Hosts Sophia and Samira interview DC veterinarian Dr. Rochelle Camden about her first year with her dog Hoover and later adopting a second dog, Moose. Rochelle traces her bond with animals to her childhood cat Shadow, who alerted her parents during a choking episode and inspired her to pursue veterinary medicine. In vet school at Purdue, she met Hoover as a teaching dog and adopted him, navigating first-time dog-parent realities, GI emergencies, and the stress of learning diseases while worrying about her pet. During a painful falling out with her parents, Hoover and her cats became her primary support and helped her cope and maintain routines. Rochelle later adopted Moose, a stubborn, dog-reactive mixed-breed puppy who required a trainer, and the experience has deepened her empathy for clients. She also shares what she’s learned while pursuing a certification in acupuncture for animals.

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Sophia and Samira interview Feenix, a Manhattan-based environmental advocate and aerialist, about fostering rescue dogs and ultimately adopting Kya, a young Siberian Husky she felt was destined to be hers. Raised in New Jersey, Feenix describes early experiences that shaped her concern for animal welfare, vegetarianism, and later a life of fostering and rescuing. She recounts past dogs—Shira, Spirit, and Bella—highlighting their distinct roles as healers and protectors, and explains why she believes Bella reincarnated in Kya.

After taking a year break from taking care of others, Feenix fostered Kya, who had multiple prior placements, severe crate aversion, and separation anxiety; Feenix adopted her after sensing Kya couldn’t handle another loss. Soon after, Feenix was hit by a car, and Kya helped her recovery by alerting to potentially deadly medical episodes and offering protection and companionship while motivating daily adventures.

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Samira and Shareen host My First Year with My Dog and interview Jenn Anderson, Shareen’s cousin, who has worked in animal welfare and veterinary medicine since 2009 and now runs an emergency vet clinic in Los Angeles. Jenn recounts adopting her first dog, Morris, from the Richmond SPCA.

After a divorce and a move from Key West to Virginia for a new job, Jenn felt lost and depressed; a friend encouraged her to visit the Richmond SPCA, where she adopted a scared Husky–Pyrenees mix. Jenn describes early challenges including Morris’s roaming, food aggression, and hunting instincts, alongside bonding moments, training successes, and a new social life through “yappy hours.” Morris gave her purpose, structure, and confidence. He catalyzed her career shift into animal welfare and helped open her up to new relationships. Morris later developed worsening seizures, required extensive veterinary care including multiple foreign body surgeries, and passed in January 2015, shaping Jenn’s empathy in emergency veterinary work.

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