Episódios

  • Achieving 40% Reduction in Cat Intake Through Targeted TNR in Sunnyvale Featuring Vanessa Forney, Founder & President of Bay Area Cats

    Achieving 40% Reduction in Cat Intake Through Targeted TNR in Sunnyvale Featuring Vanessa Forney, Founder & President of Bay Area Cats
    Oct 7 2025
    "I think just the nature of having a shelter that's supportive and animal control has really expedited this as a success…And I think that made a big difference in the city."

    This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie’s Fund.

    Stacy LeBaron talks with Vanessa Forney, founder and president of Bay Area Cats, an organization in Sunnyvale, California focused on spay neuter for pets and trap neuter return. Since stumbling upon a kitten in her neighborhood in 2020, Vanessa has personally trapped over 2,500 cats and kittens, built an efficient volunteer trapping team, and formed a 501(c)(3) that has helped spay/neuter thousands of cats every year.

    In this episode, Vanessa shares how she quickly moved from rescue-reactive thinking to strategic targeted TNR, focusing her efforts on Sunnyvale and achieving remarkable results through mass trapping techniques and neighborhood-wide approaches. She discusses the importance of data collection, building collaborative relationships with animal control and open intake shelters, and how her organization achieved over 40% reduction in combined shelter intake and TNR program cats between 2022 and 2024. Vanessa also explains the typical timeline for seeing impact (including the initial uptick in requests during the first 12-18 months), the evolution of a TNR organization through different life stages, and why addressing pet spay/neuter is critical for long-term sustainability.

    Listeners will come away understanding that successful targeted TNR requires patience, collaboration, detailed record-keeping, and a multi-layered approach that addresses both community cats and owned pets. Vanessa's story demonstrates that even young organizations can make significant measurable impact when they focus their resources strategically, build strong community partnerships, and create volunteer networks that make the work sustainable rather than isolating.

    Press play now for:

    • How targeted TNR achieved over 40% reduction in cat intake in Sunnyvale between 2022-2024
    • Why geographic focus creates greater impact than spreading resources across multiple areas
    • The 3-5 year timeline for seeing significant results in municipal targeted TNR programs
    • Building collaborative relationships with animal control and open intake shelters
    • Advanced trapping techniques including mass trapping, trap training, and remote control traps
    • The importance of detailed data collection and feeder mapping for strategic planning
    • Why accessible pet spay/neuter is essential for long-term sustainability
    • Creating volunteer teams and community support systems for sustainable TNR work

    Resources mentioned:

    • Bay Area Cats website (https://bayareacats.org/)
    • Bay Area Cats Instagram (@Bay_Area_TNR) (https://www.instagram.com/bay_area_tnr)
    • Humane Society Silicon Valley (https://hssv.org/)
    • Neighborhood Cats Targeted TNR Training (https://www.neighborhoodcats.org)
    • Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society (https://www.mrfrs.org/)

    Sponsor Links:

    • Maddie's Fund (https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/maddies633)

    Follow & Review

    We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts(https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-community-cats-podcast/id1125752101?mt=2). Select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then share a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.
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    34 minutos
  • Revolutionizing Animal Fundraising With Furlanthropy Featuring Adam Spencer, Founder of Furlanthropy

