The Community Cats Podcast

Interview! Jill O’Connell, Executive Director and Crystal Arnott, Communications and Fundraising Manager, Lowell Humane Society (MA) “No matter how we operate, we all have the same goals which is to help community cats.” In another episode extolling the benefits of collaboration, Jill and Crystal describe how their relationships with other organizations have benefitted the cats and lower-income residents of Lowell. By bringing low-cost spay/neuter to the community through several different providers, the number of kittens they see is down 75% over 5 years, allowing them the time and space to help place older or medically-challenged cats who come through their doors. They also advocate for rescues to be willing to try new programs, like paper collars that have helped keep local owned cats in their own neighborhoods, and enabled LHS them to discuss responsible pet care with their owners. Finally, they touch on the ongoing challenge and need for a diverse fundraising calendar.  To learn more, visit lowellhumanes

Interview! Stacey Carver, President and Executive Director of Berkshire Animal DREAMS (MA) “Collaboration is a wonderful thing for all of us trying to do animal rescue work." Stacey tells Stacy about the positive impact that forging “harmonious” partnerships has had on the number of community cats in Berkshire County, especially its “big city” of Pittsfield, MA. With Animal DREAMS providing TNR services, and the Berkshire Humane Society offering physical and administrative space, the two organizations have seen reduced surrenders, fewer free-roaming cats entering the shelter and a sharp reduction in calls complaining about community cats. She also describes another partnership with the state that helped clean up a troublesome situation in North Adams, where discovery of a rabid cat necessitated coordinated efforts to gain the trust of local resident to get their pets vaccinated and subsequently spayed or neutered. To learn more, visit berkshireanimaldreams.org.

Interview! Aimee St. Arnaud, 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.” 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 creating supportive community environments in which clinics can grow, making education resources accessible to advocates at any level, and respecting private vets in the area by referring clients of her clinic for most wellness cases. Find her as well as a multit

Interview! Julie Jacobson, Director of Spay Tennessee “When writing grants, you have to come in prepared, you have to know your mission, you have to know your community.” Julie’s back for another interview on CCP! This time, Stacy checks about how things are going for Spay Tennessee, and Julie gives tips on managing grant money, methods to “take the fear out of grant writing,” and the pitfalls that can occur with animal transports from shelter to shelter.   If you haven’t heard Julie’s first episode and want to learn a little more about her and how she got started in animal welfare, listen to it here. If you want to get in touch with Julie, email her at spayzilla@yahoo.com.  

Book Review Special with host, Stacy LeBaron.   An episode for both book worms and compassionate cats.   In this special episode, Stacy shares some of her favorite resources for information on community cats, as well as how to take care of yourself when doing the hard work of animal welfare. We’ve included the names of the books and authors down below, as well as links to places you can buy them!   To Save a Starfish by Jennifer Blough Nobody’s Cats by Valerie Ingram & Alistair Schroff The Humane Economy by Wayne Pacelle Community Cats: A Journey Into the World of Feral Cats by Anne Beall Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen   Also, be sure to check out the past podcast episodes Stacy mentions, here and here [link to Amy Sandler, Ep. 87]. And don’t forget, if you ever have any questions, you can always email Stacy at stacy@communitycatspodcast.com.

Interview! Dr. Peggy Larson, Founder of Cat Spay and Neuter Clinic, Colchester, VT “You have to balance, to make sure that that cat’s going to be alright going back to where he came from." Peggy Larson, founder of National Spay/Neuter Coalition, holds degrees from Ohio State Vet School, UC Davis, and Vermont Law School. She has used her education to support fellow vets trying to start their own spay-neuter clinics, investigate animal cruelty in the state of Vermont, and rewrite the policy surrounding spay-neuter with Peter Marsh, friend and lawyer. She first became involved in TNR when she started a makeshift spay/neuter clinic and rescue for community cats out of her home many years ago. In 23 years, the clinic managed to spay a staggering 78,000 cats in Chittenden County Vermont. In conversation with Stacy she talks about the dangers community cats can face depending on the environment they live in, and how shelters with small budgets can start affordable mobile clinics through MASH.   To get in touch wit

Interview! Juan Martinez, Founder and President, JMart Strategies “Pick one platform, become really good at that platform, before you expand into a second one.” With his 20 years of experience in the legislative and non-profit communications world, Juan has keen insight into the importance of storytelling in the world of social media. He notes that social media has made communicating with your audiences much easier, but that it’s critical to understand the various social media platforms, their demographics, and how and when users engage with each one. Juan cautions against feeling the pressure to try to do too much and counsels organizations to master one platform before moving on. He also discusses the "power of numbers" when trying to influence law-makiong….whether you use email or snail mail, if you can put multiple communications in your legislator, someone will take notice. For more information visit www.jmartstrategies.com

