Marisa Hoskins - Pet Travel Made Easy With Paws Abroad

05/14/25 • 19 min

If you’ve ever felt torn between your passion for travel and the love for your dogs, this is the episode you didn’t know you needed.

In this Soul Touched by Dogs conversation, I sit down with serial entrepreneur, business strategist, and fellow dog mom, Marisa Hoskins, the visionary behind Paws Abroad.

After building (and selling!) Canada’s most nutritious dog food brand, Marisa set off on a global adventure with her rescue pups - and hit a wall of frustrating, confusing pet travel regulations. Sound familiar?

Rather than accept “that’s just how it is”, Marisa turned her experience into purpose and created Paws Abroad, a digital platform designed to make international pet travel stress-free, empowering pet parents everywhere to roam the world with confidence.

We talk about:

The heartbreaking reality of why expats often have to give up their dogs, and how Paws Abroad is working to change that.

How Marisa leveraged her startup background and software development expertise to solve one of the pet world’s most complex problems.

What it really takes to build a “community over competition” platform for global dog lovers.

Why “collaboration, not gatekeeping” is her philosophy for revolutionizing the pet travel industry.

PLUS: An exclusive treat for Soul Touched by Dogs listeners!
Get $5 off any Paws Abroad travel planner tier at https://pawsabroad.co/launch with the code BYDOGS.

If you’ve got adventure in your soul and a dog at your side, this conversation will leave you inspired and equipped to dream bigger about where your journey could take you - together.

👉 Listen now and share with your fellow dog-travel dreamers!

00:00 Welcome to the Soul Touched by Dogs Podcast
00:24 Meet Marisa: A Journey with Rescue Dogs
01:09 The Challenges of International Pet Travel
02:43 From Stressful Moves to a Business Idea
07:48 Launching Paws Abroad: A Digital Pet Travel Planner
10:13 Building a Community for Pet Travelers
11:25 How Paws Abroad Stays Up-to-Date
12:43 Future Plans and User Feedback
15:14 Where to Find More Information
18:53 Conclusion and Farewell

To find out more and connect with Marisa:

Website: https://www.pawsabroad.co

Bio: Marisa Hoskins is a serial entrepreneur, business strategist, and passionate dog mom on a mission to make pet travel stress-free. After scaling and selling a human-grade pet food company that became Canada’s most nutritious dog brand, she moved abroad with her rescue pups and experienced firsthand how complicated global pet travel can be. That journey sparked the creation of Paws Abroad — a digital platform that simplifies international pet travel with up-to-date regulations, travel checklists, and pet-friendly airline options.

Now based in Thailand, Marisa is building the future of pet travel from the beach, helping fellow pet parents explore the world with confidence. When she's not building startups, you’ll find her sailing, cold plunging, or hiking with her dogs by her side.

Social media links: @pawsabroad.co (Instagram & Tiktok) https://www.linkedin.com/in/marisa-hoskins/

As always, all about Soul Touched by Dogs at https://soultouchedbydogs.com

If you’ve ever felt torn between your passion for travel and the love for your dogs, this is the episode you didn’t know you needed.

In this Soul Touched by Dogs conversation, I sit down with serial entrepreneur, business strategist, and fellow dog mom, Marisa Hoskins, the visionary behind Paws Abroad.

We talk about:

The heartbreaking reality of why expats often have to give up their dogs, and how Paws Abroad is working to change that.

How Marisa leveraged her startup background and software development expertise to solve one of the pet world’s most complex problems.

What it really takes to build a “community over competition” platform for global dog lovers.

Why “collaboration, not gatekeeping” is her philosophy for revolutionizing the pet travel industry.

PLUS: An exclusive treat for Soul Touched by Dogs listeners!
Get $5 off any Paws Abroad travel planner tier at https://pawsabroad.co/launch with the code BYDOGS.

If you’ve got adventure in your soul and a dog at your side, this conversation will leave you inspired and equipped to dream bigger about where your journey could take you - together.

👉 Listen now and share with your fellow dog-travel dreamers!