    Revolutionizing Animal Fundraising With Furlanthropy Featuring Adam Spencer, Founder of Furlanthropy
    Sep 30 2025
    "We are a unique charity, very innovative in this space. What you're really doing is you're inviting people to touch your mission. The number one reason anyone gives to any charity or any cause is to fulfill something within themselves, within their own heart." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie’s Fund. In this financial innovation episode, host Stacy LeBaron speaks with Adam Spencer, founder of Furlanthropy, the first charity-owned and operated crowdfunding platform exclusively for animal-related causes. Adam's journey began with his beloved rescue cat Kobe, who lived over 20 years and provided profound emotional support during difficult times. When Adam and his wife later rescued a pet whose original owners had surrendered her due to inability to afford life-saving care, it opened his eyes to the tremendous financial barriers preventing pet parents from accessing veterinary care. As a certified fundraising executive (CFRE), Adam was surprised that no nonprofit crowdfunding platform existed specifically for animal welfare needs. Adam explains how Furlanthropy's nonprofit status provides donor protections unavailable on for-profit platforms like GoFundMe. The platform verifies every campaign and sends funds directly to veterinary hospitals rather than fundraisers, ensuring money reaches its intended destination. With 90 cents of every dollar going directly to campaigns and the remaining 10% supporting administrative costs and underfunded campaigns, Furlanthropy offers transparency that allows donors to research executive compensation through IRS 990 forms. The platform supports immediate campaign creation without waiting periods, accommodates various donation methods including stock gifts and donor-advised funds, and can reimburse past expenses to alleviate financial burdens. The conversation explores fundraising strategy for small grassroots TNR organizations, addressing the common perception that spay/neuter is harder to fundraise for than kitten adoptions. Adam emphasizes that donors give primarily to fulfill something within themselves, often in tribute to their own beloved pets, making prevention-focused campaigns viable when the story connects emotionally. His advice centers on inviting people to become ambassadors for missions they care about, recognizing that not everyone can give financially but everyone can share stories and expand reach through their networks. Press play now for: How Kobe the rescue cat's emotional support inspired a platform serving all animals in needThe donor protection advantages of nonprofit vs. for-profit crowdfunding platformsDirect payment to veterinary hospitals ensuring funds reach intended recipients90/10 fee structure with transparency allowing donor research of executive compensationImmediate campaign launch capability without approval delays or waiting periodsSupport for past, current, and future expenses to alleviate caregiver financial burdensStock gifts, donor-advised funds, and multiple donation methods for sophisticated givingPetSmart Charities $200,000+ grant validation and upcoming partnership announcementsStrategic fundraising advice for small TNR organizations and grassroots groupsWhy prevention-focused campaigns succeed when stories connect with donor heartsAmbassador model allowing supporters to create campaigns for causes they care aboutThe power of multiple smaller gifts vs. single large donations for building supporter base Resources mentioned: Furlanthropy website (https://furlanthropy.org/)Furlanthropy Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/furlanthropycharity/)Furlanthropy Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/furlanthropycharity/)Furlanthropy Twitter/X (https://twitter.com/Furlanthropy1)Furlanthropy LinkedIn (https://linkedin.com/company/furlanthropy/)Email contact: paws@furlanthropy.orgPhone: (434) 207-2790PetSmart Charities (https://petsmartcharities.org/)Forever Legacy Society for planned giving (https://furlanthropy.org/ways-to-give/furever-legacy-society/)GuideStar nonprofit profile (https://www.guidestar.org/profile/87-4346748) Sponsor Links: Maddie's Fund (https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/maddies632) Follow & Review We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts(https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-community-cats-podcast/id1125752101?mt=2). Select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then share a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.
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    24 minutos
  • Building Bridges: International Lessons for Community Cat Programs, Featuring Maia Rumpho, Founder of Pet Project Rescue

