The Community Cats Podcast

Ask Stacy! Stacy LeBaron, Host of The Community Cats Podcast "This is all about being a family." As kitten season approaches, guest host Lisa Finkel talks with Stacy about creatively managing community kittens. Describing kitten fostering as a "pre-program" to the adoption process, Stacy offers insight on productive ways to set up a healthy and sustainable foster care program. Many elements contribute to a successful system, from the medical and administrative structure to compassion fatigue support. Lisa and Stacy also touch on the joys of socializing feral kittens, lovingly referred to as 'tiny tigers,' the pros of kitten nurseries, and tips for fundraising during kitten season.

Interview! Jocelyn Bouchard, Executive Director, Yavapai Humane Society "How do we elevate the status of cats?" Jocelyn's work in animal welfare began as a vet tech in a spay/neuter clinic in Vancouver BC in the 1980's, when high volume clinics were cutting edge. Twenty years' experience living in Maui fueled her belief that managing colonies, including feral kitten socializing and the tracking and removing of tame abandoned cats, is as important as TNR for decreasing numbers. Jocelyn discusses her insights and goals for her recent work at Yavapai Humane Society in Prescott Valley, Arizona, and the differing challenges community cats face in Maui versus Arizona, two vastly different environments. She also discusses her battle against negative perceptions of feral cats through education, in hopes of bridging the gap between the cat reputations as wild versus domestic. For more information, visit yavapaihumane.org or contact Jocelyn at [email protected]

Interview! Laura Baughman, Director of Operations, National Kitten Coalition "You're going to get a whole lot more kittens when you start a nursery." As we enter "kitten season," Stacy talks to Laura about "kitten nurseries," a new and hot concept for management of neonatal kittens. Laura recently researched and wrote a manual for organizations thinking about starting their own kitten nursery that provides a complete blueprint for approaching this challenge. She notes that before an organization considers a kitten nursery, it should have a strong and capable fostering program in place. Then, it's important to identify the goals and realities of establishing a nursery, including budgeting, space, staff needs and access to medical care. Once you start a nursery, Laura observes, you're going to be a "magnet for kittens" and the task may be even more challenging than expected. For more info check out kittencoalition.org.

Interview! Sara Kent, Director of Shelter Outreach for Petfinder "Video is a great way to let cats speak for themselves…and they don't have to say a lot." Petfinder has brought the world of technology to shelters and potential adopters. Sara, who's been there for 17 years, speaks with Stacy about the visibility it brings to hundreds of thousands of pets seeking a home, and how it seeks to improve the adoption experience by offering ongoing support once new pet parents have selected their new family member. Petfinder was one of the first sources to offer videos of shelter pets, and, as Sarah notes, "even a 15 second clip of a cat purring in a volunteer's lap" can make a profound difference to that cat's changes. She talks about upcomig improvements to Petfinder, including enhanced search options, and a more mobile-friendly experience.

Interview! Julie Bank, President and CEO of Pasadena Humane Society and SPCA "I saw the animal shelter as a living museum." Julie Bank is the president and CEO of Pasadena Humane Society and SPCA. She approaches running an animal shelter from the unique perspective of curating a museum—in fact, she enrolled in a museum education program purely to bring the tools of alternative education used in museum programming back to the animal shelter. Julie says that for her, it's very important that shelter messaging is holistic: the facility, uniforms, staff education, signage, all must be consistent with one another in order to communicate the appropriate message. Julie gives some advice about how to be an effective leader when in a management position at a shelter, and also tells us about Pasadena's unique Employ-a-Cat program. To learn more about Pasadena Humane Society, please visit pasadenahumane.org.

