Everything You Need to Know Before You Adopt a Pet

About this episode

The episode discusses the responsibilities and considerations involved in adopting a pet, featuring insights from Rachael Ziering of Muddy Paws Rescue.

One of the simplest joys in life, at least for many of us (I’m looking at you dog haters), is having a pet companion to keep us company. But adopting a pet comes with a lot of responsibility (now I’m looking at you, irresponsible dog owners), and it can be hard to know where to start. Today, Raj and Noah sit down with Rachael Ziering, founding executive director of Muddy Paws Rescue , and special guest Earl—their largest foster dog ever at 162 pounds—to make sure we know everything and anything about pet adoption, before we bring a new furry friend into our homes. Update: Since we recorded this episode, Earl has been adopted! Want to add to the conversation, or think you might be doing something wrong? Email us at amidoingitwrong@huffpost.com . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

People in this episode

Hosts: Raj, Noah

Guest: Rachael Ziering

Topics covered

• pet adoption
• responsibility
• animal welfare
• fostering
• companionship

Keywords

• pet adoption
• responsibility
• dog
• foster
• animal rescue
• companionship
• Earl

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Muddy Paws Rescue

More episodes of Am I Doing It Wrong?

• Supplements: What’s Real, What’s Fake, and What You Need To Watch Out For · June 11, 2026 · 51 min
• Why Do We Dream And Can We Control Them? Our Chat With A Dream Scientist · June 4, 2026 · 39 min
• The Joys Of Solo Travel — And How To Take The Best Trip Ever · May 28, 2026 · 45 min
• How to Maximize Your Annual Doctor’s Visit · May 21, 2026 · 54 min
• The Art of Snacking · May 14, 2026 · 47 min
• Demystifying Meditation: How To Start And Why It Can Change Your Life · May 7, 2026 · 58 min