Peggy interviews Mandy Kimmer, the public information officer for Orange County, Florida Parks and Recreation. They discussed the county's dog parks.

In this episode, Peggy spoke with Mandy Kimmer, the public information officer for Orange County, Florida Parks and Recreation. Mandy shared her nearly 19-year career with the county and discussed the history of Orange County's park system, which has grown from early family donations in the 1920s to now encompassing 114 parks, trails, and facilities serving 1.5 million residents and 200,000 daily visitors. They discussed the 14 dog parks throughout the county, which are fenced areas with separate spaces for large and small dogs, costing approximately $170,000 to install, and Mandy explained how these parks are important for residents who live in apartments or have limited outdoor space for their pets. The conversation also covered safety considerations, including restrictions at certain parks due to alligators and other wildlife, and Mandy emphasized that Orange County is a very dog-friendly destination for both residents and tourists.

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This podcast discussed the importance of professional certification in the dog training industry.

This episode of "All My Children Wear Fur Coats" featured Bradley Phifer, Executive Director of the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT), discussing the importance of professional certification in the dog training industry. Bradley explained that while anyone can call themselves a dog trainer, CCPDT provides independent credentialing through three levels of certification (CPDT-KA, CPDT-KSA, and CBCC-KA) that require 300 hours of hands-on experience and demonstrate competence through both knowledge and skills assessments. He highlighted how social media and the pandemic have changed dog ownership, making pet owners more knowledgeable but also creating challenges with behavior issues in dogs that were sheltered during COVID-19. Bradley emphasized that potential dog owners should ask certified trainers about their credentials, experience with specific breeds, training methods, and observe training sessions before hiring someone, noting that CCPDT's website offers a directory to help find certified professionals in any area.

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Peggy Hoyt interviewed Fiona Dobbrick, co-founder and CEO of Collagenie, about their certified organic collagen wellness products for pets. Fiona explained that Collagenie offers three types of certified organic meal toppers for pets: joint and mobility support, skin and coat health, and whole body boost blends. She discussed the benefits of collagen for pets, particularly supporting joint health and mobility, and emphasized that the products can be used preventatively rather than just for treating symptoms. Fiona shared challenges of bringing the Australian-made product to the US market, including compliance differences and shipping delays, but noted they are working with NASC (National Animal Supplements Council) to gain certification. She predicted that pet parents will increasingly adopt preventative wellness approaches over the next five years, following human health trends. The conversation concluded with information about Collagenie's upcoming product launches, including a functional range and dental chews, and a current 15% discount offer on their website.

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Peggy Hoyt, host of "All My Children Wear Fur Coats," interviewed Bill Bookout, president and board chair of the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC), to discuss pet supplement safety and upcoming legislation. Bill explained how NASC has worked for 25 years to establish quality standards for animal health supplements through co-regulation with regulators, representing over 330 brands in the industry. He highlighted significant concerns about low barriers to entry in the supplement market, sharing examples of scam companies creating fake products and misrepresenting NASC membership. Bill discussed the proposed Animal Health Supplement Act, legislation that would formally recognize health supplements as a distinct category under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, providing FDA oversight while maintaining reasonable barriers for small businesses. He emphasized that while the legislation would require companies to register with FDA, it would not necessarily mean product approval, and consumers should look for NASC quality seals and verify company credibility before purchasing. Bill also mentioned NASC's expansion into pet treats and global markets, and encouraged listeners to support the legislation by contacting their elected officials through the website saveanimalsupplements.org when the bill is introduced.

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Peggy interviewed Todd Dittman, Executive Director of IndiePet, a trade association representing independent and neighborhood pet stores. Todd explained that IndiePet was formed about 5 years ago to help small pet stores compete against mass merchandisers like Chewy and Amazon, currently representing 150 supplier members and 400 retailers with 1,600 store locations. They discussed the benefits of shopping at independent pet stores, including personalized product knowledge, ability to test products with pets present, and enhanced customer experience through services like grooming and self-bathing. Todd highlighted their annual Neighborhood Pet Store Day event happening September 25-27, 2026 which expects over 3,000 participating stores across the country, and mentioned that membership for retailers is only $50 per store per year. The conversation also covered upcoming trade shows like Global Pet Expo and SuperZoo, where new product innovations are showcased, and Todd shared his personal passion for working in the pet industry after previously working in retail and store fixtures.

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Peggy Hoyt interviewed Jamie Smith, CEO and co-founder of Innovative Pet Lab, about their at-home pet health testing services. Jamie explained that Innovative Pet Lab was founded by three former human diagnostics professionals who recognized gaps in pet healthcare testing, particularly for gut health issues. The company offers stool-based tests that screen for inflammation, immunity, leaky gut, digestion, microbiome status, detoxification, stress levels, and parasites, with results providing actionable recommendations for dietary changes, supplements, and lifestyle modifications. Jamie shared that their tests can help identify health issues before symptoms appear, allowing pet parents to address problems proactively rather than reactively. The company recently launched tests for horses and is working on partnerships with pet food and supplement brands to validate product claims. Jamie offered listeners a 25% discount code (GUTHEALTH25) for any test when visiting: https://www.innovativepetlab.com/discount/GutHealth25 , and encouraged them to sign up for the newsletter to learn about upcoming trials and brand partnerships.

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Peggy interviewed Anette Torjussen, founder of the Nordic School of Holistic Equine Therapy. Anette shared her 22-year journey from accounting to becoming an equine therapist, explaining how horses taught her humility and the importance of looking beyond symptoms to understand the whole horse. She discussed her comprehensive two-year education program starting August 14th at the Wild Horse Rescue Centre in Florida, which combines osteopathy, acupuncture, and craniosacral therapy approaches. Anette emphasized that horses constantly communicate through movement, posture, and behavior, and owners should focus on understanding what horses are trying to tell them rather than assuming bad behavior. The interview concluded with plans for Anette to visit Peggy's facility in Florida in December and potential collaboration on Peggy's horse sanctuary project.

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In this podcast episode our host, Peggy Hoyt, interviewed Austin Collins, CEO and co-founder of Five Strands, a wellness company that provides intolerance testing for both people and pets. Through their testing, they can help to identify dietary and envrionmental stressors. Austin explained how Five Strands has tested 500,000 people and pets over nearly 10 years, offering four main categories of testing: food intolerances, environmental sensitivities, nutritional imbalances, and heavy metal sensitivity, with results provided through a CLIA-certified lab using hair sample collection. The company recently released an updated mobile app and continues to focus on personalized testing rather than generalized DNA panels, with Austin emphasizing the importance of early dietary rotation and environmental awareness for pet health.

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