Interview! Anna Murrin and Valerie Kajko, Project Manager and TNR Coordinator, Metro Denver CAT Project "Having a physical location in the community builds up trust." Anna Murrin and Valerie Kajko are the project manager and TNR coordinator, respectively, of Metro Denver CAT Project in Denver, CO. CAT, or Cats Around Town, is a unique project in that it provides resources for all cats in a targeted area by setting up its home base in the neighborhood it serves. Still in its pilot phase, the project is currently based in the 80219 zip code, one of the many neighborhoods of Denver with a large community cat population. CAT surveys the residents of the community and the local shelters in order to identify locations of colonies and colony feeders. This project has long been in the making, as Anna and Valerie say that it is sometimes hard to get isolated animal welfare groups to work together. The results of the CAT project, however, prove to them that the slow process of putting people in contact is very worth it. For more information on the CAT project, please visit www.denvercats.org.

Interview! Part Two - Cheryl Fernandes, Shelter Care Representative, PetLink "The microchip is the silent voice for the animal." In part two, Stacy and Cheryl Ann dive into the complexities of microchipping once microchips have been placed—how do you scan a newly-trapped feral cat? What are best practices for animal control officers when recovering an animal afield whose microchip turns out to be a dead end? Cheryl Ann also argues for microchipping in colonies—the little chips can store information about vaccinations and other medical history, thus reducing blind precautionary measures. Don't forget that August 15th is Check Your Chip Day! You can listen to Cheryl Ann's first interview here, and to access the microchip database that Cheryl Ann mentioned in Part 1, go to www.petmicrochiplookup.org. You can also get in touch with Cheryl Ann herself by calling her cellphone at (781)-281-5167, or email her at cherylann.fernandes@datamars.

Interview! Part One - Heather Cammisa, CEO and Tara Sannucci, Pet Retention Coordinator, St. Hubert's "A database is only as good as it's maintained." In part one of this two-part episode, Stacy talks to Heather Cammisa and Tara Sannucci, the president of St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center and director of the Pet Retention Program, respectively. Tara and Heather detail the plethora of programs that St. Hubert's has to offer, mostly focusing on education: humane education, training and behavior help and the pet helpline, and advocacy for correct animal welfare legislation. Tara tells a story of how she counseled a distressed cat owner when she had lost her cat in a snowstorm, advising her not to give up hope, and emphasizes to Stacy that keeping faith is one of the most important parts of recovering your lost pet. For more information on St. Huberts' many programs, please visit sthuberts.org, or search for St. Huberts on any form of major social media. For help with a pet or to reach Tara directly, you can visit sthuberts.org/pethelpline.

Interview! Part Two - Heather Cammisa, CEO and Tara Sannucci, Pet Retention Coordinator, St. Hubert's "It's senseless to put out all this advice if you have someone who's not willing or able to do it all." In part two of this two-part episode, Tara dives into details while Heather gives us the big picture. Tara has a lot of responsibilities around St. Huberts, which include handling cat behavior challenges in the shelter such as socialization of shy cats and keeping the cats happy and entertained. She also mans the Pet Helpline, and she is doing just as much rapport and trust-building with human guardians as she does with the shelter animals. Meanwhile, Heather gives us an idea of what life is like for community cats nowadays in New Jersey—the difference between now and twenty years ago, she says, is marked. To access the trove of resources available from St. Huberts, please visit sthuberts.org, or search for St. Huberts on any form of major social media. For help with a pet or to reach Tara directly, you can visit sthuberts.org/pethelpline.

Interview! Lauren Burbridge, Coordinator, Massachusetts Animal Fund "If every taxpayer in MA payed just one dollar… we could help over 40,000 cats and dogs every year." Lauren Burbridge has figured out how to help people and animals at the same time: she is a licensed social worker who started the Massachusetts Animal Fund, an organization that seeks to develop agricultural resources to end animal homelessness in the state. Lauren works directly with the public (particularly low-income communities), Animal Control officers, and local town offices to provide spay-neuter for those who need it most—the perfect marriage of her degree in social work with her passion for animal rights. Besides funds management, Lauren also created the Core Competencies Program from scratch—a brief but thorough training for animal control officers in matters such as emergency preparedness, safe handling, animal control law, and others. The MA Animal Fund relies solely on taxpayer donations administered by the Department of Agricultural Resources, and is always in great need. If you are a Massachusetts resident and would like to donate, remember to check the box on line 32F of your income tax form! To learn more about the MA Animal Fund, check out their website, or follow them on Twitter: @line32F. If you live outside of Massachusetts and are interested in starting a similar program in your state, feel free to contact Lauren at [email protected].

