The Community Cats Podcast

Stacy’s back with more recommendations in the second ever Book Review Show! These four books offer a wide variety for anyone in the animal welfare world: from a coffee table book of city kitties, to a birder’s views  on managing free-roaming cat populations. As last time, the final book recommendation does not talk specifically about cats, but instead offers ways in which you can build your social media presence, craft a more communicative message, and more.    We’ve included the names of the books and authors down below, as well as links to places you can buy them! And don’t forget: if you ever have any questions or book recommendations, you can always email Stacy at stacy@communitycatspodcast.com.   Shop Cats of New York by Tamar Arslanian (author) and Andrew Marttila (photographer) Alley Cat Rescue’s Guide to Managing Community Cats by Louise Holton Cat Wars by Peter Marra and Chris Santella Platform by Michael Hyatt

Emma Clifford, Founder and Executive Director of Animal Balance “I don’t think you can put a dollar figure on humanely managing all species." Emma is back for another interview! This time, she tells Stacy about her most recent and fascinating trip to the Galapagos Islands in early December. There she and her team at Animal Balance Galapagos worked with the local parks service to develop a community-based sterilization program for cats (TNR in CCP speak!). She talks about working in a habitat with extremely sensitive and protected flora and fauna, and the important symbolism of the success of the program in such a place. Emma also gives us a sneak peek at her upcoming project in Hawaii, a place that presents similar environmental challenges as the Galapagos. Emma hopes that the work her team is doing in the Galapagos will serve as a template for the Hawaii program, and is excited for the future of community-based TNR in other parts of the world. Click here to listen to Emma’s first interview with Stacy, or vis

Laura Moss, Founder, and Jamie Brooks, Communications, AdventureCats.org “We [are] trying to… rebrand not just what it means to be a cat lady… [but also] what a cat is.” Laura Moss and Jamie Brooks are partners in Adventure Cats, a website that promotes safe ways for cat owners to explore the outdoors with their cats, and seeks to dismantle negative stereotypes about cats and the people who own them. Barely two years old, the site has exploded with activity and popularity, and has brought together a community of people who do outdoor activities with their cats. Jamie and Laura believe that spending time outdoors with your cat improves their physical, mental, and emotional health, and they hope that Adventure Cats will show people that cats are just as multi-faceted as dogs and other animals!   To learn more, please visit adventurecats.org, and be sure to check out the new Adventure Cats book that’s coming out in May!

Interview! Mary Peng, CEO & Founder, International Center for Veterinary Services (Part 2) “It has to be high-quality, high-volume spay-neuter, with Chinese characteristics.”' In part two of this special two-part episode, Mary Peng continues to tell the story of ICVS, and goes into more detail about the unique challenges the hospital must face in China. She says that they have had to adapt programs and practices learned in the US to Chinese situations. For example, Mary believes that the private sector must play an important role in bringing these resources to China, as the government does not have the resources to help. ICVS is in the unique situation of offering non-profit services to the public without the benefits of non-profit status, and relies heavily on donations on their website to maintain their facility and programs. However, there are so many opportunities for those outside of China to help out. To learn more about ICVS, donate to their cause, or contact their bilingual Chinese-English staff,

Interview! Mary Peng, CEO & Founder, International Center for Veterinary Services (Part 1) “This is a program for China. It is going to raise the bar on humane animal welfare.” In part one of this special two-part episode, Stacy interviews Mary Peng,CEO and founder of International Center for Veterinary Services. Based in Beijing, ICVS is the first international standard animal hospital in China. China is a large country with very little access to veterinary care. In 1994, Mary adopted a cat in China but found it almost impossible to access basic animal healthcare for her furry friend. She decided to put her own professional business and consulting training, as well as her knowledge as a pet owner, to tap into the potential for a pet care industry in China. ICVS was founded in 2006 and offers a myriad of veterinary services as well as training. Using programs in the US as templates, Mary and her staff teach TNR best practices and train vets to spay and neuter animals on a large scale. Though there is stil

Interview! Chris Roy, Founder, Doobert.com "The concept behind Doobert was to automate those rescue tasks that can and should be automated." Chris Roy is a pilot, a Milwaukeean, a husband and owner of several cats and dogs, and the creator of Doobert.com, an online software platform for animal welfare volunteers and organizations. Although Doobert started as a hub to organize the transportation of rescued animals, it has grown to offer a wide variety of services, such as photography for shelters. Chris firmly believes that we can use technology to make people and organizations more efficient in order to save more animals, and he is hopeful and excited about the doors that technology will continue to open in the animal welfare world. His next step for Doobert is to design a module for community cat concerns, and is eager for any feedback or suggestions that those who work with these animals can give. To get in touch with Chris, visit Doobert.com and click on the orange HELP/SUPPORT button.