To find out more and connect with Marisa:

Website: https://www.pawsabroad.co

Social media links: @pawsabroad.co (Instagram & Tiktok) https://www.linkedin.com/in/marisa-hoskins/

As always, all about Soul Touched by Dogs at https://soultouchedbydogs.com

Previous Episode

Debbie Sheridan - There Are No Bad Dogs, Just Unheard Souls: What “Aggressive” Dogs Are Really Telling Us

Have you ever been told your dog was “aggressive”?

That you needed to show them who’s boss, or worse, that pain was the only way to gain control?

In this soul-stirring episode of Soul Touched by Dogs, I sit down with certified canine life coach Debbie Sheridan, whose journey from social work to dog advocacy is as powerful as it is healing.

It all began with two terrified shelter pups - Fitzy and Stella - who turned Debbie’s world upside down. When the advice she received from traditional trainers felt cruel and senseless, she trusted her instincts, dug deep into the science of dog behavior, and never looked back.

Today, Debbie works with fearful, misunderstood dogs - those often mislabeled as “aggressive” - and the people who love them.

In this conversation, we explore what dogs are really trying to say when they act out, how pain-based tools damage trust, and why the real work of dog training starts with us.

If you’ve ever had your heart broken by a dog’s fear, or questioned whether there’s a better way, this episode is your answer.

🔥 What We Talk About:

Why Debbie left a career in human counseling to work with dogs
The myth of the “aggressive” dog, and what’s really going on
How traditional training methods can traumatize both dogs and their humans
Why fear-based tools like prong and shock collars do more harm than good
The emotional moment a client realized what her dog had endured
How to build trust through connection, not control
Why obedience isn't the goal, and what to focus on instead

🐾 Find out more and connect with Debbie

Debbie Sheridan began her career in social work, but it was two fragile rescue pups who led her to her true calling. After seeing the damage caused by force-based training methods, she chose a new path—becoming a certified canine life coach focused on helping people understand and support their dogs with empathy and kindness. Today, she specializes in working with fearful dogs, helping their humans see past the labels to the soul that’s waiting to be heard.

🌐 https://debbies4dogs.com

Find her on Facebook, at the Phoenix Advocacy Center, and with the Pet Professional Guild

Favorite Quote from the Episode:

“Kindness always wins. There’s never, ever a good reason to do something to another creature that doesn’t feel right to you.”

🎧 Listen Now
Tune in and let this conversation remind you that every so-called “bad dog” is just an unheard soul... waiting for someone to truly listen.

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
00:24 Meet Debbie: Certified Canine Life Coach
00:52 Debbie's Journey to Becoming a Canine Life Coach
02:46 Understanding Fearful and Aggressive Dogs
07:10 The Importance of Kindness in Dog Training
08:47 Challenges with Traditional Training Methods
14:06 The Role of Gender in Dog Training Approaches
24:52 Debbie's Upcoming Book and Final Thoughts
26:16 Where to Find More About Debbie
27:12 Conclusion and Farewell

As always, all about Soul Touched by Dogs at https://soultouchedbydogs.com

Next Episode

Sarah Cavallaro - Dogs Have Angels Too

In this soulful and inspiring episode, I talk to writer, creative force, and lifelong animal lover Sarah Cavallaro, whose novel Dogs Have Angels Too weaves heart and humor into the complex and beautiful world of dog rescue.

We explore how storytelling can change perspectives, create compassion, and shine a light on what really happens when people and dogs save each other.

Sarah shares the real-life rescue that sparked her book, the fascinating characters it’s based on (some of them drawn from her own life), and how her mission turned into a brand supporting dog rescue on multiple levels.

Whether you’ve rescued a dog, are part of the rescue community, or simply love stories with heart and purpose - you’ll be moved, inspired, and entertained.