Interview! Joyce Briggs, President, Alliance for Contraception in Cats and Dogs "Whenever we intervene with animals in an ecosystem, there are implications for other animals." Joyce Briggs is the president of the Alliance for Contraception in Cats and Dogs. With a background in public health, she is concerned with how to better manage populations of cats and dogs, as well as how to sterilize these animals using non-surgical methods. This is the mission of the ACC&D, and it poses unique challenges that Joyce discusses with Stacy: how can we develop permanent contraceptives? what would contraceptives look like for community cats? how could a trapper or animal control officer tell that a cat is receiving non-surgical contraception? Joyce also provides some information on the Michelson Prize, a large grant for establishing non-surgical sterilization programs. To learn more about the ACC&D and the work Joyce does there, please visit www.acc-d.org.

Interview! Dr. Dena Mangiamele, Author/Lecturer "'Safety first' does not exclude cats at all." When Dena Mangiamele started to practice veterinary medicine with the City of Los Angeles Department of Animal Control in the 1990s, animal sheltering procedures and best practices looked very different from how they do now. Dena helped to implement groundbreaking (at the time) programs like early spay-neuter, which greatly lowered the euthanasia numbers in the shelter, as well as the shelter's annual intake. Dena continues to propagate these programs in shelters across the country through her consultation service, and also teaches animal safety and handling programs for shelter volunteers and animal control officers. She is passionate about instilling the belief in these shelters that high-volume low-cost spay-neuter is possible for them, even if the results aren't immediately apparent. To learn amore about Dena, you can visit her at www.doctordena.com or pick her brain directly by emailing [email protected].

Interview! Gavin Ehringer, Author "We are so people-focused because behind every animal that is coming into our clinic is a person." Gavin Ehringer has been writing about companion animals for 25 years, fueled by a childhood growing up next to a game farm and spending his young adult years working on a ranch. In this unorthodox episode, he outlines the different "classes" of animals—working, companion, purebred, and show—and tells Stacy about the unintended consequences of breeding. His upcoming book, Coming to the Fire: The Unnatural History of Dogs, Cats, Cows, and Horses, explores the relationship between companion animals and humans, and how humans have used their relationship with us to advance their own survival. To find out more about Gavin's new book, please visit www.comingtothefire.com.

Interview! Michelle Rivera, Founder, Spay-Neuter Kansas City "We are so people-focused because behind every animal that is coming into our clinic is a person." Michelle Rivera is the founder of Spay-Neuter Kansas City, a 501(c)3 non-profit that services the Kansas City areas in both Kansas and Missouri. Now going on its fifteenth year of operation, SNKC has increased the live release rate to 90% in the cities' shelters, and it services around 20,000 animals each year. Before the impetus of SNKC, Michelle did not see animal welfare service in her future—she used to be extremely afraid of dogs! However, in order to regain confidence after leaving an abusive relationship, a therapist encouraged her to volunteer at the local shelter. In this way she created her own redemption story by helping lost and abused pets to find theirs. Because of this background, her goal at SNKC is two-fold: to better the lives of the animals that enter the SNKC clinic, and to create an inclusive "workplace culture" for her staff. She believes that a healthy workplace is crucial to provide top-notch service to animals and pet owners, and to prevent the drama and burnout that can be so parasitic to non-profit, welfare-focused organizations. To find out how you can create a better workplace culture in your organization, you can email Michelle with your questions at [email protected].