    Building Bridges: International Lessons for Community Cat Programs, Featuring Maia Rumpho, Founder of Pet Project Rescue
    Sep 23 2025
    "What we do in Mexico is my dream for Minnesota. We provide free spay neuter to both owned and street animals every single week." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie’s Fund and The Community Cat Clinic. In this international perspective episode, host Stacy LeBaron speaks with Maia Rumpho, founder of Pet Project Rescue, who turned a chance encounter with a street dog in Mexico into a binational animal welfare organization. Maia's journey began in 2007 during an engagement trip to Mexico, where rescuing a street dog sparked her understanding of the resource disparities between communities. What started as a dog-focused rescue evolved into Minnesota's only free TNR program, while maintaining weekly spay/neuter clinics in Mexico that serve as a model for comprehensive community animal care. Maia shares how her social work background shapes her approach to animal welfare, recognizing that effective programs must address barriers facing the people who care for community cats. Her organization removes financial obstacles that might force caregivers to choose between their own basic needs and helping animals. The conversation explores the striking differences between urban and rural cat populations in Minnesota, where urban colonies typically number 10 or fewer cats while rural areas often have 30 or more. Maia discusses the challenge of veterinary access in rural areas, where both distance and lack of feral cat experience among local veterinarians create significant barriers. The discussion highlights Maia's experience working in Mexico, where government support, animal control cooperation, and cross-organizational teamwork create an environment she wishes could be replicated in Minnesota. Her Mexico programs include weekly clinics serving 25 animals and annual three-day events handling 1,100-1,200 animals with remarkable efficiency. Maia's vision includes bringing MASH-style clinics to Minnesota, already piloting monthly Friday clinics in North Minneapolis that target the city's highest need area. This episode demonstrates how international experience can inform domestic programs and why collaboration across all sectors is essential for addressing community cat overpopulation. Press play now for: How a 2007 Mexico engagement trip sparked Minnesota's only free TNR programThe dramatic scale difference: 30+ cat rural colonies vs. 10 or fewer urban populationsMexico's collaborative model with government support and skilled veterinariansWeekly clinics serving 25 animals and annual 1,100+ animal three-day eventsWhy Minnesota procedures cost 4-6 times more than Mexico operationsAdapting Mexican high-volume models for North Minneapolis communitiesThe authorization system that provides flexibility for unexpected additional catsStrategic targeting of areas with highest need and lowest income bracketsWhy summer is optimal timing for TNR activities nationwide Resources mentioned: Pet Project Rescue website (https://petprojectrescue.com/)Pet Project Rescue Instagram: @PPR_mpls (https://www.instagram.com/ppr_mpls/)Pet Project Rescue Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/PetProjectRescue/)Pet Project Rescue TNR Program (https://petprojectrescue.com/about/programs/trap-neuter-return-tnr/)Coco's Animal Welfare - Playa del Carmen, Mexico partner (https://cocosanimalwelfare.org)Rocco's Relief Foundation - Mexico City area partner (https://rrfmexico.org)MN SNAP - Minnesota Spay Neuter Assistance Program (https://mnsnap.org/)Contact: Info@PetProjectRescue.com Sponsor Links: Maddie's Fund (https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/maddies631)The Community Cat Clinic (https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/catclinicga) Follow & Review We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts(https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-community-cats-podcast/id1125752101?mt=2). Select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then share a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.
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    27 minutos
  • Revolutionizing Kitten Care: The Kitten College Model, Featuring Marnie Russ, Founder, National Kitten College

    Revolutionizing Kitten Care: The Kitten College Model, Featuring Marnie Russ, Founder, National Kitten College
    Sep 16 2025
    "A cat that is well socialized is highly adoptable. A cat that is not well socialized sits in the shelter. It's an important part of your fostering responsibility to get them ready to live outside. Before it was just saving their lives. But now we know better.” This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie’s Fund and The Community Cat Clinic. In this episode, host Stacy LeBaron welcomes back Marnie Russ, founder of National Kitten College, for an update on her innovative approach to neonatal kitten care. Since her first appearance on the podcast in 2016-2017, Marnei has grown her innovative "Kitten College" program from a small local initiative into a national movement that has fundamentally changed how shelters approach kitten fostering and care. What started as a business plan that would have "gotten an F in college" has evolved into a sophisticated system that increased kitten saves from 92 to nearly 1,600 annually while achieving an extraordinary 94-96% live release rate for neonates. Marnie explains how her grade-based foster system (freshman, sophomore, junior, senior) allows fosters to specialize in the age groups they prefer while ensuring kittens receive optimal socialization through multiple placements. This model challenges traditional fostering wisdom that discouraged moving kittens between homes, instead proving that strategic movement enhances socialization and health outcomes. She details how the program evolved organically, with fosters creating their own "conveyor belt" systems and team approaches that maximize both volunteer satisfaction and kitten success rates. The conversation explores the critical intersection between TNR work and kitten programs, addressing how Kitten College supports community cat efforts by providing reliable placement options for trapped litters. Marnie discusses her partnership with UC Davis and University of Florida to ensure all recommendations align with current shelter medicine best practices, her work developing the first national neonatal kitten training center, and her commitment to making these resources free or low-cost for rural and under-resourced communities. This episode demonstrates how innovative thinking about traditional shelter practices can create scalable solutions that benefit both animals and the people who care for them. Press play now for: How Marnie's original collaboration with National Kitten Coalition led to studying major nurseries nationwideThe evolution from 92 kittens annually to nearly 1,600 with 94-96% live release rates for neonatesThe grade-based foster system (freshman through senior) that allows specialization and prevents foster burnoutWhy moving kittens between foster homes improves socialization rather than harming itHow the "conveyor belt" system emerged organically with foster teams working togetherThe critical connection between TNR efforts and kitten placement programs during summer monthsPartnership strategies between Kitten College programs and community cat trappersWorking with UC Davis and University of Florida to align practices with current shelter medicineDevelopment of the first national neonatal kitten training center in partnership with Humane Rescue AllianceThe transition from Animal Welfare League of Arlington to becoming an independent national nonprofitFunding challenges and commitment to providing free or low-cost services to rural communitiesSuccess of "Taking the Fear out of Bottle Feeding" course as Maddie's University's top-performing classWhy traditional "every two hours" feeding schedules are outdated and discourage potential fostersCreating community connections where kitten programs can support each other nationallyThe importance of employer partnerships to enable workplace bottle feeding for dedicated fosters Resources mentioned: National Kitten College website (https://www.kittencollege.org/)Email: info@kittencollege.orgNational Kitten College Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/p/National-Kitten-College-61558629895690/)Maddie's University online courses (https://university.maddiesfund.org/)Animal Welfare League of Arlington - original program location (https://www.awla.org/)Animal Welfare League of Arlington Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/AWLArlington/)Humane Rescue Alliance - DC partnership (https://www.humanerescuealliance.org/)Humane Rescue Alliance Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/humanerescuealliance/)UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program (https://www.shelterlearniverse.com/)University of Florida Shelter Medicine Program (https://sheltermedicine.vetmed.ufl.edu/)National Kitten Coalition (https://kittencoalition.org/) Sponsor Links: Maddie's Fund (https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/maddies623)The Community Cat Clinic (https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/catclinicga) Follow & Review We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review...
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    27 minutos
  • From Founder to Ambassador: Building Sustainable Community Cat Programs Featuring Joy Smith, Founder and Ambassador, FieldHaven Feline Center

