I finally caught up with Rachel Sheppard, the author of the blog My Kid Has Paws. She has some pet care skills that give her good street cred. Check out this sweet interview and please visit her blog!

DRS: How did you get started blogging?

RMS: I spent 3 years working at veterinary hospitals as a technician and once I left, I felt something was missing. I had a unique opportunity through my grad school program to meet Kristen Levine. She is a pet-lifestyle expert and I thought that was amazing! Her advice to me was to start a blog and share all the knowledge I had gained throughout my undergraduate degree in Animal Science and my experience in veterinary hospitals.

DRS: That’s awesome. How does your blog help both animals and people?

RMS: I focus on helping people learn more about pet health and rescue. Occasionally, I post about products, travel, etc., but my true focus is on teaching pet parents how to keep their pets healthy.

DRS: What is your connection with animal rescue?

RMS: I have friends who work at several rescues, including Muttville in San Francisco, CA. Occasionally, I have an opportunity to make a donation to a rescue as part of a campaign, which is amazing! As a result, I have also worked with Queen’s Best Stumpy Dog Rescue in LA.

DRS: Fabulous. Do you have a favorite pet or animal story?

RMS: I actually have two stories. The first is how my husband and I adopted Rooney.
We had already spent 5 months looking to adopt our dog. It was one of those things where we met with several dogs, but we hadn’t really met the perfect dog for us yet. Then, I reached out to Golden Gate Pembroke Welsh Corgi Rescue about a Corgi I saw on their website. I received an email a few days later saying that the dog we reached out about was probably not the best fit for us, but they had another dog in mind who had just arrived at the rescue. A few days later, we drove a few hours to meet Rooney, and then he burst through the dog to greet us, and we both thought, “he’s perfect!” 

I also really love the second story about Bella the Basset. We were able to raise money for her surgery and find her a new home, and it’s still one of the best campaigns I ever participated in 🙂 You can read about how a special family adopted a truly special dog here: http://mykidhaspaws.org/?s=Bella+the+basset

DRS: Can you share a pro tip for pet parents?

RMS: My number 1 health tip for pet parents is to keep their pets at a healthy weight. There is so much that can affect our pets that is out of our control, but we can make sure they maintain a healthy weight, and that can help prevent disease and make their senior years more joyful.

DRS: Cool! What’s next up for your blog?

RMS: More content and hopefully more consistency! I am so grateful for every single person who has taken the time to read anything I write. The fact that I get to do this as a hobby is incredible!

DRS: We’re looking forward to reading more. Where can we find your blog?

RMS: http://mykidhaspaws.org

Thank you, Rachel, for your contribution on so many levels to animals and the people that care for them.

Are you looking for your perfect Rooney? Do you already have a dog and have questions? Pick up a copy of What to Expect When Adopting a Dog for some answers!