Interview! Priscilla Ma, Executive Director, US Chapter of World Animal Protection "People don't want to know just about suffering, they want to know how they can help." Priscilla Ma is the executive director for the US chapter of World Animal Protection. While doing humanitarian work with Smile Train, she traveled throughout the world and saw the different kinds of impacts that animals can have on humans, and the myriad of ways that the animal-human relationship can manifest itself. She joined WAP in 2015, and since then has been promoting the organization's four main tenets: animals and farming, animals and communities, animals in the wild, and animals and disaster. Priscilla goes more into detail about what those pillars are in the episode and explains that, when working in an international organization, you can make an impact on millions of people by telling the story of one animal. To learn more about the US chapter of WAP, please visit worldanimalprotection.us.org.

Interview! Cheryl Fernandes, Shelter Care Representative, PetLink "The microchip is the silent voice for the animal." In continuation with Microchipping Madness, Stacy invites Cheryl Ann Fernandes back to the show to discuss the importance of microchipping. Cheryl Ann explains a bit about the technology behind the microchip, what RFID is and what it stands for, and also highlights the importance of buying your microchips from a reputable company. She also reinforces some of the statistics covered in earlier Microchipping Madness episodes—less than 2% of lost cats are returned to owners, as opposed to much higher rates for dogs. Check with your local veterinarian or shelter about opportunities for microchipping your pets today! Listen to Cheryl Ann's first interview here, and to access the microchip database that Cheryl Ann mentioned, go to www.petmicrochiplookup.org. You can also get in touch with Cheryl Ann herself by calling her cellphone at (781)-281-5167, or email her at [email protected].

Interview! Brigid Wasson, Co-founder Missing Pet Partnership "We recommend that all cats be chipped, but it isn't foolproof." Brigid is back for another interview with Stacy, and to kick of March Microchipping Madness, Brigid talks about the importance of microchipping your pets. Microchipping is an especially important development when it comes to cats, as the Return to Owner (RTO) rate for our feline friends is between 1 and 2% in the US! Brigid also discusses the drawbacks of microchipping, such as out-of-date information. She urges owners adopting new cats to get their pet scanned as soon as possible in order to check for a microchip and, if one is present, to call the company and update their contact information right away. If you haven't yet listened to Brigid's first episode, you can do so now by clicking here. To get in touch with Brigid, or to learn more about the Missing Pet Partnership's Mission Reunite Animal Shelter Training Seminar, please email her at [email protected].

Bruce Myers, Executive Director, United Spay Alliance "The law tends to be way behind the needs on the ground… We've got to let the law catch up." In this Spay Day episode, Stacy is joined by Bruce Myers, an animal protection lawyer and new director of the United Spay Alliance. The United Spay Alliance (USA) seeks to establish timely spay-neuter programs in each state that are easily accessible to people who need it—not just a list of clinic locations, but a state-wide database with e-resources and FAQs. Bruce is optimistic about this goal, as it has relatively light financial projections, and in his first year as director he hopes to address some of the animal welfare issues in the Southern United States. He is open to hearing from people in the animal welfare community on subjects such as messaging, education, and access! To get in touch with Bruce, email him at [email protected].

Interview! Rob Halpin, Director of Public Relations at the MSPCA "Journalists love to help animals just like we do." Rob Halpin is the director Public Relations at the MSPCA Angell Animal Hospital in Boston, MA. He transitioned from the corporate sector, working as a PR agent for At&T, to his current job about five years ago and found a perfect blend of two of his biggest passions: public relations and animal welfare. In this episode he gives some PR tips for new organizations that might not be used to working with the media, and talks about how those organizations can create a symbiotic relationship between themselves and the media by feeding any media coverage they get into their own social media outlets. To check out some examples of press releases and media pitches, visit the newsroom at mspca.org. To get in touch with Rob himself, email [email protected].

