135. Pet Fire Safety, Shelter Makeovers & Wild Tales from the Vet Clinic

In this episode of the Pets Add Life Podcast, hosts Chris Bonifati and Kristen Levine explore the people, places, and everyday decisions that can make life safer and better for our pets. From transforming an animal shelter and preparing pets for a home emergency to understanding the essential role veterinary technicians play behind the scenes, this episode combines practical advice with inspiring stories from the pet community. Story Time features: Chris shares the story of Helen Woodward Animal Center’s annual Puppy Prom, a creative fundraiser that brings pets and their people together in formal attire, contests, and plenty of fun while raising money to support animals and programs at the Center. Kristen highlights a recent study exploring how dogs respond to human facial expressions. Using brain imaging with awake dogs, researchers found evidence that dogs process different human emotional expressions differently—including a distinct response to happy faces—adding to our understanding of how closely dogs pay attention to human emotions. Special Guests: Art Edmonds, Host & Executive Producer of *Home for Good* Art takes listeners behind the scenes of *Home for Good*, the renovation series airing on ABC stations nationwide that celebrates first responders, veterans, and other community heroes. He shares how the show transformed key areas of PAWS Atlanta, one of Metro Atlanta’s longstanding no-kill shelters, and explains why improving the shelter’s animal intake area could make a meaningful difference for both incoming pets and the people caring for them. Art also shares important pet fire and emergency preparedness advice, including creating an evacuation plan, preparing a pet go-bag with medications, food and important records, making sure first responders know pets are inside the home, and never re-entering a burning building to rescue a pet yourself. Walter Brown, Veterinary Technician, Content Creator & *Wild Tails* Cast Member Walter “Skinni Go Live” Brown returns to the podcast to talk about DOGTV’s original series *Wild Tails* and why sharing the real experiences of veterinary technicians is so important. He discusses the vital role vet techs play in animal care, the chemistry between the *Wild Tails* cast, and how humor, communication and understanding pet parents can make a difference inside the veterinary clinic. Pet Product Recommendations: TRIXIE Snuffle Mat Level 1 Enrichment Interactive Feeding Game – https://www.chewy.com/trixie-snuffle-mat-level-1-enrichment/dp/1290686 Petco Glow in the Dark Pet Jacket – https://www.petco.com/product/petco-glow-in-the-dark-pet-jacket-x-small-4715046 Q&A Topics: We recently got our first guinea pig, and I’m worried he might get lonely when no one is home. Are guinea pigs happier living with another guinea pig, and what should a new owner know before introducing a companion? (Submitted by Michelle from Raleigh, NC) My cat is really anxious and hides whenever we have visitors or if there’s a change in the house. How can you tell the difference between a naturally shy cat and a cat that’s genuinely struggling with anxiety? And what can we do to help her feel safer? (Submitted by Daniel from Brooklyn, NY) Related Links: Home for Good – https://www.kidde.com/safety-hub/home-safety/home-for-good PAWS Atlanta – https://www.pawsatlanta.org Wild Tails on DOGTV – https://watch.dogtv.com/wild-tails Helen Woodward Animal Center – https://animalcenter.org Helen Woodward Animal Center Puppy Prom – https://animalcenter.org/puppy-prom-2026/ Walter “Skinni Go Live” Brown on DOGTV – https://www.dogtv.com American Pet Products Association (APPA) – https://www.americanpetproducts.org DOGTV – https://www.dogtv.com Pets Add Life – https://www.petsaddlife.org Social Channels: Walter “Skinni Go Live” Brown (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/skinnigolive/ Walter “Skinni Go Live” Brown (TikTok): https://www.tiktok.com/@skinnigolive DOGTV (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/dogtv 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/c/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