Podcast
Soul Dog: A Pet Loss Podcast Celebrating the Dogs We'll Never Forget
Soul Dog: A podcast for dog lovers who know their dog was never just a dog.
If you've ever loved a dog so deeply that losing them felt like losing a piece of yourself, you're in the right place. 💛
Each week, host Kate Butterly, lifelong dog lover and pet loss grief specialist, sits down with guests to celebrate the dogs who shaped who we are. The funny stories, the lessons learned, the moments we'll hold onto forever.
Because here's the thing. Our soul dogs didn't just walk beside us. They changed us. They taught us how to love without condition, how to find joy in the simplest moments, and how to be better humans. Who we are today is partly because of them. And that deserves to be said out loud.
This is a space where grief and gratitude get to live side by side. Where you can miss your dog and still smile when you talk about them. Where your soul dog's life and your bond is honored, remembered, and celebrated.
Think of it as your favorite bench at the dog park. Come sit with us. Share the stories, the memories, the lessons, the love. All of it. This is your community. And in the Soul Dog Park, nobody ever has to explain why they miss their dog as much as they do.
We believe they were never just a dog. And we'll never stop saying so. 🐾
Short, sweet 10-minute episodes drop every week.
Hosted by Kate Butterly, pet loss grief specialist and founder of Soul Dog. Produced by Pup Cup Productions.
- Episodes
- 26
- Releases
- Monthly
- Typical length
- 16 min
- On air since
- 2024
- Latest episode
- 1 week ago
Episodes
26 episodes, newest first
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18 min
Emily
Season 1, Episode 25
Show notes
“She’s meant to be here and stay.”
That’s Jenny Gott about Emily, a little black pit bull who came to her as a foster recovering from surgery and quietly found her forever home. An ultimate cuddler with white markings like little wings on her chest, Emily went on to inspire Jenny’s pet hospice program, helping other families navigate their own goodbyes.
💛 Because some soul dogs change our lives and, through us, keep changing others.
Learn more about Jenny Gott’s Animal Intuition practice and Emily’s Path Pet Hospice Program at https://animal-intuition.com.
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16 min
Relax Vom Struwwelpeter
Season 1, Episode 24
Show notes
“He knew he was meant for me, just as I knew I was meant for him.”
That's Sheri Smith about Relax Vom Struwwelpeter, aka Ray, a German Shepherd and working dog, who came all the way from Germany and arrived on Valentine’s Day. What followed was a honeymoon road trip, a life of adventures, and a bond so deep that 12 years after losing him, Sheri still says goodnight to her boy. 💛
Because some soul dogs may only be with us for part of our lives, but they somehow become part of everything that comes after.
📖 Ray’s story lives on in Sheri’s book, People Make Plans: A Heart, Dog and a Castle in Hawaii. Learn more about Sheri Smith, her books, and her author journey at https://www.sherismithauthor.com
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21 min
Sadie + Artemis
Season 1, Episode 23
Show notes
"After that I grew way more appreciative of the time that I have with my two dogs." That's Chris about an unexpected lesson from a bunny named Thumper.
Dog trainer Chris Moran shares his philosophy behind the Whimsy Stick—and the unexpected teacher who showed him what really matters. We talk about rescue dogs, behavioral transformation, and what a three-day bunny taught him about never taking your soul dog for granted. This episode is raw, direct, and full of important information. -
18 min
Bandit
Season 1, Episode 22
Show notes
"Getting to take care of him and being his dog mom is still one of my proudest achievements." That's Amanda, about Bandit, a 10-pound Maltese mix who became her very first dog in her 20s, when she needed something to ground her more than she even knew. 💛
Because some soul dogs don't just show up in your life. They show up right on time.
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18 min
Baloo
Season 1, Episode 21
Show notes
Baloo + Alex
"Is that you, Baloo? And at that moment... he hugged her." Alex, about Baloo, an English bulldog who came back to them in the most unexpected way. 💛 Because some soul dogs don't just find you once. They find you twice. 📖 Check out Alex's novel, The Weight of a Dog.
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20 min
Checote
Season 1, Episode 20
Show notes
Checote + Tammy
"The bond between us was so strong she could literally see it. Like a thread going from his forehead to my forehead." Tammy, about Checote, a wild-caught horse who spent a lifetime by her side with angels watching over him every step of the way. 💛 Because some bonds are so real, you can almost see them. 📖 Check out Tammy's book, Checote's Angels.
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16 min
Super Teddy
Season 1, Episode 19
Show notes
Super Teddy + Steve
"Wake up every day and wag yourself happy." That's Steve, sharing Super Teddy's motto, a tiny Yorkie Pomeranian mix from New Orleans who had enough joy for everyone. 💛 Because the smallest dogs sometimes carry the biggest lessons. 📖 Check out Steve's book, Bust Out of Your Crate.
