Starlight Pet Talk

Muddy Paws and Hairballs is the no-fluff podcast for pet parents juggling chaos, cuddles, and the quest to live your best life—with your pets, not in spite of them. Host Amy Castro brings real talk, expert pet advice, behavior tips, and humor to help you lead with confidence, ditch the guilt, and raise healthy, happy pets without losing yourself in the process.


This show is for the real ones—those knee-deep in fur, vet bills, and “what the heck did you just eat?!” moments. The ones holding it all together while the dog humps guests and the cat redecorates with hairballs—who still want to do right by their animals without losing their sanity (or their favorite rug).


Hosted by longtime rescuer, speaker, and unapologetically honest pet advocate Amy Castro, each episode delivers the insight, support, and sarcasm you need to go from overwhelmed to in control. Whether you're choosing the right dog or cat for your lifestyle, managing behavior issues, navigating pet health decisions, or just trying to keep your shoes barf-free, this show helps you become the confident, capable leader your pet actually needs.

Because Muddy Paws and Hairballs is about more than fixing bad behavior—it’s about building a better life for you and your pets—mess and all.


🎧 New episodes every week.
 Follow now and start creating the life your pet deserves—with fewer meltdowns, more clarity, and a whole lot more joy.

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Recent Episodes
  • Is the ‘No Kill’ Movement Hurting the Animals We Love?
    Apr 27, 2025 – 53:10
  • When Rescue Breaks You: The Cost of Saying Yes Too Much
    Apr 15, 2025 – 09:29
  • Heartworm Prevention Myths That Could Cost Your Pet’s Life
    Apr 8, 2025 – 37:25
  • Feeding Pets or Feeding Yourself? What No One Talks About
    Apr 1, 2025 – 45:32
  • Still Feeling Guilty After Losing a Pet? Here’s Why
    Mar 25, 2025 – 53:14
  • Are Hairballs Normal? What Most Cat Parents Get Wrong
    Mar 18, 2025 – 34:56
  • Should You Treat Your Pet Like a Child? A Vet Psychiatrist Explains
    Mar 11, 2025 – 43:24
  • Thinking About Getting a Dog? Listen to This First
    Mar 4, 2025 – 49:51
  • Is Your Dog Getting Too Much Exercise or Not Enough?
    Feb 25, 2025 – 39:38
  • Want Goats? What You Need to Know Before You Regret It
    Feb 18, 2025 – 50:51
  • Pet Emergencies Happen Fast. Will You Know What to Do?
    Feb 11, 2025 – 40:51
  • Traveling With Cats? Here’s How to Make It Stress-Free
    Feb 4, 2025 – 57:29
  • From the Vault: Pet Vaccination 101: Expert Insights from Dr. Jeff Grognet
    Jan 28, 2025 – 41:32
  • From the Vault: Solve the Five Biggest Dog Behavior Problems with Expert Trainer Ruth Hegarty
    Jan 21, 2025 – 54:24
  • From the Vault: Save on Vet Bills! Expert Advice with Jonathan Wainberg
    Jan 14, 2025 – 37:27
  • From the Vault: Responsible Rabbit Care Explained: with Marcy Berman, Save-a-Bunny Rescue
    Jan 7, 2025 – 01:01:02
  • From the Vault: Dr. Marlene Siegel on Extending Your Pet’s Life
    Dec 31, 2024 – 55:59
  • Farewell Starlight Pet Talk: Celebrating Our Journey and What's Next for 2025
    Dec 24, 2024 – 53:21
  • Exciting Changes Ahead: A New Chapter for Our Pet Podcast
    Dec 17, 2024 – 38:37
  • What’s Broken in Animal Rescue and How to Fix It
    Dec 10, 2024 – 01:21:11
  • Ants as Pets? What You Need to Know Before Starting
    Dec 3, 2024 – 47:18
  • Want to Improve Your Pet’s Diet? Start Here
    Nov 26, 2024 – 46:49
  • Holiday Gift Ideas Every Pet Lover Will Actually Want
    Nov 19, 2024 – 21:53
  • Thinking About Adopting a Rescue Dog? Listen to This First
    Nov 12, 2024 – 01:00:43
  • Holiday Grooming Tips Every Pet Parent Needs to Know
    Nov 5, 2024 – 51:39
  • The Dog Park That’s Redefining Pet Community and Safety
    Oct 29, 2024 – 50:17
  • How Rescue Dog Wines Is Saving Lives One Bottle at a Time
    Oct 22, 2024 – 26:45
  • Why ‘Don’t Train Your Dog’ Might Be the Best Advice Yet
    Oct 15, 2024 – 46:33
  • What It’s Really Like to Be an Animal Rescuer
    Oct 8, 2024 – 44:20
  • How Smart Is Your Dog Really? What Science Says
    Oct 1, 2024 – 40:43
  • The Festival That Honors Pets and People Who Love Them
    Sep 24, 2024 – 29:20
  • Are Plastics Harming Your Pet?
    Sep 17, 2024 – 40:20
  • What Happens to Pets When Military Pet Parents Deploy?
