The Community Cats Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Ep115 - Will Allen Dec 08, 2016

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Interview! Will Allen, New Sales Business Manager, Frontstream

"BiddingForGood helps you expand your reach and raise more money."

In this unique episode, Stacy talks to Will Allen, self-professed cat lover and fundraising consultant at Fronstream, a software company that helps non-profits develop fundraising strategies. Stacy, a user herself, helps Will explain to listeners some of the services offered by Frontstream, and also offer some some concrete tips on how to implement the services in new and creative ways. Frontstream hosts platforms such as Bidding for Good, which walks users through the process of creating an online auction, and First giving, a "peer-to-peer" software where supporters can create their own fundraising pages to help spread the word about runs, walkathons, and similar events. With a community of close to half a million supporters, Frontstream connects non-profit organizations with donors both inside and outside of the organization's own network. To find out more, please visit go.frontstream.com/community-cats-podcast

Ep114 - Dr. Julie Levy Dec 06, 2016

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Interview! Dr. Julie Levy, Maddie's Professor of Shelter Medicine at University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine

"Our goal is to enculturation these life-saving key initiatives into animal sheltering… so that this becomes [the norm.]"

Dr. Julie Levy is a professor of shelter medicine at the University of Florida, as well as a prolific publisher of scientific articles on small animal medicine. She began her work with community cats in the 1980s while attending veterinary school at UC Davis, where there was a large population of unsterilized cats. She describes how difficult it was to trap cats back in the days when TNR was not yet a widespread phenomenon—she and her peers used to chase the cats around with nets! Dr. Levy also worked with Dr. Kate Hurley to found the Million Cat Challenge, who you may be familiar with from her own interview on the Community Cats Podcast. Dr. Levy describes the birth of the Milion Cat Challenge as a "spontaneous eruption of enthusiasm," and indeed that enthusiasm has not faltered: the Challenge has recently partnered with the ASPCA and accepts shelters into its program on a rolling basis.

For more information visit www.millioncatchallenge.org.

Ep113 - Dr. Christine Wilford Dec 03, 2016

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Interview! Dr. Christine Wilford, Founder, The Feral Cat Project

"Sometimes helping means us having to not do something, and us realizing that, for this cat, bringing it inside means it's going to be scared everyday of its life. Would that be what you would want?"

Dr. Wilford, founder of Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Project in Lynnwood, Washington returns to Community Cats Podcast to discuss geriatric cats with Stacy. Clearly stating her belief that "age is not a disease," Dr. Wilford lists the most common medical concerns facing aging cats, both owned and feral, including kidney and thyroid issues. Proper diet to support kidney and liver function means an adequate amount of digestible animal proteins. Dr. Wilford explains what this means in regards to dry food versus wet food, how vegetable content is potentially dangerous in marketed foods, and options for providing health winter sustenance for community cats. She then shares her beliefs in choosing options for retiring geriatric cats from colonies, encouraging caretakers to make empowered choices based on their individual circumstances.

For more information visit www.feralcatproject.org.

Ep112 - Karen Little Dec 01, 2016

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Interview! Karen Little, Executive Director, Alley Cat Advocates

"Urban cats are accustomed to urban living. Rural cats are accustomed to rural living… Keeping those colonies in tact, adjacent to where their habitat might have been destroyed, is in the best interest of the cats."

In her second interview with Stacy, Karen explores the issue of relocation in the Louisville, Kentucky area where she works with Alley Cat Advocates. A firm believer that colony relocation is only an option when the current habitat is targeted for destruction, she talks with Stacy about pursuing alternative avenues like educating residents on ways to deter unwanted colony behavior and examining food sources. With such alternatives, the Kentucky Humane Society cites an 80 percent success rate in keeping community cats in original habitats while practicing TNR to lower populations over time. Karen and Stacy also discuss the effect of terminology use on both public perception and municipal perception of community cats and their future.

For more information visit alleycatadvocates.org.

Ep111 - Andy Kola Nov 29, 2016

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Interview! Andy Kola, Founder, LumenLS

"To fix the problems that are facing cats, all center around increasing the perceived importance, the perceived value, and the perceived acceptance of cats to humans."

