Muddy Paws and Hairballs is the podcast where pet chaos meets real-life advice—because life with pets is more blooper reel than highlight reel.
I’m Amy Castro—longtime animal rescuer, professional speaker, writer, and founder of Starlight Outreach and Rescue. I’ve fostered more than 4,000 pets, cleaned up more messes than I care to admit, and built my career helping pet parents and pet pros communicate better—with humans and animals.
I created this podcast because I believe no pet should end up in a shelter for being a pet—and no pet parent should feel lost, judged, or alone in the fur-covered trenches of real-life pet parenting.
Muddy Paws and Hairballs is for the real ones—pet parents knee-deep in fur, vet bills, and “what the heck did you just eat?!” moments. The ones trying to raise good pets while also living their own damn lives. If you're navigating barf on the carpet, a dog with zero impulse control, or a cat who thinks they’re the boss (because they are), this is your space.
🎧 What You’ll Hear Each Week:
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Dog training tips to keep tails wagging and furniture intact
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Behavior insights for pets who clearly didn’t read the manual
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Health and nutrition help that goes beyond “just feed 'em better”
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Cat enrichment ideas your feline overlord might actually approve of
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Expert interviews, adoption stories, and a whole lot of relatable real-life advice
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And plenty of laughs—because pet parenting is never graceful, but it's always worth it
Whether you're choosing the right pet for your lifestyle, tackling tough behavior, or just trying to keep your sanity (and your shoes), this show helps you become the confident, capable leader your pet actually needs—while building a life you’ll both love.
🐾 New episodes drop every week.
Hit follow, bring your sense of humor, and let’s get real about life with pets.