dog first for comfort, even before friends and family✨ Why so many owners even know their dog's astrological sign🧠 The oxytocin research behind mutual eye contact between dogs and their people❤️ What this bond means for how we care for our dogs day to dayThe takeaway: this connection is real and measurable, and it deserves the same level of care you would give any relationship that means this much to you.❤️ Connect with us:ᐧ Check out our website: http://www.unleashedcuriosity.com/ᐧ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/showcase/unleashed-curiosity-podcastᐧ Facebook -facebook.com/vitalpetlifeᐧ TikTok:@vitalpetlifeᐧ Instagram:@vitalpetlifeᐧ X:@vitalpetlifeᐧ YouTube:@vitalpetlifeᐧ Check out our website: www.vitalpetlife.com🎧 You may also enjoy:Music: Life of Riley by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)Don't forget to follow us or send us your questions at [email protected]. Thank you for tuning in!Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

The Vet Who Goes Anywhere: Dr. Cliff Redford on a Life of International RescueIn this episode of Unleashed Curiosity, Donie Yamamoto and Dr. Amber Da Silva, DVM, sit down with Dr. Cliff Redford, veterinarian, author, filmmaker, and owner of Wellington Veterinary Hospital in Toronto. A three-week volunteer trip to Jamaica became a global mission, taking him to disaster zones, jungle clinics, and remote Arctic communities. Dr. Cliff also gives a first look at his memoir, Far and Wild: The Adventures of the Worldwide Vet.Topics covered:🌍 How a Jamaica trip became a global mission🐾 Caring for pets in remote communities💙 Why animals connect people across cultures📖 Inside Far and Wild, Dr. Cliff's memoir💙 Connect with our guest, Dr. Cliff Redford:ᐧ Book "Far and Wild": farandwild.caᐧ Website: drcliff.caᐧ Instagram: @drcliffworldwidevetᐧ Facebook: facebook.com/cliff.redfordPublishing dates for Far and Wild:ᐧ Canada: September 29, 2026 (already sold out on Amazon.ca and a best-seller)ᐧ U.S.: October 13, 2026ᐧ Australia/New Zealand: November 10, 2026ᐧ UK: November 12, 2026❤️ Connect with us:ᐧ Check out our website: http://www.unleashedcuriosity.com/ᐧ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/showcase/unleashed-curiosity-podcastᐧ Facebook -facebook.com/vitalpetlifeᐧ TikTok:@vitalpetlifeᐧ Instagram:@vitalpetlifeᐧ X:@vitalpetlifeᐧ YouTube:@vitalpetlifeᐧ Check out our website: www.vitalpetlife.com🎧 You may also enjoy:Music: Life of Riley by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)Don't forget to follow us or send us your questions at [email protected]. Thank you for tuning in!Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Your dog stops on the trail, tail down, and won't take another step. Would you know what they're trying to tell you?In this episode, Dr. Amber Da Silva sits down with Gina Gables, owner of Ma and Paw Kennel - Canine Training Services. Gina has spent 17 years training thousands of dogs to recognize and avoid rattlesnakes. She walks through what really happens on a rattlesnake avoidance course, and why she blends shaping and positive reinforcement instead of relying on one-trial learning. She also explains how a dog that knows the sight, sound, and smell of a rattlesnake can alert the whole family to danger.What you'll learn:How a multi-station course teaches dogs to recognize adult and baby rattlesnakes by sight, sound, and smellPositive reinforcement vs. one-trial learning, and why a stressed dog can't learnWhy rattlesnake season can be any season in Southern CaliforniaSimple safety habits for trails, hikes, and the backyardGina's take on the rattlesnake vaccine and where avoidance training fitsHow to build a snakebite emergency plan before you ever need oneMissed Part 1? Go back to Episode 103 for Dr. Amber's deep dive on snake season. https://vitalpet.life/unleashed-curiosity-episode-103Connect with our guest, Gina Gables:🌐 SnakeSafeDog.com❤️ Connect with us:ᐧ Check out our website: UnleashedcuriosityUnleashed Curiosity: Dog & Cat Health, Nutrition & Vet Advice by Vital Pet Lifeᐧ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/showcase/unleashed-curiosity-podcastᐧ Facebook -facebook.com/vitalpetlifeᐧ TikTok:@vitalpetlifeᐧ Instagram:@vitalpetlifeᐧ X:@vitalpetlifeᐧ YouTube:@vitalpetlifeᐧ Check out our website: www.vitalpetlife.com🎧 You may also enjoy: https://smartlink.ausha.co/unleashedcuriosity/new-state-laws-are-reshaping-pet-sales-vet-care-animal-welfareMusic: Life of Riley by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)Don't forget to follow us or send us your questions at [email protected]. Thank you for tuning in!#UnleashedCuriosity #RattlesnakeAvoidanceTraining #RattlesnakeSafety #SnakeSafeDog #SnakeSeason #DogSafetyHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.