💡 Key Takeaways

Why storytelling is a powerful vehicle for transformation - for readers and dogs alike

How Sarah’s own dog, Athena, inspired the main character in her novel

What she learned about the dog rescue world through research, writing, and partnerships

The surprising way her book is helping support real-life rescue organizations

Why her book isn’t just serious - it’s a witty, warm “dramedy” that leaves a lasting impact

✨ Favorite Quote
“When you help one, you help everybody. You help everything. It’s biblical - because that’s what teaches love.” – Sarah Cavallaro

Find out more and connect with Sarah

Sarah Cavallaro is a former award-winning executive producer and founder of Emerald Films, whose creative path led her from directing global ad campaigns to writing fiction that touches the soul. Her novel Dogs Have Angels Too—winner of Best in Women’s Fiction from the Indie Reader Discovery Awards—is a love letter to underdogs, both human and canine. Through her nonprofit work and her unique blend of art and advocacy, Sarah continues to support public art and rescue communities across the U.S.

📬 Connect with Sarah

Website (Book, Merch, Rescue Partners): https://www.dogshaveangelstoo.com

Instagram: @dogshaveangelstoo

LinkedIn: Sarah Cavallaro

Full bio:
Throughout 25 years of international TV commercial film production Emerald Film's founder, president and executive producer, Sarah Cavallaro has established a reputation as a skilled ex. producer, with a keen eye for developing talent, and projects.

She built a highly acclaimed TV commercial production company executive producing for leading American, Canadian, and European film makers, winning many prestigious awards (Mobius and Clio) and creating powerful and award-winning commercials for such leading advertisers as Coca Cola, Mc Donald's, Ford, Budweiser, and many other Fortune 500 companies. After 25 years she morphed the company to produce social impact art installation experiences for world renowned artist and filmmaker Cosimo Cavallaro, CHEESE HOUSE, TWIGGY IN CHEESE, CHOCOLATE JESUS, ABSOLUTE PRESSED HAM, Cheese Wall ON THE BORDER, CHEESE HOTEL ROOM 114.

She is an award - winning author. Her love for the four legged and people redefining their lives inspired her to write a novel Dogs Have Angels Too that won best in women’s fiction from the Indie reader discovery awards. She adapted her novel into a screenplay. She is a published poet in numerous anthologies always writing about transformation and self - empowerment.

She completed writing two stage plays, KEEPING ATHENIA, and BETWEEN THE JUICE AND THE EGGS that were workshopped at various theatrical venues in NYC including the Actors studio Directors/Writers lab in New York. She is a former member of the Directors Guild of America.

She's is developing an unscripted TV series titled MOLD ME LICK ME SELL ME which is based on her intimate creative nonfiction book about art, romance, politics, identity, and food exploits of renowned pop culture Artist, Cosimo Cavallaro large - scale public installation experiences.

Her love of drama and performance once lead her to study acting with the great stage actress Kim Stanley, and Bill Hickey from HB Studios.

She is the co-director and founder of a successful non- profit organization, Art Above Ground supporting Public Art Installations worldwide that are provocative, interactive, inclusive, and above all, playful.

Sarah earned her BA in social work at Antioch college in yellow Springs, Ohio and MA in Criminal Justice at John Jay Graduate school of Criminology in New York.

Sarah is bicoastal, splitting her time between Los Angeles and New York City.

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
00:24 Meet Our Guest: Sarah
00:44 Sarah's Journey with Dogs
01:35 The Inspiration Behind 'Dogs Have Angels Too'
02:50 Personal Stories and Experiences
04:47 Exploring the Characters and Themes
09:02 From Writing to Merchandise
12:15 Supporting Dog R...

Soul Touched by Dogs - Marisa Hoskins - Pet Travel Made Easy With Paws Abroad

Transcript

00:00:00.789

Welcome to the Soul Touched by Dogs Podcast, the show for dog lovers who see dogs not as toys or tools, but wise souls worth our respect and care. I'm an Herrmann, and I'm your host. I talk to poor some humans, people who do great work for dogs and their people. So come and join us for today's conversation.

Anke00:00:24.977

hello and welcome Marisa. Like, I'm really, really excited. I always say it, but it's like, it's always true, but