    From Founder to Ambassador: Building Sustainable Community Cat Programs Featuring Joy Smith, Founder and Ambassador, FieldHaven Feline Center
    Sep 9 2025
    "We want to turn cat haters into cat toleraters, and that has worked so well. Even the people who say 'I hate cats.' Okay, that's fine if you hate cats. But don't wish them dead. We're gonna work to keep them out of your yard." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie’s Fund and 6 Degrees of Cats. In this inspiring episode, host Stacy LeBaron welcomes Joy Smith, founder of FieldHaven Feline Center in Lincoln, California, who shares her remarkable journey from accidentally rescuing a few cats on her street to building a $1.5 million organization that has transformed entire communities. Joy's story begins in 2003 when a simple call to help with trapping led to raising kittens in her barn's tack room, selling them at a local farmer's market, and ultimately creating one of California's most innovative community cat programs. Her evolution from reluctant rescuer to strategic leader offers valuable lessons about growing sustainable, community-focused programs. Joy details FieldHaven's groundbreaking partnership with the Marysville Police Department, which began in 2018 with a goal to spay and neuter every cat in the city. She explains how they overcame initial community resistance through education, implemented a feeding ordinance to address business owner concerns, and created a comprehensive system that includes mobile spay/neuter clinics, vaccine and microchip services, and community resource centers. The program's success demonstrates how strategic thinking, community engagement, and municipal support can transform a city overrun with cats into one operating in maintenance mode with occasional weeks where they can't fill their spay/neuter quota. The conversation also explores Joy's recent transition from executive director to founder and ambassador, sharing the challenges and rewards of succession planning in animal welfare organizations. Her insights about treating nonprofits as businesses, paying competitive salaries to attract talent, and the cultural shift toward recognizing pets as family members offer valuable perspective for leaders navigating organizational growth and sustainability in today's evolving animal welfare landscape. Press Play Now For: Joy's accidental entry into cat rescue and the organic growth from tack room to multi-location organizationStrategic expansion philosophy: starting with your backyard and expanding community by communityThe Marysville Police Department partnership and how municipal support transforms TNR effortsCommunity education strategies for turning resistance into acceptance and "cat haters into cat toleraters"Implementation of feeding ordinances and how addressing business owner concerns solved community conflictsMobile spay/neuter clinics, vaccine programs, and resource centers as comprehensive community solutionsTraining animal control officers in TNR methods and creating internal advocatesThe importance of microchipping for tracking outcomes and addressing dumping issuesFour-year succession planning process and the challenges of transitioning founder leadershipRunning nonprofits as businesses while maintaining mission focus and community trustSalary competitiveness in animal welfare and attracting career professionals to the fieldCultural shifts in spay/neuter acceptance and the exciting future of animal welfare careersInnovative programs like "Kitten Sitters" that engage community members as part of the solutionFieldHaven's expansion to four locations and disaster response work including the Camp Fire recovery Resources Mentioned: FieldHaven Feline Center website (https://fieldhaven.com/)FieldHaven Feline Center Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/FieldHaven/)FieldHaven Marketplace - thrift store and adoption center (https://www.fieldhavenmarketplace.com/)Animal Spay and Neuter - Auburn, California (https://animalspayneuter.com/)Animal Spay and Neuter Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/p/Animal-Spay-and-Neuter-Auburn-100063466875709/)Dan Pallotta TED Talk: "The way we think about charity is dead wrong"(https://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pallotta_the_way_we_think_about_charity_is_dead_wrong)Dan Pallotta's official website (https://www.danpallotta.com/)"The Fire Cats: Save Something Small" documentary - Camp Fire recovery (https://www.thefirecatsfilm.com/)FieldHaven's Kitten Sitters program (https://fieldhaven.com/programs/kitten-sitters/) Sponsor Links: Maddie's Fund (https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/maddies623)Six Degrees of Cats (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/6-degrees-of-cats/id1669849217) Follow & Review We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts(https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-community-cats-podcast/id1125752101?mt=2). Select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then share a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only ...
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    39 minutos
  • Building Professional Community Cat Programs: From Strategy to Implementation, Featuring Elizabeth Finch, Educator, Author, and Community Cat Program Consultant