In his second interview with Stacy, Andy discusses his organization's approach to challenges facing community cats in Broward County, Florida. With a mission of eliminating unnecessary suffering and euthanasia for all community cats in the area, Andy's shelter, Lumen LS, has been specifically tackling euthanasia reduction. With this focus, about three hundred cats' lives have been spared in under three months. Andy discusses the innovative implementation of community cat signs. Like duck crossing signs, these signs portray ear-tipped cat silhouettes representing cat-friendly areas where TNR colonies exist. Qualified trappers work with homeowners' associations and property management personnel to not only perform TNR, but educate residents on the long-term effects of the program and how they can contribute.

For more information visit www.lumenls.org.

Ep110 - Karina King Nov 26, 2016

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Dakin, since cat overpopulation has become less of an issue across Massachusetts. Dakin has performed over 70,000 spay/neuter surgeries, and as a result, the cats entering her adoption center are much more complex to rehome.

She notes, "we wouldn't have had the time or space to help these cats in the past, but now we're able to successfully place them." She describes the innovative and successful feral kitten adoption program Dakin has piloted, where these "tiny tigers" are placed directly in homes, rather than fostered, with very positive results. Also touching on re-evaluating the needs of the community before determining what services they truly need.

For more information visit www.dakinhumane.org.

Ep109 - Alana Yanez Nov 24, 2016

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Interview! Alana Yanez, Manager of HSUS Pets For Life Los Angeles "When we have literally put these vouchers in people's hands at their doorsteps, there really is no excuse now." An advocate for animals and residents of underserved communities in East Los Angeles, Alana brings compassion and political experience to her position as manager of Pets for Life Los Angeles and as the Commissioner of the LA Animal Services Board. She discusses the 2009 injunction against LA Animal Services by various wildlife organizations. This lawsuit resulted in the near $800K, court ordered Environmental Impact Revue (EIR) and the halting of all much needed city-sponsored TNR activity. Alana also discusses the positive impact of the city's voucher program, which provides spay/neuter services and vaccine services throughout East LA's underprivileged, undocumented, and homeless residents. With obvious empathy for pet owners of all cultures, she encourages a non-judgmental approach to animal welfare, based on kindness and compassion. For more information on Pets for Life, visit humanesociety.org. For more information about LA Animal Services, visit their website at laanimalservices.com and on Facebook.

Ep108 - Suzanne Kogut Nov 22, 2016

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Interview! Suzanne Kogut, Executive Director of the Petco Foundation

"Everyone wants the same thing, to do right by the cats. There's just a disagreement often about how we get there. But I thought we could all work together to get there."

After her first career as a corporate finance and securities attorney, Suzanne took the road less travelled and became involved in the Charlottsville/Albemarle SPCA. As the executive director from 2005-2012, Suzanne gained priceless experience facing new challenges with a fresh perspective and 'outside of the box' thinking. These challenges taught her the importance of research and of recognizing potential resources. In 2013, she became the executive director of the Petco Foundation, which partners with local animal welfare communities across the country. Suzanne and Stacy discuss the various organizations Petco works with, how each is prioritized, and what the evaluation process for grant funding entails. For more information, visit petcofoundation.org as well as the Petco Foundation's facebook page.

Ep107 - Ask Stacy! Nov 19, 2016

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It's an Ask Stacy episode!

"You could feel the energy busting through the wires"

Stacy reflects what all that she's learned since launching the Community Cats Podcast, having completed more than 100 episodes speaking with experts all over the US and beyond. She recommends a number of her favorite interviews, with individuals like Emma Clifford, Hannah Shaw (the "Kitten Lady"), Dr. Kate Hurley and Dr. Christine Wilford — all of whom have different areas of expertise, but embody enthusiasm and energy in their work to improve the lives of cats. Additionally, she talks about the topic of how cats control rat populations (it's not quite how you think!) and gives recommendations for making winter in the northern climates more comfortable and healthy for community cats.

Ep106 - Diego Alves Nov 17, 2016

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Interview! Diego Alves, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Pet and Tie

"We want to be the premium app for pet parents and pets."

Ever have trouble finding a pet sitter? Diego did, and that experience was the impetus to his envisioning an virtual community where pet owners could connect to all of the services they need. His new app, "Pet and Tie," available on Apple and Android, aims to help pet owners save time and money and be responsible parents to their pets whether they're seeking play dates, grooming services or vet appointments. Funding the development of the app himself, Diego talks about the challenges of being a digital entrepreneur, building an easy-to-use interface, and getting the recognition and membership that will make the app a success: "Pet and Tie will only be effective if people use it." For more information, visit petandtie.com.

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