animal control Archives - The Community Cats Podcast

July 30, 2016

Interview! Julia Pesek, Community Outreach Coordinator for the MSPCA at Nevins Farm (MA), and Vice President of the Massachusetts Animal Coalition (MAC)

“I think I was born a cat lady.” Julia says that earning her Masters in Animals and Public Policy at Tufts gave her a perfect “launching pad” for what she wanted to do with her life. It also led her to take an active role at the Massachusetts Animal Coalition, which […]

August 2, 2016

Interview! Susana Della Maddalena, CEO and President, Central OK Humane (Oklahoma)

“We’re in the business of saving lives.” With her ten years of at the helm of PetSmart Charities, and her current role leading Central OK Humane, Susana is in a perfect position to share her perspective both as a a funder of animal initiatives, and a recipient of grant dollars. Thanks to previous […]

August 4, 2016

Interview! Alice Burton, Program Manager, Animal Control and Shelter Liaison

“When an animal control agency/animal shelter is working with a TNR group, it’s a great relationship.” Former animal control officer Alice Burton has transformed her beliefs about trap-neuter-release. Alice tells Stacy about synergistic relationships between animal control departments and TNR organizations, resources for communities that hope to introduce TNR, and […]

August 20, 2016

Interview! Jon Cicirelli, Assistant Director Public Works, Director Animal Care and Services, San Jose, CA

“The program changed our view, philosophy, and focus and what we were saving on the cat side was helping us do better on the dog side as well.” John’s background in wildlife management and a biology degree from George Washington University led him to become an animal control officer in […]

September 7, 2016

Interview! Sheri Gustafson, Spay/Neuter Community Liaison for the Massachusetts Animal Fund

“I’m actually really excited about how TNR is being viewed across the state.” Sheri serves as the Spay/Neuter Community Liaison for the Massachusetts Animal Fund, which provides a voucher program for low income pet owners. This program focuses on three main priorities: S/N support for municipal shelters, providing vouchers for […]

October 19, 2016

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 […]

October 28, 2016

Interview! Martha Smith-Blackmore, DVM, Founder of Forensic Veterinary Investigations, LLC

“Don’t worry about things you can’t change…take that passion and make it action and see what you can do.” *Please note, while not graphic, this episode deals with topics related to animal cruelty that some listeners may find disturbing. If you need to skip it, might we suggest listening to […]

February 9, 2017

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 […]

March 18, 2017

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 […]

April 11, 2017

Interview! Beth Clifton, Photographer and Social Media Editor for Animals 24-7

“Take Personal Responsibility with Animals in Need” Beth Clifton is the photographer and social media editor for Animals 24-7. She is also the wife of previous CCP guest Merritt Clifton, and she cites him as one of the people who changed her thinking around TNR and community cats. Beth has […]

June 15, 2019

Scott Giacoppo, Director of National Shelter Outreach, Best Friends Animal Society

“Across the board, [TNR]’s working. We have yet to find a place where it’s not working.” Listen to Episode #304 Now Scott Giacoppo (previously interviewed by Stacy on CCP Episode 25) has been involved in animal welfare since 1989. Among other roles, he has worked as an animal control […]

October 29, 2019

Colleen Bray, Director, Boone County (KY) Animal Shelter

“We’ve really been able to look at the numbers and … show that [TNR] is working.” Listen to Episode #323 now Colleen Bray, Director of the Boone County Kentucky Animal Shelter, has seen a lot of change with regards to cats in her time in animal welfare. She has worked […]

April 16, 2020

Let’s Appreciate Our Animal Control Officers This Week!

This week is Animal Control Officer Appreciation Week. This is certainly a time to appreciate the great commitment of those who join this profession. Animal control officers enter homes to help animals impacted by the coronavirus crisis and risk their lives to save others, and we need to say thank […]

April 23, 2020

The Future of Volunteering in Animal Welfare

It is Volunteer Appreciation Week. Thanks so much to all of the volunteers that support animal welfare organizations. Most of us volunteer in many ways and this is the week to take time to celebrate everyone’s efforts—including those of the many folks who are fostering cats and dogs right now. […]

June 16, 2020

Mary Howard, Community Cat Coordinator at McKamey Animal Center

“We just have to make sure that [the caregivers] understand … how we’re there to help them.” Listen to Episode #356 Now In this episode, Stacy talks with Mary Howard, the community cat coordinator at McKamey Animal Center in Chattanooga, TN. The program started in 2018 with a grant […]

September 7, 2021

Caron Tuttle, Atascosa Animal Allies

“The more people are involved, the happier they are when they see progress and see that they have done good for animals. It’s a cycle.” Listen to Episode #420 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Smalls Fresh Cat Food and Doobert.com. In 2017, Caron Tuttle answered a call […]

February 1, 2022

Bryan Kortis and Susan Richmond, Return-to-Field & Targeting: The Community Cat Program, Part 1

“…are you going to serve the majority who likes the cats there, or at least the majority that’s suggested by the data that we have, or are you going to throw in your lot with the others?” Listen to Episode #441 Now This episode is sponsored in part by […]

February 8, 2022

Bryan Kortis and Susan Richmond, Return-to-Field & Targeting: The Community Cat Program, Part 2

“The door is always open to work together.” Listen to Episode #442 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Humane Network, Doobert.com and Maddie’s Fund. In part two of the Return-to-Field & Targeting: The Community Cat Program webinar Bryan Kortis explores what fears people have prior to starting a return-to-field and […]

February 15, 2022

Feline Behavior with New Zealand’s The Cat Counsellor, Molly Kelsey

“I wanted to focus on keeping not just cats happy but owners happy with their cats and reducing owner surrender and things like euthanasia due to problem behaviors.” Listen to Episode #443 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Humane Network, Doobert.com and Maddie’s Fund. Meet Molly Kelsey, a former […]

July 30, 2016

Interview! Julia Pesek, Community Outreach Coordinator for the MSPCA at Nevins Farm (MA), and Vice President of the Massachusetts Animal Coalition (MAC)

August 2, 2016