    Building Professional Community Cat Programs: From Strategy to Implementation, Featuring Elizabeth Finch, Educator, Author, and Community Cat Program Consultant
    Sep 2 2025
    "A community cat program does not just help cats. You think you're going in there to help cats and you turn out really having more impact on the people in that community." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie’s Fund and 6 Degrees of Cats. In this insightful episode, host Stacy LeBaron welcomes back Elizabeth Finch, an impact-driven leader who has been transforming community cat programming since 2015. Elizabeth's journey from launching a robust community cat program serving over 4,000 cats annually in metro Atlanta to becoming an educator and consultant offers valuable lessons for anyone looking to create systematic change. Her experience reveals how effective community cat work extends far beyond individual rescue efforts to become a comprehensive approach that benefits both cats and the people who care about them. Elizabeth shares the strategic thinking behind successful community cat programs, emphasizing the importance of moving beyond "onesie-twosie" approaches to tackle entire colonies, neighborhoods, and zip codes systematically. The conversation explores how she and Stacy partnered to create the first-of-its-kind Community Cat Program Management Certification course at University of the Pacific, addressing the gap between skilled trappers and comprehensive program management. Elizabeth discusses the eight-module curriculum that covers everything from funding and marketing to legal roadblocks and public engagement—skills that most passionate trappers never learned but desperately need. The episode also touches on Elizabeth's creative outlets, including her book "Colony Tails: Lessons from the Alley," which captures the human side of community cat work through short stories that honor frontline caretakers. Whether you're running a small TNR group, working in municipal animal services, or considering starting a community cat program, this conversation provides both strategic insights and practical tools for professionalizing this critical work while maintaining its heart and compassion. Press play now for: Elizabeth's journey from individual cat rescue to systematic community cat programmingWhy community cat programs help people as much as cats in underserved communitiesThe strategic approach to TNR: targeting whole colonies, neighborhoods, and zip codes rather than individual catsHow the Community Cat Program Management Certification course fills the gap between trapping skills and program managementDetails on the eight-module curriculum covering funding, marketing, legal issues, data management, and public engagementThe partnership between passionate educators with different strengths (methodical writer vs. dynamic speaker)Live weekly sessions, Q&A opportunities, and expert guest interviews from field veteransThe Sue Black Memorial Scholarship honoring a dedicated community cat program managerTNR certification workshops and the movement toward professionalizing community cat workElizabeth's book "Colony Tails: Lessons from the Alley" and upcoming series of standalone management guidesWhy effective TNR requires far more than "traps and tuna" to create lasting community impactPartnership opportunities for organizations wanting to support volunteer training Resources mentioned: University of the Pacific Community Cat Program Management Certification Course(https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/events/university-of-the-pacific-community-cats-program-management-certificate-program-853-372/)Community Cat Champions - Sue Black Memorial Scholarship (https://communitycatchampions.org/)Colony Tales: Lessons from the Alley on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Colony-Tails-Lessons-Elizabeth-Finch/dp/B0DGG2SMSS/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3ODXF70MNCC5C&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.tONPSO-TUDZMhENuCmEHoOVqaKfXgEoTcOhTEH0gq7XUpOH3wONtfcdWlwWfOAaP.7RgU5T0GsT_FpRvxTxxIHNJNrWPTrd6nhZ83TwFwc2Q&dib_tag=se&keywords=colony+tails&qid=1756150798&sprefix=colony+tails,aps,98&sr=8-1)Community Cats Podcast TNR Certification Workshops (https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/events/)Community Cats Podcast Partnership Programs (https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/)Contact Elizabeth Finch: elizabeth@communitycatspodcast.comContact Stacy LeBaron: stacy@communitycatspodcast.comAdditional certifications: Drop Trap Certification, Trappers Tips & Tricks, Colony Caretaking Tips & Tricks(https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/conferences-and-events/) Sponsor Links: Maddie's Fund (https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/maddies623)Six Degrees of Cats (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/6-degrees-of-cats/id1669849217) Follow & Review We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts(https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-community-cats-podcast/id1125752101?mt=2). Select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then share a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. ...
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    31 minutos
  • Scaling Spay/Neuter: How One Foundation Is Disrupting Access to Care, Featuring Cathy Bissell, Founder of the Bissell Pet Foundation

