The Pet Parent Hotline
The Pet Parent Hotline is for pet parents who love their pets, but feel overwhelmed by behavior problems, rising vet bills, conflicting advice, and the daily stress of trying to do right by their pets without losing themselves in the process.If your dog has behavior issues, your cat is doing something you do not understand, your household feels chaotic, or you are worried about the cost of pet care, this podcast gives you practical pet parenting advice you can actually use. You will get real-world help with dog training challenges, cat behavior problems, vet visits, pet care costs, multi-pet household stress, and the everyday decisions that can leave even devoted pet parents exhausted.Hosted by Amy Castro, animal rescue veteran, former veterinary assistant, and longtime advocate for pets and the people who love them, The Pet Parent Hotline helps you cut through bad advice, avoid costly mistakes, and make smarter choices with more confidence.With more than 4,000 foster pets under her care and 15+ years of rescue experience, Amy brings honest guidance that works in real life, not just in theory.You love your pets. You should not have to live in constant stress because of them.New episodes every week.
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 pet…
New to The Pet Parent Hotline?
Aug. 10, 2025
New Here? Start With Real Pet Parenting Solutions: The Pet Parent Hotline Trailer
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 Pet Parent Hotline, your lifeline for real pet parenting advice. This isn’t another fluffy pet podcast. Each week we tackle the problems that keep you up at night, like how to afford vet care, stop common behavior mistakes, save money on pet food, and keep your home clean an
April 11, 2023
Is Your Pet’s Food Making Them Sick?
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...
Nov. 14, 2023
Pet Sitter vs Boarding: How To Choose The Right Pet Care
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) • ...
Oct. 31, 2023
20 Rescue-Tested Pet Products We Swear By
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...
July 12, 2026
Moving Cross-Country With 6 Pets: Lessons From 2,200 Miles
Moving cross-country with pets is not the same as taking your dog for a quick ride around town. In this episode of The Pet Parent Hotline, Amy shares the practical lessons she learned from a 2,200-mile move with one other adult and six pets. This is not a perfect travel checklist or a generic pet travel episode. It is the real-life stuff that matters when you’re on the road for days, juggling multiple animals, an RV, a car, overnight stops, messes, medication timing, and pets who are complete...
July 5, 2026
When a Pet Is Loved but Not Safe: Understanding Behavioral Euthanasia
Behavioral euthanasia is one of the hardest and most misunderstood decisions a pet parent may ever face. While most people think of euthanasia as something reserved for pets who are elderly, sick, or physically suffering, serious behavior problems can also become quality-of-life and safety issues. In this episode of The Pet Parent Hotline, board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Lore Haug explains what behavioral euthanasia actually means, why it is not only about aggression, and why a pet wh
June 28, 2026
Why Isn't Training Working for My Dog?
If you’ve ever said, “We tried training, and it didn’t work,” this episode is for you. This week, Amy talks with Em Breslin, host of the podcast The Dog Who Asked for More, about why dog training sometimes fails and what pet parents may be missing when they feel stuck. Em is a dog trainer, Certified Professional Canine Nutritionist, and retired veterinary technician with more than 20 years of experience in veterinary medicine, behavior support, enrichment, and nutrition. This conversation is ...
June 21, 2026
When the Life You Built No Longer Fits: Pets, Grief, and Moving Forward
What do you do when the life you built around your pets, your purpose, and your plans no longer fits the life you're actually living? In this raw, personal episode, Amy talks about leaving the seven-acre Texas property she bought with her husband less than two years before he died of COVID. What once felt like a dream built around rescue, animals, space, and a future together eventually became more than she could keep carrying on her own. This is not another episode about why Amy stepped back fr
June 14, 2026
What Your Vet Wishes You Understood About Them
Most pet parents see veterinarians during some of the most stressful moments of pet ownership: when a pet is sick, injured, aging, or facing an expensive medical decision. But what many people never see is the pressure veterinarians themselves are carrying into those conversations. In this episode, Amy sits down with equine veterinarian, stand-up comedian, and author Dr. Matt Evans to talk about the human side of veterinary medicine and why communication between pet parents and vets can sometime
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About the Hosts
Amy P. Castro, MA, CSP
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.
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Salomi Odenall
Salomi Odenaal