Honoring Our Best Friends with Cheryl Richardson, Author of How to Survive the Loss of a Pet
December 27, 2022
Anger Drives Change with Anne Levin, Executive Director of Brooklyn Bridge Animal Welfare Coalition and Founder of the Brooklyn Cat Cafe
January 3, 2023
Contributed by Stacy LeBaron, Head Cat at Community Cats Podcast
Wow, what a year it has been. When asked to share my highlights for the last year, I just didn’t know where to begin. During 2022 many of us returned to work and in-person events. The Community Cats Podcast started offering online education in 2016 and we are committed to continuing to offer online education going forward. Online education is accessible and affordable and that is what we are about. I am also committed to bringing voices forward that you may not see at a national level.
It just amazes me that in 2022 we have had over 6,250 registrations for our events. We have had more than 24,200 downloads of the podcast in 2022! I am so proud of our partnerships with other organizations; the National Kitten Coalition, Neighborhood Cats, and United Spay Alliance have all been incredibly supportive in partnering with us for events.
It is so hard to choose favorites when the speakers and podcast guests are so giving of their time. Reflecting on our events, Online Return to Home Day and Online Diversity Day really stand out to me, as the presentations were fantastic, and featured topics we don’t necessarily cover that often. If you haven’t already, you can purchase access to the recordings for our 2022 Online Return to Home Day here and Online Diversity Day here. (Scholarships for Online Diversity Day are still available! Fill out the form here to apply. You’ll receive complimentary access to all session recordings, speaker slides, and handouts.)
From the podcast side of things, below are just a few of the conversations that stood out during 2022:
- Dr. June Long’s 6-minute spay program is music to my ears! If everyone could do a six-minute spay, just think how many more cats we could spay throughout the country! What a fantastic online training program she has.
- Community cat trappers are always near and dear to my heart–these folks are the ones truly doing the work and making a difference for cats. Some of these shows profile individuals and some are with organizations, but they are all making a difference:
- Corinne Bourgoin was my WOW! Episode – the MSPCA Boston Adoption Center has a Return to Owner rate over 30% for cats! Can we make this happen across the country?!
- The podcast featuring Caleb Curtis and Marilyn Monroad was my favorite “feel good” episode. Their journey around the country by bike, and the conversation around mental health and feline companionship is relevant to many. Caleb’s passion and his relationship with Marilyn is inspiring.
People often ask me if I ever run out of people to interview. Yet, in every interview, I learn something new and have several “a-ha” moments. I want to thank you all for subscribing to the show and for supporting our sponsors.
If you aren’t a subscriber, please click here and hit the subscribe button. Episodes will be automatically saved to your device for easy listening. Plus, you’ll be giving us a boost! The more subscribers we have, the easier it will be for new listeners to find us. The wider our reach, the greater our potential to turn even more folks’ passion for cats into action.
There were a number of relevant blogs this year, sharing important information on topics relevant to community cats and the rescue work we do. Some of my favorites topics have been:
- A look at ethical storytelling and maximizing fundraising capacity. Contributed by Caitlin Quinn of HeARTs Speak.
- Setting yourself up for success when it comes to large-scale trapping. Contributed by Dawn Benefiel at Indy Neighborhood Cats.
- Understanding the important role veterinarians have to play in recommending the right age for spay/neuter in kittens. Contributed by Dr. Philip A Bushby and Esther Mechler of United Spay Alliance and the Feline Fix by Five campaign.
- The importance of language and the words we use to talk about our work. Contributed by Danielle Bays at The Humane Society of the United States.
Plus, my own tips to keep your cat from getting pregnant – especially as low-cost spay/neuter appointments have become harder to find.
Thank you to all who let Community Cats Podcast help them turn their passion for cats into action! Have a safe and happy holiday. We’ll see you in the new year!
