In this New Year’s Eve edition of the Pets Add Life Podcast, hosts Chris Bonifati and Kristen Levine reflect on the year ahead with thought-provoking stories, inspiring guests, and meaningful conversations about the human-animal bond. From surprising animal intelligence to life-changing relationships between pets and people, this episode sets the tone for a compassionate and hopeful new year.
Story Time features: Kristen shares a roundup of pet industry stock trends and investment insights, highlighting how rising veterinary care costs and pet insurance adoption are shaping the future of the pet economy heading into 2026.
Chris breaks down a fascinating news story from British Columbia where a wild wolf was captured on video using a floating object to retrieve food from a trap — a possible first documented case of tool use by a wild wolf, offering new insight into animal intelligence and problem-solving.
Special Guests: Aimee Gilbreath, President, PetSmart Charities®
Julie Barton, Author of Dog Medicine: How My Dog Saved Me from Myself
Pet Product Recommendations: Oxbow Critical Care Carnivore (for sick or recovering cats and carnivorous pets) – https://www.chewy.com/oxbow-critical-care-carnivore-small/dp/704838
MicroDog “Clarity” Cognitive Support Supplement for Senior Dogs – https://mycodog.com/products/mycodog-clarity?variant=40604507832383
Q&A Topics: How can I create a safe, enriching home environment for a pet rabbit, and what are the most common mistakes new rabbit owners make? (Submitted by Daniel from Columbus, OH)
My cat scratches all the furniture and my spouse is at their breaking point — how can we redirect this behavior without stressing our cat? (Submitted by Michael from Atlanta, GA)
Related Links: PetSmart Charities: https://www.petsmartcharities.org
Julie Barton – Dog Medicine: https://juliebarton.com/dog-medicine
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
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
Two Guys, Five Rings: Matt, Bowen & The Olympics
Two Guys (Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers). Five Rings (you know, from the Olympics logo). One essential podcast for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Bowen Yang (SNL, Wicked) and Matt Rogers (Palm Royale, No Good Deed) of Las Culturistas are back for a second season of Two Guys, Five Rings, a collaboration with NBC Sports and iHeartRadio. In this 15-episode event, Bowen and Matt discuss the top storylines, obsess over Italian culture, and find out what really goes on in the Olympic Village.