In this moving and insightful episode of the Pets Add Life Podcast, hosts Chris Bonifati and Kristen Levine explore how pets help create inclusion, connection, and community. From medieval cats in art to modern dog-centered social spaces, and from therapy dogs in classrooms to the importance of oral health, this episode highlights how animals continue to shape human lives in profound ways.
Story Time features: Chris shares a fascinating story from the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, where a new exhibit titled Paws on Parchment showcases how cats appeared in medieval manuscripts — including preserved inky paw prints from a 15th-century monastery cat that walked across a monk’s work.
Kristen highlights a new dog-centered destination in Portland, Maine — an all-season indoor/outdoor dog park, daycare, and social space designed to bring people and pets together, offering a modern solution to community-building and social connection.
Special Guests: Chris Hanna, Founder of the Team Cole Project
Dr. Jan Bellows, Board-Certified Veterinary Dentist & Educator
Pet Product Recommendations: Simplehuman Airtight Pet Food Storage Container – https://amzn.to/4jLVEu4
PlaqueOff Powder for Cats (Swedencare) – https://us.swedencare.com/proden-plaqueoff-powder-for-cats/
Q&A Topics: Is it too late to socialize an adult dog that missed early socialization during the pandemic? (Submitted by Evan from Brooklyn, NY)
How can pet parents balance vaccines, parasite prevention, and testing to keep pets healthy without overdoing it? (Submitted by Kim from Orlando, FL)
Related Links: Team Cole Project: https://thedeafdog.com
Walters Art Museum: https://thewalters.org
Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC): https://vohc.org
American Pet Products Association (APPA): https://www.americanpetproducts.org
DOGTV Unleashed FAST Channel: https://www.dogtv.com/unleashed
Pets Add Life: https://www.petsaddlife.org
Social Channels: 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/@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
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