The Pet Parent Hotline: Real Talk and Expert Advice for Life with Pets
The Pet Parent Hotline is your lifeline when loving your pets starts to feel like losing your mind. If you thought bringing home a pet would add joy but now find yourself scrubbing pee at midnight, budgeting around $400 vet bills, and skipping self-care (again) because no one else remembers to walk the dog, you’re in the right place.
Hosted by pet industry expert and animal rescue veteran Amy Castro, this podcast is here to help you stop chasing your tail and start creating a life with pets that actually works. No judgment. No fluff. Just real talk, expert strategies, and practical solutions that fit your real life—not the one shown in curated Instagram grids.
New to The Pet Parent Hotline?
Think getting a pet would make life better? Instead, you’re staring at sky-high vet bills, a dog that won’t stop barking, a cat refusing the litter box, and endless late-night searches for solutions. That’s why I created The ...
Is Your Pet’s Food Helping or Hurting Their Health? With nearly 900 pet food brands on the market, how are you supposed to know what’s actually good for your pet? In this episode, I’m joined by holistic veterinarian Dr. Jeff Grognet to cut through the confusion and give you real answers about pet nutrition. We talk about the truth behind pet obesity, why so many foods are loaded with hidden carbs, and the most common myths pet parents believe about what’s “healthy.” 🎧 By the time you finish l...
Leaving town and trying to decide between dog boarding or cat boarding and a pet sitter? In this episode, Amy Castro and veterinarian Dr. Aresue Shokrollahi (aka Dr. Zoo) walk through the real pros and cons of both pet care options, so you can choose based on your pet’s personality, health needs, anxiety level, and the quality and accountability of care available. BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL DISCOVER: • What planning matters either way (food, meds, routines, and house rules) • ...
Tired of Wasting Money on Pet Products That Don’t Work? If you’ve ever bought a pet bed your dog wouldn’t touch or a cleaner that didn’t stand a chance against cat pee, this episode is for you. In this episode, I’m sharing the top 20 must-have pet products that have made life at Starlight Outreach and Rescue easier and improved the lives of the pets we care for every day. These are the tried-and-true items we actually use, love, and recommend. 🎧 By the time you finish listening, you’ll discov...
Should You Get A Dog For Your Dog, Or Is It a Big Mistake?
Should you get a dog for your dog… or are you about to double your stress, noise, behavior issues, and vet bills? Many pet parents see a bored, clingy, or “lonely” dog and assume the solution is a companion, a boyfriend, girl...
Ask These Questions Before You Say Yes At The Vet
Have you ever walked out of the vet thinking, I should’ve asked more… but it happened so fast? This episode is for the moment you’re sitting in the exam room, your brain goes blank, and the vet is moving on to the next step before you’ve processed what you just heard. In this episode, I’m giving you real, usable phrases to ask about priorities, timing, options, and cost, plus what to say when you need to pause or say no, without sounding rude, cheap, or like you don’t care. You’re not “being…
One Question That Helps You Speak Up at the Vet | Pet Parent Power Up
Ever walked out of the vet with a receipt and regret because you didn't ask about options, priorities, or cost? You are not the only one. Most pet parents do not stay quiet because they do not have questions. They stay quiet because they are worried about how the question will make them sound, like they are difficult, cheap, dumb, or like they are questioning the vet. In this Pet Parent Power-Up bonus episode, I am giving you one simple question to ask yourself before the appointment th…
$10 And 2 Minutes To Help Your Pet Live Longer?
What if a $10 purchase used 2 minutes a day could help your pet live better and longer? Most pet parents know they “should” brush their pet's teeth, but fewer than 10% actually do. So, dental disease quietly builds for years ...
Pet Tech: How to Tell What’s Actually Worth It
Pet tech is exploding, and a lot of it looks amazing right up until you’re the one charging it, cleaning it, troubleshooting it, and regretting the money you spent. In this episode, AI and tech consultant Debbie Richards brea...
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About the Host
Host
Amy Castro is a professional speaker, author, trainer and consultant, and columnist for Pet Age Magazine. She's the founder and president of Starlight Outreach and Rescue (www.StarlightOutreachandRescue.org), a Houston, Texas area 501c3 nonprofit animal rescue whose mission is to rescue animals from the community, support shelters in providing medical treatment for at-risk pets, community outreach for pet owners in need, and educating pet parents to help keep pets in homes and off the streets.
Amy started the Starlight Pet Talk Podcast in 2023 as an extension of the rescue's education efforts to be able to reach more pet parents and help them solve their biggest problems so they can live their best lives with the pets they love.
Amy is also a proud USAF veteran and has personally fostered more than 3000 animals during her time in animal rescue.