    Sep 10, 2024 – 50:19
  • How Partnerships Help Rescues Save More Pets
    Sep 3, 2024 – 30:52
  • Rehoming Bonnie: 1,672 Miles to a Forever Home
    Aug 27, 2024 – 01:01:49
  • Is It Really Separation Anxiety? Here’s How to Know
    Aug 20, 2024 – 47:29
  • How to Afford Pet Care Without Breaking the Bank
    Aug 13, 2024 – 36:53
  • Want Your Pet to Live Longer? Start With These 5 Steps
    Aug 6, 2024 – 55:50
  • Why Being Around Pets Makes You Healthier
    Jul 30, 2024 – 51:34
  • Dog Driving You Nuts? 5 Behavior Fixes That Work
    Jul 23, 2024 – 53:58
  • How to Build a Dog-Friendly Community That Works
    Jul 16, 2024 – 40:12
  • 10 Reasons Pet Adopters Get Rejected and Don’t Even Know It
    Jul 9, 2024 – 24:02
  • Want Your Pet in Your Wedding? Listen to this First
    Jul 2, 2024 – 41:28
  • Are You Prepared to Protect Your Pet in a Disaster?
    Jun 25, 2024 – 44:19
  • How to Prep Your Dog for a New Baby (Without the Stress)
    Jun 18, 2024 – 01:03:01
  • How Your Emotions Shape Your Pet's Behavior
    Jun 11, 2024 – 52:30
  • Worried About Pet Vaccines? What Most Vets Won't Tell You
    Jun 4, 2024 – 44:36
  • What Happens After Your Pet Dies? Understanding Aftercare Options
    May 28, 2024 – 39:13
  • Thinking of Starting a Pet Business? Listen to This First
    May 21, 2024 – 47:59
  • The Science Behind The Human Animal Bond
    May 14, 2024 – 33:31
Recent Reviews
  • PodLaunchHQ.com
    Pet Parent Therapy!!
    Amy’s advice is practical, her stories are hilariously relatable, and she reminds you that no pet parent has it all figured out (and that’s totally okay)!
  • Lisa36509
    Love listening
    Amy has so much knowledge and I look forward to every episode. She’s helped me cultivate a deeper connection with my two dogs and I’m grateful for all her expertise. If you have a pet or are thinking of getting one then this is a MUST listen!!!
  • LMoguel
    Love this podcast
    Pet lovers everywhere THIS PODCAST IS FOR YOU! I’ve been listening to this podcast for quite some time now and love it. Think you know everything about your pet, think again. A must listen to!
  • CharRoberts
    Awesome work!
    So good and informative!
  • 135790 357941
    Easy to listen to and packed full of great info!
    I love this podcast! There’s always a new topic with great information and ideas.
  • Dhalloway
    End of Life episode
    I really enjoyed the episode with the founder of Lap Of Love. They were such a compassionate and helpful resource for us when we lost our precious Georgia to cancer. It was so interesting to hear how this great organization began, and the journey of the founder. Amy Castro, founder of starlight outreach and rescue has so much knowledge and compassion for lost, abandoned and abused animals. She’s such an advocate for them and saves so many. She has devoted her time and resources to making a difference. There is so much to learn and Amy is a willing teacher. Her sense of humor and knowledge makes listening to her podcasts a great learning experience. Please consider financially supporting this worthy organization. Especially if you are an animal lover like me.
  • RobingGrey
    Learned a lot!
    This is the first pet related podcast I’ve ever heard and I’m looking forward to more! I didn’t know that there were bunny rescues and found the episode about the rabbits really interesting! I don’t usually listen to shows longer than 30 minutes but it kept my interest even though I don’t intend to have any rabbits. I do have 5 dogs and 3 hens so am eager to hear more about best practices!
  • lizbar76
    Excellent for all levels of pet enthusiasts
    I have fostered kittens, owned cats, dogs, birds, reptiles, fish and hamsters. However I am still learning from this podcast! A recent episode even reminded me that I am allergic to hay so that the guinea pig my daughter wants may not be a good idea. Love this podcast!
  • GummysMomma
    Great podcast for pet lovers!
    This is a new podcast but already has some awesome episodes that represent a wide range of interests for pet lovers and pet owners. If you want to learn about animal rescue and what's going on in the world of pets AND you want to be a great pet owner and give your pets their very best life, you need to listen to this podcast.
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