Here’s a real life story about a tortoise and a hare – well, almost! Meet Caitlin, a fast-charging Californian with a very unusual pet: her 170 pound tortoise, TipToe. TipToe was a local celebrity in Caitlin’s neighborhood – known for his long, long walks around Caitlin’s block – but he became an internet hit after Caitlin posted a video on social of TipToe’s go-to pandemic lunch. A few salad bowls later, TipToe is now one of the best known tortoises on the internet and an ambassador for positivity and joy. Slow and steady really does win the race! @caitlinandtiptoe

This one will really make you laugh and it will also make you cry. In 2011, Mike Bridavsky met the runt of a litter of stray kittens who would go on to become one of the most famous internet cats. Lil Bub, as he named the tiny stray, was facing serious health issues but with a lot of love and persistence, Mike helped Lil Bub get healthy. Shortly after, she became an internet sensation and a poster animal for accepting all people and creatures as they are, regardless of their differences. When Lil Bub passed away in Dec. 2019, people around the world mourned her and media outlets such as CNN shared the news of her passing. Today Mike is keeping Lil Bub’s legacy alive with the non-profits that she inspired, and a new addition to his cat family, Mister Marbles. Join us as we chat about the Golden Age of Internet Cats, Twin Peaks, and how the “Stephen Hawking of kitties” changed Mike’s life and those of many others. ** Pet Passing Disclaimer: We do talk about the day that Lil Bub passed away. It was a very hard moment for Mike but he gave us the OK to include it in the final episode. If you’ve had a pet pass away, this moment ¾ through might be tough. 

https://www.goodjobbub.org/

https://lilbub.com/ 

When Shelby picked up her new puppy Russell from his previous family, she knew there was something special about him but had no idea where their journey together would lead. Shortly after arriving in his new home, it was clear that Russell was terribly sick. A vet diagnosed him with parvo, which most puppies don’t survive, but Shelby and her husband didn’t give up on him, and several days of care, hydration, and music kept Russell alive. As Russell got bigger, he became known to audiences on Instagram and TikTok as BoopleSnoot. Together and in their signature hilarious way, Shelby and Russell have pulled back the curtain on what it means to be a Millennial Dog Mom. Hint: your dog becomes your therapist!  @booplethesnoot

We’re no strangers to animal guests appearing in the Furfluencers digital studio but this is our first episode where we had the animals on camera for the whole conversation. Meet Sweet Pea, Brody, and Thyme – the lively feathered companions of The Parrot Lady aka Wendy. Wendy’s dedication to her birds has made her – and them! – one of the most loved bird accounts on social media. Her content highlights her flock’s BIG personalities as well as tips and resources for caring for birds. When Sweet Pea got sick in June 2022, Wendy was on social sharing everything she learned about how to bring Sweet Pea back to health. Join us as Wendy takes us through the challenges and joy of raising birds, spreading positivity, and Brody’s liberal use of the F word. 

Darcy Lou the Doxie might be small but she has a big presence on Instagram with her statement necklaces, tiny overalls, and delightfully expressive eyes. But those things alone didn’t propel Darcy to internet dog fame: her mom, Kara, put in the time to thoughtfully grow Darcy’s following and find a creative voice in what’s becoming a crowded part of social media. In this episode, we chat with Kara about how she decided on a Dachshund, what it took to build Darcy’s following, and where she finds those overalls. Join us! @darcy.the.doxie 

What happens when you draw eyebrows onto a photo of a very cute cat and publish that photo on Instagram? Well in the case of Faith the Perm Cat, she went viral! Faith’s signature eyebrow look has taken Instagram and TikTok by storm, and she’s cultivated a dedicated community of meme lovers who play a big role in Faith’s content. We sit down with Faith’s human companion, Autumn, and dig into internet jokes, fisheye photography, and what makes Internet cats so funny. @faiththepermcat

THEY CAN TALK is a comic series by Jimmy Craig that brings to life the inner thoughts of the animals around us. The series has delighted Jimmy’s 500k+ followers on Instagram and was recently published as a book. We chat with Jimmy about why comics are perfect for getting into the minds of animals, bringing people together through animal stories, and how his grandmother and her love for Garfield inspired his journey.  https://theycantalk.com/ 

We Don’t Deserve Dogs is a documentary film that travels the world to discover the unique bonds between dogs and humans. From shepherds deep in the mountains of Romania, to a day of dog worship in Nepal, the film explores the many diverse ways that the humans and dogs come together, all while making the dogs featured key characters in the story. In this episode, we chat with the filmmakers Matthew Salleh and Rose Tucker about how they made this film and the impact it's having on audiences. 

One of the challenges of owning a dog in NYC is that our furry friends can’t join us for indoor dining, whether at a fun bar or a quick stop at a coffee shop. Until now! Boris & Horton is New York’s first Department of Health approved dog-friendly café where customers are welcome to bring their own dogs inside. In addition to serving great coffee, beer, wine and snacks, Boris & Horton also hosts adoption events and fundraisers with the hope that many dogs find their forever homes here. In this episode, we sit down with Logan Mikhly to hear about how she created Boris & Horton and the impact that the cafe has had on the NYC dog community. https://borisandhorton.com/