Open to the Possibilities with Dr. Kelly Deihl, Senior Director of Science and Communication at Morris Animal Foundation
December 13, 2022
Training Tomorrow’s Trappers with Bryan Kortis, Programs Director at Neighborhood Cats
December 20, 2022
Contributed by Stacy LeBaron, Head Cat at Community Cats Podcast
The Community Cats Podcast has had an incredible year, and I want to thank everyone for joining us and turning your passion for cats into action. I can’t wait to finalize our programs for 2023. Much of our theme this year will be focused on strategy and how we can individually make a difference in the lives of community cats.
With that being said, we are expanding our partnership with Neighborhood Cats and creating a series of free webinars that focus on strategy and how to work with your community to support community cats. Neighborhood Cats is also going to do a special 4-hour session at the Online Cat Conference (click here to sign up) that focuses on the Community Cat Program Manager and what that really means to an organization or group. And we continue our focus on spreading the word about trap, neuter and return, and how to do it safely and efficiently via the monthly TNR Certification Workshops.
Another new addition in 2023 is the Surrender Prevention Certification Workshops, presented by Dr. Rachel Geller of All Cats All the Time. There will be three sessions in 2023, in which attendees will be trained on how to be a surrender prevention specialist. Our first session will be on January 18, 2023, at 7 pm ET. Please click here to sign up and join us.
We continue to offer our ongoing programs of the Online Cat Conference, Online Kitten Conference, United Spay Alliance Conference, Online Behavior Day, and Online Feline Leukemia Day. We want to bring you accessible and affordable educational opportunities so that anyone who wants to help community cats, can. Our Community Cats Pass holders are going to really enjoy all of the information to share!
During 2023, the podcast already has some incredible guests scheduled. In 2022, there were many challenges; spay/neuter appointment shortages, intakes rising at area shelters. Managing intake has become a challenge. Those that run rescues and practice TNR have become the “sandwiched” group, feeling pressure from the public asking for assistance, and push-back from larger organizations who may not have the boots-on-the-ground presence. We try to talk about these sensitive tops during the podcast in an open and productive way. We are on the search for solutions, options, tools, and ways that we can move forward to help more cats.
In 2023, the blog will have more editorial commentary by me and a focus on really working hard to promote the Community Cat Pyramid, the importance of spay/neuter, and the challenges we face. I really think 2023 is the year to go back to basics. We can’t be all things to all people and it is time to ensure we are offering the basic resources that families need to help cats. We need to spend extra time building relationships with our local veterinarians, technicians, animal control, rescuers, animal shelter staff, and citizens. We need to work together in private and public partnerships. I am hoping to find more tools to help address some of the challenges faced by others. In order to do that I will need to reach out to you more often with polls. I will need feedback and communication as I am here to help you-–the readers, the caregivers, n and the folks who are passionate about cats.
Lastly, if you haven’t noticed, the Community Cats Podcast shop has had a major upgrade! We wanted to design merchandise that looked good, but also shared a message. Something that you can wear with pride, but also have it be a bit of a conversation starter, too. Please take a look and share it with others.
So feel free to reach out to me. Take our sentiment survey. Don’t be shy and we will see you in 2023.