Interview! Katie Lisnik, Director of Cat Protection and Policy at the Humane Society of the United States "This is the thick of legislative session season." Where in the USA is cat policy these days? Katie Lisnik can tell you! Katie is back for her third interview with Stacy, and this time she is taking us on a tour of various states who have serious bills and legislation that affect community cats on the docket for 2017. Some of these bills the HSUS itself is pushing, and some of the bills it is trying to change—in Hawaii a bill for state-funded TNR is in the making, while in WY animal welfare advocates are trying to change the language around "nuisance animals" and making sure community cats don't fall under that definition. Plus, Katie gives us a teaser of some of the programming for the upcoming HSUS Expo from May 9 to 12 in Fort Lauderdale, FL. To find out what the HSUS is doing near you, or to get more information on the Expo, please visit animalsheltering.org. You can also get in touch with Katie or Danielle Bays by emailing [email protected].

Ask Stacy! Five Tenets of Building an Organization "We have to focus on giving people the guidance they need, but also let them take ownership a task, too." In this Ask Stacy episode, Lisa and Stacy go through Stacy's 5 Tenets of Building an Organization to Help Community Cats, which are: Understand your community, Build a skills matrix, Delegate tasks, Communicate with donors and volunteers, and Review and evaluate goals. Stacy is more than happy to consult with organizations on working on these tenets, so please email her at [email protected] if you have any questions! Don't forget: the Cat Stats webinar is fast approaching on February 23rd! If you still have not reserved your spot, go to the Community Cats Podcast website and search for "cat stats webinar" to fill out the participant form. Also, be sure to submit a selfie with your cat to the My Feline Valentine photo contest before February 28th for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card and other prizes!

Interview! Rachel Geller, Certified Humane Education Specialist "The moral and humane response to animal abuse begins with assisting kids in developing empathy and compassion for animals." We are once again re-visiting an old friend of the podcast—Dr. Rachel Geller, vice president of the Gifford Cat Shelter and certified humane education specialist. As a cat behavior counselor, Rachel has been busy giving talks at various youth organizations to teach children compassion towards animals. She has worked with high-risk children and youth for a long time, teaching not only the importance of empathy towards animals, but also helping to build symbiotic relationships between youth and animals for mutual support. Rachel talks about the different types of humane education programming at Gifford, such as a program where children who lack confidence in reading or speaking aloud come to the shelter and read to a cat—the child gets a non-judgmental audience, and the cat receives some much-needed attention and company! You can listen to Rachel's first interview on the podcast here, or find out more about Rachel's upcoming lecture at the Whole Cat Workshop by visiting massanimalcoalition.com. To consult with Rachel about humane education programming for your organization, email her at [email protected].

Interview! Tamar Arslanian, Author of Shop Cats of New York "Isn't a life in a shop where they're loved better than a cage or being put down?" Tamar Arslanian is the blogger behind ihavecat.com and the author of Shop Cats of New York, the coffee table book that Stacy recommended in her last book show. In the three years it took to write the book, Tamar partnered with photographer Andrew Marttila, who she calls a true "cat whisperer," and adventured all around New York meeting amazing cats in shops and the communities that form around them. In conversation with Stacy, Tamar debunks some of the myths surrounding shop cats, such as that shop cats are more neglected than their home counterparts, and shares some of her favorite stories from Shop Cats. You can find Shop Cats on Amazon or at ihavecat.com, and you can follow the shop cats on social media by searching for "Shop Cats of New York" on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Interview! Christina Ha, Co-Founder of Meow Parlour and Creator of Cat Camp NYC "How can I bridge the gap between people who want to learn about cats and the experts who know all about cats?" Until 3 1/2 years ago, Christina's passion was food rather than felines. But after adopting her first kitty, Mr. Socks, she decided to combine her talents as a pastry chef with a growing interest in cats by becoming the co-founder of Meow Parlour, New York City's first-ever cat cafe. "I couldn't understand why are were cat cafes all over the world and not in New York," she observes. Meow Parlour partners with Kitty Kind, an all-volunteer rescue group who provides cats for the cafe, many of whom have found forever homes in the process. Christina also details her upcoming event, Cat Camp NYC, a two day feline-focused event in March featuring speakers, shopping and interaction with cat lovers from all over. To find out more about Cat Camp NYC go to: www.catcampnyc.com