Interview! Dr. Caitlyn Neal, HVHQSN Veterinarian, Washington D.C. and Maryland “We have enormous community support through our foster network and feeders who really want to go the distance for their cats” Just two years out of veterinary school, Dr. Neal has been drawn to shelter medicine for quite some time. This spay/neuter “dynamo” has been involved with a number of high quality, high volume spay/neuter programs and today leads the medical efforts at CATNIPP, the Cat Neighborhood Partnership program in Washington, DC, which supports local efforts to reduce overpopulation, and keep free-roaming cats healthy, as well asi improve relationships between community cats and the people who coexist with them. Dr. Neal notes that community felines are living longer, and now just as subject to geriatric diseases as environmental challenges. She also discusses ways for veterinary students to start making a difference before they’re even in practice.

Nina Wolf, Writer and Expert, Animal Nutrition and Wellness “Think about our kids who are cuddling animals and sticking their faces down into their fur." Nina is a passionate advocate for keeping animals safe and healthy through use of natural, non-toxic foods and treatment alternatives.  She catalogs the many health issues posed to cats and dogs through use of topical flea and tick treatments (as well as their dangers to humans), and introduces Stacy to a new alternative that repels pests via electromagnetic waves.  By simply adding the Catandog tag to your pet’s collar, you can protect it from all flying parasites. Sound too good to be true? Nina explains the tag creates a electromagnetic field when it interacts with your pet’s skin, which repels bugs and makes them “just go away.”  Nina also describes the benefits of diatomaceous earth for reducing pest populations around community cat colonies.  Learn more at www.catandogs.net

Interview! Aimee St. Arnaud-Relaunch-  Director at Humane Alliance a Program of the ASPCA “We need to focus on stopping the problem at the root… that’s why we focus on prevention.” In today’s episode we are relaunching Aimee St. Arnaud’s super podcast, as we had a technical glitch. Since the episode was only live for a short period of time, we want to make sure you have a chance to listen to this awesome interview!  Enjoy. Aimee St. Arnaud works for the Humane Alliance training vets and community advocates who want to open spay-neuter clinics. She first got the idea to open her own spay-neuter clinic when volunteering with the Toledo Area Humane Society and their Operation Felix, a monthly MASH clinic. After seeing the dearth of resources for cats and the invisibility of the problem even within the animal welfare world, she started the Humane Ohio Spay/Neuter Clinic, which performs 15,000 spay/neuter surgeries a year, 70% of which are cats. She is a big advocate of “spaying it forward,” which involves creatin

Interview! Bryan Kortis, Director of National Programs, Neighborhood Cats “We’ve been able to return cats to colonies that otherwise would have been lost in the system.” In his return to the Podcast, Bryan tells Stacy about his recent move to Maui (we’re a little jealous!), which is in crisis when it comes to stray and feral cat populations. He and his wife moved there to bring “progressive and enlightened” thinking to how this community deals with these cats, as well as advocating for the spay/neuter and resources needed to make an impact. He and Stacy also discuss Bryan’s newly available “Cat Stats” database, which is a free TNR program management tool that he built to assist caretakers, trappers, and TNR programs. It facilitates communication among participants, helps map and organize data, and professionalizes a TNR program. Find out more at www.catstats.org

Justin Zimmerman, Director of the Film, “SMART: Specialized Mobile Animal Rescue Team.” “We fell in love with their drive and passion, and what they’re doing so visual, we thought there was something cool there.” In this fascinating interview, Justin talks about his award-winning documentary that follows the exploits of the Los Angeles-based SMART team, which rescues animals in Southern California from all kinds of dire situations. He and his film crew followed the team for three years, watching as they saved cats and kittens, mountain lions, horses... even a deer trapped in a clothesline in Pee Wee Herman’s backyard!  Justin was inspired by the passion and dedication of this group, composed of animal control officers, who felt a heightened personal responsibility for rescuing animals in danger. Justin also describes how he is making the film available for non-profits to screen as part of a fundraiser.  Don’t miss this amazing conversation!   Learn more at http://www.smartmoviedoc.com/

Greatest Hits! Susanna Della Maddalena, CEO and President, Central OK Humane “We’re in the business of saving lives." Susanna was a fan favorite and we can definitely see why! She spent ten years heading up PetSmart Charities and now leads Central OK Humane. She has seen it all when it comes to fundraising and has been on both sides of the coin! She discusses implementing game-changing programs that have brought live release rates to an all-time high, as well as how they have handled the high volume for community animals in Oklahoma. Don't miss the knowledge that Susanna shares! To find out more, please go to www.okhumane.org.

Greatest Hits! Brianna Lovell, Outreach and Events Manager, Alley Cat Allies “No action is too big or too small.” We couldn't have asked for a better guest on National Feral Cat Day than Brianna Lovell! If you are still unaware of what this great day entails, this is the podcast that you've been waiting for! Brianna discusses how the day began, but more importantly, what National Feral Cat Day has turned into! Groups use this day as a wonderful platform for taking on the projects and education that the community around them needs, regarding cats! Get involved in 2017 and make the change happen that Brianna so wonderfully discusses! To find out more, please go to www.nationalferalcatday.org.

