Knock Knock….. Who’s there? ? Halloween 2023 ? While Halloween can be a hectic night for humans, for our furry friends it can feel even crazier with an endless parade of kids trick or treating and coming to the front door, scary costumes, and lots of off-limit treats (especially chocolate). Keep your pets safe by making the big night less frightful so you can focus on having Halloween fun, not finding a lost dog. Below are my best Halloween safety tips to prepare your dog for the holiday... tips for before halloween night Have your dog get used to people dressed up in their Ha ..read more

You can real all about my adventure supporting Fred Hutch and the Obliteride here ..read more

As the warm sun beckons and summer days lengthen... many of us look forward to family gatherings, dipping our toes in the pool, and breezy meals on the perfect patio with a sunset view... However, as we humans look forward to these seasonal pleasures, we must remember that our pets perceive this season quite differently. Hot asphalt, soaring temperatures, and the din of fireworks and summer festivities can often be unsettling, if not downright dangerous, for them. At Austin and Kat, we believe in a holistic approach to pet wellness, and the idea that prevention is better than cure. And this e ..read more

Summertime is at our doorstep here in Seattle, the sun casting its golden rays, beckoning us all outdoors to go hiking or spend some quality time barbequing with friends. July 4th is right around the corner and we’re all looking forward to taking a break and enjoying some fireworks, but for our beloved four-legged companions, the festivities can trigger a major wave of situational anxiety! Did you know that July 5th is the peak day for shelters housing runaway dogs, due in large part to the fireworks and celebrations of Independence Day. With July 4th falling on a Monday this year, it's almos ..read more

Happy Earth Month! We've been busy behind the scenes partnering with the Pet Sustainability Commission to help make a difference and reduce our impact on the environment. Be sure to read all about our latest goals on our page dedicated to sustainability. Earth Day Rally 2023 To celebrate Earth Day and our commitment to change we've also joined the 30-day Earth Day Rally to lead to a better future for pets, people, and the planet. The goal is to inspire 10,000 actions taken in 30 days and to celebrate a collective action toward a more sustainable future. From making s ..read more

On Sunday, October 30th, I hopped on a red-eye to the east coast.  My dad (91) and mom (85) were needing health care assistance so I rushed to Massachusetts to help.  Seeing our strong, proud, invincible parents age is never easy.  We shared a few lovely days  in the sun together in what was uncharacteristically beautiful November weather.   On Thursday morning, November 3rd, my dad said goodbye and passed, as you can imagine, I am heartbroken and it’s been a long couple of weeks.  My mother who married my dad 65 years ago, was and is devastated, but stricke ..read more

As a lifelong pet owner I’m writing to ask for your help on the recent decision by Idaho’s Agriculture Department to prohibit the sale of Hemp derived CBD pet products starting November 1, 2022. To say this is disappointing and a prime example of bureaucracy gone mad is an understatement. More than that, I’m heartbroken that Idaho politicians would make a decision that will ultimately hurt the health and wellbeing of Idaho's pets. If you want to know what you can do to help, skip straight to the bottom of this blog... As you know, the popularity of CBD has been growing rapidly in the US ..read more

It’s no surprise that packaging waste has become one of the biggest issues of this decade, mainly due to its proliferation and single use. Due to poor waste management systems around the globe, the majority of plastic packaging that is sent to landfills ends up in our natural environment.  Tons of plastics are dumped in the ocean every year, threatening wildlife, altering ecosystems and posing risks to human health.     As I look to improve and set our sustainability goals and values, I reached out to the Pet Sustainability Coalition to help guide me in our mission.&n ..read more

Creating a Calming Routine for Your Pet Through the chaos of the last few years, I’ve seen more and more pets struggling with issues like separation anxiety, noise aversion, and reactivity. So many pet parents (including myself) have a hard time finding solutions and support to help their pets face these challenges so I wanted to share a few pointers that have helped the animals in my life. With the 4th of July just around the corner, it is important to establish a successful calming routine for your pet so that it is as low stress as possible for them on the big day. Choosing the Right Calmi ..read more

Why do my chews and oils look different... again? It’s been 8 years since I started baking for my dogs at home and since then I’ve been constantly changing, learning, pushing myself, and improving, then being kicked in the teeth and having to get right back up. There’s been a lot going on and probably the biggest news (aside from the fact that I’m cancer-free and done with radiation* woohoo!) is that Austin and Kat has moved into a huge new production space which we’ve named THE MAKERY ™ It’s so exciting to see things come together…i’m definitely super busy but it’s fun to be involved in sett ..read more