    Scaling Spay/Neuter: How One Foundation Is Disrupting Access to Care, Featuring Cathy Bissell, Founder of the Bissell Pet Foundation
    Aug 26 2025
    "If you love cats, you should be concerned about trying to help bring those numbers down so animals don't suffer because this is why we do this. We don't want animals suffering, having unwanted litters of cats and having to have them suffer." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie’s Fund and 6 Degrees of Cats. In this powerful episode, host Stacy LeBaron sits down with Cathy Bissell, founder of Bissell Pet Foundation, who has revolutionized animal welfare through innovative programs reaching over 6,000 shelters across 49 states. From her unexpected entry into animal welfare during Hurricane Katrina to creating the nation's largest funded adoption event, Cathy's journey demonstrates how strategic thinking and passionate commitment can create systemic change. Her foundation has impacted nearly one million pets since 2011, but it's her latest initiative that's truly disrupting the industry. Cathy shares the incredible success of her groundbreaking "Fix the Future" program, launched in 2023 to address the veterinary care access crisis. In just under 18 months, this free spay/neuter initiative has sterilized 138,000 animals across 27 states, with an astounding 86,963 of those being cats. Through a network of 385 high-volume, high-quality relief veterinarians, the program is tackling overpopulation at its source while keeping costs remarkably low at just $35 per surgery. Cathy discusses the challenges of scaling this model, the importance of treating every animal that comes through their doors, and why she believes this "disruptor program" is essential for breaking down cost barriers that prevent people from accessing veterinary care. Whether you're working in a small grassroots rescue or leading a major shelter, this episode provides invaluable insights into creating sustainable, scalable solutions that address root causes rather than just symptoms. Cathy's emphasis on collaboration, her honest discussion about learning from mistakes (including a powerful story about declawing), and her practical advice for getting started at any age will inspire listeners to think bigger about their impact and consider how they can contribute to solving the access to care crisis in their own communities. Press play now for: Cathy's unexpected journey from Hurricane Katrina volunteer to founding a major animal welfare foundationThe evolution from disaster response to adoption events to addressing systemic access to care challengesIncredible statistics: 138,000 spay/neuter surgeries in 18 months with 86,963 cats across 27 statesHow the Fix the Future program operates with 385 relief veterinarians at just $35 per surgeryThe power of MASH-style clinics and why community cat advocates should consider creating their ownWhy Michigan serves as a prime example with 3,000 cats out of 4,000 total surgeries at their clinicThe importance of spaying/neutering before adoption and addressing kittens under six monthsHow veterinary school limitations (graduating with only 1-3 spay/neuter surgeries) impact private practice capacityCathy's honest story about learning from the declawing controversy and how it changed her foundation's policiesPractical advice for getting involved at any age and making a difference beyond just donating moneyThe role of Empty the Shelters adoption events in supporting shelter operations nationwideWhy every animal deserves vaccination and ear-tipping as part of comprehensive TNR programs Resources mentioned: Bissell Pet Foundation website (https://www.bissellpetfoundation.org/)Empty the Shelters adoption events (https://www.bissellpetfoundation.org/programs/empty-the-shelters/)Fix the Future spay/neuter initiative (https://www.bissellpetfoundation.org/programs/fix-the-future/)Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine (https://www.vetmed.msstate.edu/)MSU shelter medicine program details (https://www.vetmed.msstate.edu/about/points-of-pride)United Spay Alliance website (https://www.unitedspayalliance.org/)United Spay Alliance wet lab training programs (https://www.unitedspayalliance.org/hqhvsn-wet-labs/)BISSELL Pet Foundation grant information (https://www.bissellpetfoundation.org/grant-information/)Operation Fix the Future clinics (https://www.bissellpetfoundation.org/operation-fix-the-future/)BISSELL Pet Foundation Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/bissellpets/) Sponsor Links: Maddie's Fund (https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/maddies623)Six Degrees of Cats (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/6-degrees-of-cats/id1669849217) Follow & Review We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts(https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-community-cats-podcast/id1125752101?mt=2). Select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then share a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a ...
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    41 minutos
  • Municipal Shelter Innovation: No-Kill Success in Small-Town Mississippi, Featuring Glen Andrews, Director, Horn Lake Animal Shelter