Interview! Shaun Sears, Co-Owner, Canopy Cat Rescue "What we do is extremely dangerous…even savvy tree climbers have difficulty rescuing cats." You don't need to call a fireman to rescue your cat from a tree when Shaun Sears is around. Shaun and his partner are certified arborists who have "branched out" (sorry!) into the specialty of rescuing cats from trees. Their firm, Canopy Cat Rescue, has recovered nearly 800 cats from trees over the last two years, and was featured on the Animal Planet program, "Tree Top Cat Rescue." They operate as a non-profit, relying solely on donations for their work, so that they can rescue any cat regardless of an owner's ability to pay. Shaun shares the knowledge he's learned about how to deal with all types of cats —friendly and scared, feral and owned — and busts the myth that a cat will simply climb down when it's hungry. To find out more about Cat Canopy Rescue go to: http://www.canopycatrescue.com

Interview! Rob Leinberger, President, National Animal Care and Control Association "The communities that I have seen do best have a network." Rob Leinberger has been in the animal control game for 25 years—first starting as a veterinary assistant in high school, then working as an animal control officer for Chesterfield County in Virginia. He is the president of the National Animal Care and Control Association (NACA), and in January of 2016 he became the Animal Control Supervisor of Richmond Animal Care and Control, where he gives basic training to new officers. Over his extensive career, Rob notes that he has seen a sizable shift in the attitude towards and treatment of community cats, which began with small, isolated groups working to make their own programs for community cat care and colony management. He recommends finding opportunities to connect and collaborate with local entities whenever possible (police, health department, even small businesses) in order to build a strong support network for small animal welfare organizations. If enough localities successfully implement community cat programs, he says, one can affect change on a larger scale. To learn more about NACA, or to access NACA's guidelines for a "generic approach" to community cat programing, please visit nacanet.org.

Meg Bond, Owner, Events by Meg "You need to find the kingpin to what is taking up space." Meg Bond has a "Type-A" dream job—she organizes for a living! Meg is a self-employed event coordinator and residential stager/organizer, which means that she sets up residences to be most appealing to perspective buyers. She also helps people organize their homes and office, and in this episode she shares some great tips for organizations looking for fresh ideas on planning events or rearrange their home bases. The key to re-organizing, she says, is finding the "kingpin" of what is holding everything back—and oftentimes, it's in the last place you think. You can learn more about Meg's business on her Facebook pages, Staging by Meg and Events by Meg, or you can get in touch with her by calling (978)-337-4444, or by emailing [email protected].

Joe Miele, TNR project coordinator, Broken Promises SW "A tight-knit colony is going to keep other [cats] out of the area." Joe Miele is the TNR project coordinator for Broken Promises SW, a non-profit that seeks to address community cat overpopulation in Las Cruces, New Mexico and the surrounding county. Joe has been working with community cats since the mid 1990s, when he began teaching TNR classes with the Animal Protection League in New Jersey. He was inspired by the amount of people who wanted to help the community cat population in New Jersey, but found a very different scene when he moved to Las Cruces. Faced with extremely anti-community cat ordinances, along with the general community's overwhelming apathy towards the colonies in the area, Joe started Broken Promises SW to try and help the cats in the area. There are very few resources for his TNR group in Las Cruces, so they rely mainly on donations and are always happy to accept help. To learn more about Broken Promises, or to donate to Joe's cause, search for Broken Promises SW on Facebook. You can also get in touch with Joe by emailing [email protected] or by calling 575-680-1955.