Interview! Brianna Lovell, Outreach and Events Manager, at Alley Cat Allies   “No action is too big or too small.”   To commemorate National Feral Cat Day (NFCD), Stacy speaks with Brianna about the origins of this annual event. Originally, National Feral Cat Day was simply a way to celebrate Alley Cat Allies’ 10th anniversary, but in the years following that, it’s become a catalyst for groups to undertake a variety of projects that educate the community or help cats directly.  Brianna notes that individuals can do something as simple as posting on social media or take part on a more involved project like a fundraiser or spay/neuter clinic. “It’s up to everyone out there to make the change happen,” she says. Brianna also discusses the many resources on Alley Cat Allies website, and the “grueling task” of choosing photos for their annual calendar.   For more information visit www.alleycat.org

Interview! Amy Sandler, Executive Coach, and Certified Breathwork Meditation Teacher “Usually our minds are somewhere in the past or somewhere in the future.” In this “out of the box” interview, Stacy speaks with Amy Sandler about how mindfulness and meditation can help decrease the stress and manage the challenges often faced by those in the animal welfare field. Research has shown that mindfulness can increase our focus, resilience, creativity, and performance. It’s important, Amy notes, that we have compassion for ourselves, or what she calls, “filing up the well.”  She walks Stacy through a simple meditative breathing exercise, and talks about the importance to taking a few breaths and setting an “intention” before addressing a specific situation or challenge. "47% of time, our mind is wandering..that’s just what the mind does.”   For more information please visit amysandler.com.

Interview! Hannah Shaw, “The Kitten Lady” “I live and breathe cat advocacy…that’s what I do.” Little did Hannah Shaw know that the day that she borrowed some shoes to climb a tree and save an orphaned kitten, she would be starting a career that would inform and engage cat lovers around the world. An expert in saving and raising kittens, Hannah teaches workshops, develops programs, and shares compelling (and adorable!) content through her significant social media and web presence.  In this two part episode, Hannah and Stacy discuss the link between abandoned kittens and the need for spay/neuter for Community cats, how to tell stories that will inspire others to take action, and the difficult and challenging side of caring for the most vulnerable of felines.  As she puts it, “there are so many lives out there that need us." For more information please visit kittenlady.org.  

Interview! Hannah Shaw, “The Kitten Lady” “I live and breathe cat advocacy…that’s what I do.” Little did Hannah Shaw know that the day that she borrowed some shoes to climb a tree and save an orphaned kitten, she would be starting a career that would inform and engage cat lovers around the world. An expert in saving and raising kittens, Hannah teaches workshops, develops programs, and shares compelling (and adorable!) content through her significant social media and web presence.  In this two part episode, Hannah and Stacy discuss the link between abandoned kittens and the need for spay/neuter for Community cats, how to tell stories that will inspire others to take action, and the difficult and challenging side of caring for the most vulnerable of felines.  As she puts it, “there are so many lives out there that need us." For more information please visit kittenlady.org.  

Interview - Part One! Mary Smith, Executive Leadership Team and Sheila D’Arpino, Director of Research, of Maddie’s Fund   In this special two-part episode of the Community Cats Podcast, Stacy interviews two leaders at Maddie’s Fund, one of the most innovative and results-oriented non-profits helping animals across North America.  Through its educational programs, advocacy and grants, Maddie’s Fund has been a game-changer for both owned and community cats, especially through its “Million Cat Challenge” initiative.  During these two episodes, Stacy engages Mary and Sheila in dialogue about the meaning of a “no kill nation,” the importance of data collection, the tenets of the Million Cat Challenge, and the many grant opportunities Maddie’s Fund makes available to animal welfare groups of all sizes.   For more information please visit maddiesfund.org.

Interview - Part One! Mary Smith, Executive Leadership Team and Sheila D’Arpino, Director of Research, of Maddie’s Fund   In this special two-part episode of the Community Cats Podcast, Stacy interviews two leaders at Maddie’s Fund, one of the most innovative and results-oriented non-profits helping animals across North America.  Through its educational programs, advocacy and grants, Maddie’s Fund has been a game-changer for both owned and community cats, especially through its “Million Cat Challenge” initiative.  During these two episodes, Stacy engages Mary and Sheila in dialogue about the meaning of a “no kill nation,” the importance of data collection, the tenets of the Million Cat Challenge, and the many grant opportunities Maddie’s Fund makes available to animal welfare groups of all sizes.   For more information please visit maddiesfund.org.