    Municipal Shelter Innovation: No-Kill Success in Small-Town Mississippi, Featuring Glen Andrews, Director, Horn Lake Animal Shelter
    Aug 19 2025
    "I envision Horn Lake being the hub of North Mississippi when it comes to animal welfare. I want my animal shelter to be the place that people model their strategies after.” This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie’s Fund and the Rescue Cleaners and Disinfectants. In this episode, host Stacy LeBaron sits down with Glen Andrews, Director of the Horn Lake Animal Shelter in North Mississippi. With over two decades in animal welfare and experience in virtually every shelter role imaginable—from event coordinator to veterinary assistant to director—Glen brings a unique "Renaissance rescuer" perspective to municipal animal services. His journey from Manhattan's urban animal control to rural Mississippi's challenges offers valuable insights into adapting shelter practices across different regional cultures and community needs. Glen shares how he transformed a small, antiquated municipal shelter into a thriving no-kill facility while simultaneously doubling intake numbers. The conversation covers his innovative approaches to community engagement, including low-cost spay/neuter programs, pet food pantries, youth volunteer corps, and strategic community cat management. Glen discusses the importance of removing the enforcement stigma from municipal shelters and positioning them as community resources that help people keep their pets rather than judging pet owners in crisis. Whether you're working in a large urban shelter or a small rural facility, this episode provides actionable strategies for building community trust, implementing sustainable programs with limited resources, and achieving life-saving outcomes. Glen's emphasis on understanding local demographics, strategic partnerships, and the power of microchipping offers a roadmap for municipal shelters looking to modernize their approach and better serve both animals and the people who care about them. Press play now for: How Glen's diverse shelter experience prepared him to lead comprehensive reform at a small municipal facilityThe cultural differences in pet ownership between urban North and rural South, and how to adapt programming accordinglyStrategies for removing the enforcement stigma from municipal shelters and building community trustDetails on Horn Lake's innovative programs: low-cost spay/neuter, pet food pantry, and youth volunteer corpsGlen's data-driven approach to community cats and achieving 100% more TNR surgeries than neighboring areasHow to achieve no-kill status while doubling intake through strategic partnerships and enhanced marketingThe game-changing impact of mandatory microchipping and achieving 20% above national average for return-to-owner ratesGlen's vision for microchipping every animal in Horn Lake and creating a model for other communitiesPractical advice for small municipal shelters on accessing grants and proving community needThe importance of municipal leadership support and how to work within government structures Resources mentioned: Horn Lake Animal Shelter Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/HornLakeAnimalShelter/)Horn Lake Animal Shelter website (https://www.hornlake.org/departments/AnimalShelter)Horn Lake Animal Shelter phone: (662) 393-5857Horn Lake Animal Shelter Petfinder page (https://www.petfinder.com/member/us/ms/horn-lake/friends-of-horn-lake-animal-shelter-ms71/)Maddie's Fund website (https://www.maddiesfund.org/)Maddie's Pet Forum (https://forum.maddiesfund.org/home)Maddie's University education courses (https://university.maddiesfund.org/)Best Friends Animal Society website (https://bestfriends.org/)Community Cats Podcast website (https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/)Maddie's Fund grant programs (https://www.maddiesfund.org/) Sponsor Links: Maddie's Fund (https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/maddies623)Rescue Cleaners and Disinfectants (https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/virox) Follow & Review We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts(https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-community-cats-podcast/id1125752101?mt=2). Select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then share a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.
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    30 minutos