In this episode, I chat with Krystal Hise about the love of her life, Freya. Freya is a beautiful, water-obsessed lab mix, who loves a good sniff-walk. Recently, she went through a cancer diagnosis, which required major surgery and six rounds of chemo to treat. We hear about how Krystal and her husband, Trevor, handled this news and how they’ve intentionally kept Freya front and center in every decision they’ve had to make along the way. Outside of being a devoted dog mom, Krystal is a pet portrait artist who also runs a blog, featuring entries that chronicle Freya’s cancer journey and describe what it means to have a Heart Dog. We chat about how Krystal honours this beautiful bond with her Heart Dog, and how Freya continues to inspire every part of Krystal’s life.

Links:

ASPCA National Pet Loss Hotline (24 hour support): 1-877-474-3310

Shelter Dog Breed Identification paper

• Gunter LM, Barber RT, and Wynne CDL. 2018. A canine identity crisis: Genetic breed heritage testing of shelter dogs. PLoS ONE 13(8): e0202633. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0202633.

Link to purchase Krystal’s book on Amazon: Heart Dog Guided Journal

These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You)

• Michael Bublé: Apple Music & YouTube
• Seth MacFarlane: Apple Music & YouTube

Guest Info:

Instagram: @krystalhiseportraits

Website: https://krystalhise.com/

Contact us:

Podcast Instagram and TikTok: @animalsoulmatespod

Podcast email: animalsoulmatespod@outlook.com

Credits:

Host & Executive Producer: Dr. Abbie Viscardi

Production Team: Citizens of Sound, https://www.citizensofsound.com/