Greatest Hits! Hannah Shaw, The Kitten Lady “I live and breathe cat advocacy…that’s what I do.” Hannah Shaw was such a popular guest earlier this year that we couldn't wait to bring back her episode for a reboot! How was she to know that saving an orphaned kitty would reboot her career, as well! Hannah, affectionately known as The Kitten Lady, is now an expert in saving and raising kittens. She holds workshops and has an amazing social media presence, so it was a match made in heaven when her and Stacy started chatting! She discusses the link between abandoned cats and the need for spay/neuter for Community Cats and also is one of the most inspiring guests we had all year! Enjoy! To find out more, please go to www.kittenlady.org.

Interview! Kathy Downey, Journalist and Animal Rights Advocate, Plus "Mickey’s Story" “These cats are citizens of our community just like you are and I am.” Kathy was one of the earliest volunteers for the Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society when she moved to Newburyport, Massachusetts in 1992.  She and Stacy reminisce about the feral cat colony on the Merrimack River and how she developed a special place in her heart for Mickey, a waterfront cat she calls “a personable cat with a purr.”  She details her relationship with this “Boss of the Boatyard,”  who ended up living out his retirement years in the home of another MRFRS volunteer, as Kathy points out the different challenges facing cat caretakers as the colony membership changes and ages.  “We all love the cats and want what’s best.” She still feeds feral cats one day a week, as well as advocating for a wide variety of animal protection legislation.   Plus, Stacy reads “Mickey’s Story,” a short story written by Kathy Downey about one of the feral cat

Interview! Dr. Marty Becker, “America’s Veterinarian” and Founder of the Fear Free Initiative "To finally realize we were causing psychological damage to animals…once you know it, you can’t not know it.” After being a renowned veterinarian, including being the resident vet on Good Morning America for 17 years, Dr. Becker says, “I’m not retiring…I’m refiring!”  His latest initiative is an innovative program that helps animal care professionals reduce the stress we put on our companion animals when we bring them for their annual vet visit.  It’s called “The Fear Free Initiative” and includes eight online modules that train people how to make a vet visit a positive experience…really!  Dr. Becker observes that when the initiative was launched, they expected only 1000 people to take the course, but it’s exceeded expectations with nearly 6,000 people completing the certification.  Dr. Becker believes we can work make all experiences “fear free” for our animals by thinking about their emotional wellbeing, as well as

Interview! Dr. Sara White, Founder Spay ASAP Inc.- VT “We haven’t really been taught… how to take care of [our bodies as] this instrument that we have.” Dr. Sara White is a mixed-animal veterinarian with experience both in private and shelter medicine, and the operator of Spay ASAP Inc., a mobile MASH clinic. Since 2006, Dr. White has spayed and neutered a staggering 40,000 animals herself. She also concerns herself with the issue of health ergonomics among veterinary surgeons and staff, and gives tips on how these individuals can take care of their own bodies and health in order to do the most for their patients. For more information visit their ergovet.com.

Interview! Aly Miller and Paul Castro, Jr., Creator of Aeris, A Short Film- NYC “Our responsibility as filmmakers is to tell the most vulnerable truth.” When Paul Castro Jr. entered a pet store on a whim almost two years ago, he didn’t expect to find a new passion for animal advocacy that would fuel one of his many film and acting projects. There he met Aeris, a sickly little kitten with whom he made an instant connection and felt he had to go to any lengths to save. Together with Aly Miller, he embarked on a journey that opened his eyes to the sad reality of many animals in pet shops, and sparked the production of a short film based on the story. The film seeks to open a dialogue about adopting vs. buying pets, and raise awareness about FIP(feline infectious peritonitis). To help fund Paul and Aly’s project, visit their Kickstarter page.

Interview! Christie Keith, Communications Strategist, MI “For me, it’s all about persuasion." Christie Keith is a journalist and communications consultant for animal welfare and veterinary medicine. Although she is based in Michigan, she has clients all over the country, including the Million Cat Challenge and Maddie’s Fund. Christie is passionate about effective communication, and she works with organizations in message crafting, communicating, and persuading on the micro and macro level. In conversation with Stacy she outlines some of the tactics she uses for effective communication—she says the key is knowing your audience—and cautions against turning a blind eye to the potential “unintended consequences” of your messaging. To find out more, please visit christiekeith.com  

Interview! Elizabeth Putsche, Founder, For All Animals “It’s all about data and supporting information. That’s what really speaks to government officials.” Elizabeth Putsche is the founder and executive director of For All Animals, a 501(c)3 organization that “identifies and fills voids in the animal protection field.” The organization is based in Baltimore, which in 2007 was one of the first major cities to implement TNR as the official policy for the treatment of community animals. For All Animals is committed to providing resources for those organizations who still have a lot of work to do in their communities regarding TNR, legislative blocks, overpopulation and negative views of local shelters. Some of the services For All Animals offers are Photographers for Animals, a pro-bono collection of photographers and videographers who donate their time to professionally photograph shelter animals and therefore increase their chances of adoption, and Attorney at Paws, in which Elizabeth Holt, director of legisla