TL;DR

In this heartfelt episode, Mariska expresses deep gratitude to the many individuals and organizations that have supported her and her dog, Piper, throughout their journey. From the medical teams that cared for Piper to the dog community that welcomed them, Mariska highlights the importance of support and love in pet parenting. She reflects on the joy and lessons learned along the way, emphasizing the bond between pets and their owners.

During This Episode:

• An introduction to this thank-you episode and why Mariska wanted to record it
• Gratitude to No Pup Cleft Behind, the rescue organization behind Piper's journey
• Recognition of Waroona Veterinary Clinic, including Dr. Ron, Kellie, and the nursing staff who cared for Piper
• Thanks to Murdoch University Animal Hospital's Small Animal Surgery team, led by Professor Giselle Hosgood
• Appreciation for Greencross Vets Subiaco
• Gratitude to Fremantle Animal Hospital (Freo Vets), including Dr. Garnett, Dr. Kristy, and the nursing team
• A shoutout to the community at Subiaco Common Dog Park, including Katie and Austin, Denise and Boy George, Simone and Floyed, Anne, Danielle, and Mark, Nicky, and Moose
• Thanks to Happy Tails in Perth, including Amanda and her referees
• Recognition of Bruno's Play Center in Dubai, including Jimmy and his team
• Gratitude to the podcast's technical and production partners, including Podcast Websites, Captivate, and Rebel Base Media
• Appreciation for FluentPet and its role in Piper's life
• A final thank you to Alex Cearns of Houndstooth Studio

Takeaways:

• Mariska expresses gratitude to her support system. This episode is dedicated entirely to acknowledging the people and organizations who made Piper's journey and the podcast itself possible.
• The importance of community in pet parenting is highlighted. From dog park friends to veterinary teams, a strong support network makes a real difference for pet parents facing health challenges.
• Piper's journey has been filled with challenges and joy. Her medical needs, from a cleft palate to ongoing surgeries, shaped much of what Tails and Tones stands for today.
• Support from medical teams was crucial for Piper's health. Multiple veterinary clinics and specialists across Perth and Fremantle played a direct role in her care.
• Mariska acknowledges the role of her family in her journey, alongside friends from the local dog park community.
• The podcast is a reflection of Mariska's love for Piper. Its existence is tied directly to the people who supported them both along the way.
• Community members played a significant role in their lives, from fellow dog parents at Subiaco Common Dog Park to daycare teams in both Perth and Dubai.
• Mariska emphasizes the joy of pet ownership, even amid the medical and emotional challenges Piper's journey has involved.
• The episode serves as a thank you to all supporters, including veterinary teams, podcast production partners, and the wider dog-loving community.
• Piper's personality and journey inspire the podcast's creation, grounding Tails and Tones in real, lived experience rather than theory alone.

Relevant links mentioned in the episode:

NoPupCleftBehind

Waroona Veterinary Clinic

Greencross Subiaco

Murdoch Small Animal Surgeries

Freo Vets

Happy Tails

Bruno’s Play Center

FluentPet

Podcast Websites

Captivate

Houndstooth Studio by Alex Cearns

Timestamps to relevant points within the episode:

[00:00]-Intro

[01:11]- No Pup Cleft Behind

[02:07]- Waroona Veterinary Clinic Dr. Ron, Kellie, and the nursing staff at Waroona Veterinary Clinic

[02:27]- Murdoch University Animal Hospital – Small Animal Surgery Professor Giselle Hosgood

[02:59]- Greencross Vets Subiaco

[03:25]- Fremantle Animal Hospital (Freo Vets) Dr. Garnett, Dr. Kristy, and the nursing team at Fremantle Animal Hospital

[03:56]- Subiaco Common Dog Park

[04:02]- Katie & Austin

[04:14]- Denise and Boy George

[04:20]- Simone and Floyed

[04:31]- Anne

[04:48]- Danielle

[04:57]- Mark, Nicky, and Moose

[05:56]- Happy Tails – Perth Amanda and her referees at Happy Tails

[06:03]- Bruno’s Play Center – Dubai Jimmy and his team at Bruno’s Play Center

[07:58]- Podcast Websites / Captivate / Rebel Base Media

[08:25]- FluentPet

[10:18]- Alex Cearns from Houndstooth Studio

FAQ

Who is this bonus episode dedicated to?

This episode is Mariska's thank you to everyone who supported her and Piper, including veterinary teams, rescue organizations, dog park friends, daycare centers, and the podcast's production partners.

Why is community support important for pet parents, especially those with a medically complex dog?

Community support, whether from veterinary specialists, daycare teams, or fellow dog parents, provides both practical help and emotional reassurance during the ups and downs of caring for a dog with ongoing health needs like Piper's.

Which veterinary clinics cared for Piper throughout her journey?

Piper's care team included Waroona Veterinary Clinic, Murdoch University Animal Hospital's Small Animal Surgery department, Greencross Vets Subiaco, and Fremantle Animal Hospital (Freo Vets), spanning her early years in Australia. In Dubai we had the amazing team at Amity, Dr Wells and Umm Suqeim Veterinary Centre taking care of her.

What role did No Pup Cleft Behind play in Piper's story?

No Pup Cleft Behind is the rescue organization that supported Piper's early life with a cleft palate, playing a foundational role in her journey and, later, in the mission behind Tails and Tones.

How does this episode connect to the mission behind Tails and Tones?

Piper's personality and journey, including the community and medical support she received, directly inspired the creation of the podcast and shaped the values behind the Tails and Tones brand.

About the Author: Mariska Nell

Mariska is the founder of Tails and Tones, a design-led, sustainable dog product brand. She's also the host of the Tails and Tones podcast, where she explores dog health, product design, and intentional pet parenting with experts, veterinarians, and fellow dog parents.

Background: Mariska holds a Master's degree in Sustainable Design, a Bachelor's in Interior Design, and a Postgraduate qualification in Environmental Science. She's spent over 10 years working as a sustainability designer and strategist across the UAE, Australia, South Africa, the UK, and India. Her previous work includes collaborations with brands like Nespresso, Costa Coffee, and Dubai Airport, and she founded Design By Mariska, known for trash-to-treasure art exhibited at Dubai International Airport. She's also the host and founder of Mama Earth Talk, a sustainability podcast with 200+ episodes on zero waste and climate action, featuring guests including Dr. Sylvia Earle and the late Dr. Jane Goodall. She created the free Living Lighter course for practical sustainable living.

Piper: Mariska shares her life and work with Piper, her French Bulldog rescue dog. Piper joined the family in 2021 at 5 months old and has been the Chief Paw-duct Tester for everything Tails and Tones creates. Piper's journey, including cleft palate repair, luxating patella, arthritis risk, and recent mobility challenges, directly shaped the founding mission of Elevé (Tails and Tones' first product: a modular, height-adaptive feeding system).

Mission: We are on a mission to help modern dog parents simplify everyday care and elevate life with their pets, without sacrificing style or sustainability. Tails and Tones exists to build products that show up for dog parents, beautiful, sustainable, and robust enough to support you on the worst days. Not just the easy ones.

You can find Mariska at @tailsandtones on Instagram, or visit tailsandtones.com to learn more about Elevé and the Tails and Tones mission.