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17 min
Youkilis
Season 1, Episode 18
Show notes
Youkilis + Dan
“Anytime you get a dog, you’re signing a contract to have your heart broken.”
That's Dan, about Youkilis, a golden retriever who was there through years of adventure, and life on the road. 💛
Because the heartbreak is part of the deal and somehow, it’s worth every moment.
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12 min
Shadow
Season 1, Episode 17
Show notes
Shadow + Lee
"I grieved so intensely for that first half a year or so." That's Lee, about Shadow, a service dog who was given less than a month to live... and is still here three years later. 💛
Because sometimes the hardest grief is the one we carry before we ever have to say goodbye.
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18 min
Sparky
Season 1, Episode 16
Show notes
Sparky + Emma
“She wasn’t just a pet. She was a quiet force that taught me what unconditional love really looks like.” That's Emma, about Sparky, the tiny Yorkie who grew up alongside her, becoming her shadow, her companion, and her constant through every stage of life. 💛
Because some soul dogs don’t just grow with us… they shape who we become.
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16 min
Hollie
Season 1, Episode 15
Show notes
Hollie + Magic
"Because of my soul dog, I learned that hatred has no place in the world.” That's Magic, about Hollie a retired racing greyhound who went from being treated as a commodity to becoming a loyal, gentle, and deeply forgiving companion.
Because sometimes the ones who’ve been through the most… still choose love. 💛
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8 min
Patches
Season 1, Episode 14
Show notes
Patches + Orazie
"I never thought I would have this level of love." That's Orazie, about Patches, a cocker spaniel rescued from a puppy mill who spent her final years finally knowing what it felt like to just rest. 💛 Because sometimes rescuing a dog ends up rescuing something in you too.
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18 min
Stig
Season 1, Episode 13
Show notes
Stig + Reeya
"I would be lying on the couch, just very depressed, like crying. And he would lie down on top of me and purr." That's Reeya, about Stig, a tuxedo cat who found his way to her after a Halloween snowstorm and stayed by her side through everything. 💛 Because sometimes the ones we think we're caring for are the ones caring for us.
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15 min
Radar
Season 1, Episode 12
Show notes
Radar + Angela
"They told us specifically that they were going to put him to sleep if we did not take him." That's Angela, about Radar, a 16 year old Chihuahua she never planned to adopt. 💛 Sometimes the ones we save lead us exactly where we were meant to go.
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15 min
Morgan
Season 1, Episode 11
Show notes
Morgan + Nita
"Thank you for being such a great dog, such a great friend and such a great coach, both life and running." That's Nita, about Morgan, the Lab mix who helped her through depression one mile at a time. 💛 Because some soul dogs don't just run beside us. They help us find our way back. . 📖 Check out Anita's book, Depression Hates a Moving Target.
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12 min
Hunter + Randall
Season 1, Episode 10
Show notes
Randall + Hunter + Maryanne "
At the soul level, this was meant to be. We were meant to share these dogs." Maryanne, about Randall and Hunter, the two Basset Hounds her sister trusted her with before she passed. 💛 Because some soul dogs don't just find us. They are given to us for a reason.
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21 min
Ramona
Season 1, Episode 9
Show notes
Ramona + Nancy
"We were a perfect couple. A meeting of purpose." Nancy, about Ramona, a rescued mixed breed who helped find three missing children and pointed investigators to a town that shared her name. 💛 Because some soul dogs don't just love us. They are sent to us for a reason we can't always explain.
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11 min
Katie
Season 1, Episode 8
Show notes
Katie + June
"She stayed with me the whole time. She never left my side." June, about Katie, a miniature Dachshund who walked her through her twenties, her wedding, her greatest joy and her deepest loss. 💛 Because when she couldn't find the words, Katie just stayed.
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9 min
Annie
Season 1, Episode 7
Show notes
Annie + Patti
"Annie actually saved my life because she taught me what it physically and emotionally and spiritually felt like to be loved, to be deeply loved. And that was my saving grace." That's Patti, about Annie, a goofy loving dog who walked beside her for 15 years and taught her what unconditional love really feels like. 💛 Because sometimes a dog doesn't just change your life. She saves it.
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11 min
Darwin
Season 1, Episode 6
Show notes
Darwin + Elaine
"I'm convinced he made it one last year to help me get through to my divorce. He knew I couldn't handle him leaving at that moment." Elaine, about Darwin, a gentle pit mix who spent 13 years proving that you should never judge a book by its cover. 💛 Because some soul dogs know exactly when to stay a little longer.
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