Interview! Cindy Wiemann, Treasurer of the National Animal Care and Control Association (NACA)   Cindy was instrumental to bringing TNR to the small community of Madison, Georgia.  She helped research the appropriate ordinances, and ultimately Madison implemented the first 100% government operated and funded TNR program in Georgia’s history.  As an animal control officer, she promoted about the great contribution that community cats provide:  controlling and managing the rodent population. By using this positioning, she notes, “even people who didn’t even like cats began to see the benefit.” Cindy discusses the best ways to get animal control and TNR groups on the same page, and the need for productive working relationships: "collaboration will benefit the animals, but fighting among each other doesn’t do any good.”   For more information please visit nacanet.org.

Interview! Blake and Adrienne Kuhre, Founders of the Furry Foundation Blake and Adrienne are the founders of the Furry Foundation, a non-profit, foster care organization in Los Angeles focused on TNR, cat socialization, and educating the community on proper colony cat care and prevention. After visiting Buenos Aires, Argentina, curiosity led them to an investigation of health and adoption techniques at the Recoleta Cemetery, where a famous large, healthy and friendly cat colony attracts tourists from around the world. This curiosity led Blake and Adrienne to create the documentary “Guardians of Recoleta.” They discuss with Stacy the circumstances revolving around the making of the film, including cultural differences that have inspired them to pursue the Furry Foundation.   Visit furryfoundation.org and The Furry Foudation’s facebook page for more information. Watch the “Guardians of Recoleta” trailer here.

Stacy LeBaron, podcast host and president emeritus of MRFRS answers your questions. As Community Cats Podcast celebrates its eightieth episode, Stacy and guest host Lisa Finkel discuss how bird lovers and cat lovers can work together to decrease both the number of free roaming colony cats and, subsequently, bird deaths. The financial and social causes of cat abandonment are also points of interest in today’s episode, as well as upcoming events and opportunities to support the podcast and the community cats cause. Feel free to contact Stacy for questions or consulting inquiries atstacy@communitycatspodcast.com.

Interview! Christie Kamiya, Chief of Shelter Medicine, Humane Society Silicon Valley At nine years old, Dr. Kamiya’s first experience adopting a dog sparked a lifelong passion for battling animal welfare issues. A graduate of the University of California’s School of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Kamiya’s focus lies specifically in shelter medicine. She shares her experiences as Chief of Shelter Medicine at the Humane Society Silicon Valley, including her fight against infectious diseases among shelter cats through the non-traditional process of portalizing cages. Clearly an advocate for ‘thinking outside the box,’ Dr. Kamiya also discusses the freedom and importance of pilate projects for the betterment of community cats. For more information visit www.hssv.org

Interview! Jennifer Blough, Psychotherapist in Compassion Fatigue and Author With experiences ranging from animal care attendant to animal control officer, Jennifer choose to passionately pursue the subject of compassion fatigue as a psychotherapist after struggling with it herself over the years. She focuses on how compassion fatigue effects those specifically in animal welfare, and has written To Save a Starfish: A Compassion Fatigue Workbook for the Animal Welfare Warrior. She discusses with Stacy the variety of symptoms as well as tools to manage it, find balance, and recognize the importance of refueling. For more information visit deepwatermichigan.com.

Interview! Valerie Ingram and Alistair Schroff, Founders of The Lakes Animal Friendship Society The combination of Valerie’s nineteen years’ experience in elementary education and Alistair’s passion and business experience has led to inspiring changes for animal welfare in their rural British Columbia community. Co-authors of children’s books Nobody’s Cats and Out of the Cold, Valerie and Alistair discuss their belief that humane education is a key factor in changing the landscape for community cats. They founded The Lakes Animal Friendship Society, a program offering care and compassion education, bite-safety, spay/neuter options, and affordable dog and cat houses and flat packs. Valerie and Alistair discusses mentoring and the challenges of proposal writing as well. For more information visit lakesanimalfriendship.ca.

Interview! Holly Putnam, Faculty Clinician, Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program, Cornell University Dr. Holly Putnam graduated veterinary school in 2003, and initially went into private practice for small animals in Albany, NY. After moving to Austin, TX, in 2008, however, she began working at a high-volume, high-quality spay/neuter clinic for low-income neighborhoods and area shelters. Seeing the large number of community cats in these “veterinary deserts” (places with no easy access to veterinary care) sparked a new passion in her for shelter medicine. Now residing once again in NY, she is the faculty clinician for the Maddie's® Shelter Medicine Program at Cornell University, where she gives courses on Companion Animal Welfare and Shelter Medicine. These courses expose students to issues affecting community cats, as well as teach them how to complete a spay/neuter surgery and observe practices at the local TNR shelter. Though she acknowledges that we still have a long way to go in community cat welfare, she i