Gus Ray, Owner of Baycom Diagnostics "From a scientific point of view it's been one of the hardest things I've ever done, but also the most rewarding." Gus Ray is the owner of Baycom Diagnostics, a new company that provides A1C testing for dogs and cats. The A1C test aids in the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes by reading your average glucose levels over a period of time—for cats 90 days, for dogs 120. The disparity between human blood and cat and dog blood proved quite a challenge to develop a test comparable to the "gold standard" in diabetes medicine, but as Gus is a "scientist at heart," he was determined to find the answer. After years of research and development, Gus's test is patent pending and he is working with vets to make A1C tests available in their practices. The A1C test is faster, more accurate, and more affordable than existing glucose tests, and to promote awareness and access to the test, Baycom will give away $100,000 in tests to shelters this year. Gus' next venture is to develop a mouth swab tests so that owners can manage their pet's diabetes within the home. To learn more about the A1C test, or to find out how you can receive a donation for your shelter or cause, visit baycomdiagnostics.com or search for "Gus Ray" on LinkedIn.

Myles Chadwick, Vice President of the New School at Emancipet "In order to reach people who haven't been [reached] before, we have to do a lot of listening, not just a lot of telling." What do line cooks and high-volume spay-neuter vets have in common? Coming to the animal welfare world from a background in restaurants and cooking, Myles didn't know the first thing about TNR when he became the assistant manager of client services at an ASPCA hospital in New York City. However, he became fascinated with the process and eventually took over the management of the TNR clinics. He is now the director of clinic operations and training at Emancipet, an organization committed to making low-cost spay-neuter services affordable and accessible. He is also the vice president of the Emancipet New School, which provides training for animal welfare organizations in their messaging and outreach to communities that have low incidence of spay-neuter. Now a seasoned advocate, Myles talks about his slow discovery of the "underlying truths" of his field, and highlights that the "sharing of information" is the most important part of making low-cost spay-neuter accessible. He believes that pet overpopulation is the product of barriers to entry rather than irresponsibility. To learn more about Emancipet or the New School, visit emancipet.org and emancipet.org/newschool.

Steve Smith, Founder of Pet Releaf "We follow the science first and foremost." In this episode, Stacy interviews a different kind of person interested in pet health and medication—Steve Smith, co-founder of Pet Releaf, a service that provides hemp- and CBD-infused products for pets. Pet Releaf was born of Steve's personal experience with his dog Mattie. As she aged, Mattie showed signs of serious arthritic pain when she walked, and she was clearly suffering. Although Steve was never able to find a suitable holistic cure during Mattie's life, he and his business partner were determined to find one for other dogs and cats. They began researching medical marijuana, moved to Colorado, and started Pet Releaf. Almost six years later, Pet Releaf is stocked in almost 600 stores around the US, is legal in all 50 states, and even has a presence abroad! For more information about Pet Releaf, visit petreleaf.com. Or, to get in touch with Steve, email [email protected].

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 [email protected]. 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 visit ABG's website to donate and learn more about their community-based sterilization program.

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, please visit www.icvsasia.com, or search for ICVS Asia on any major social media site. This episode was sponsored by www.catstats.org.

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 still a lot of work to be done, Mary is hopeful about the future for animals in China. To learn more about ICVS, donate to their cause, or contact their bilingual Chinese-English staff, please visit www.icvsasia.com, or search for ICVS Asia on any major social media site. Special thanks CatanDog for sponsoring this episode. Visit www.catandogs.net for more information.

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 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 multitude of free resources at humanealliance.org.

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 cats on the Newburyport waterfront who touched her heart. Told by Mickey himself, you'll hear what life is like as a community cat, how appreciative Mickey is of the food and shelter provided by his colony managers, and learn about his many feline friends, including Clarence, Precious, Patches and Cremora..the "unseen feline ambassadors of the boatyard." Is there a Mickey in your life? Tell us your story on our Facebook page. Happy holidays from your friends at the Community Cats Podcast! To find out more about Mickey and the Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society please go to www.mrfrs.org.

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 their physical health. For more information go to: www.drmartybecker.com

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