The Community Cats Podcast

"The board should govern, and the executive director should lead the day-to-day operations. When those lines blur, that's when things get messy."
This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, The Animal Rights Foundation, The Trapper's Tips & Tricks Workshop, and The Community Cat Clinic.
Strong missions save lives but strong governance sustains them.
In this essential episode of the Community Cats Podcast, Stacy LeBaron welcomes back Tim Crum, CEO and founder of Animal Shelter
Services, for a deep dive into nonprofit board governance. If you've ever wondered what a board of directors should be doing (versus what they often end up doing), this conversation is for you.
Tim breaks down the core purpose of a nonprofit board: governance, not operations. From fiduciary responsibility to strategic planning, he outlines the three legal duties every board member must understand—duty of loyalty, duty of care, and duty of obedience (think "LOCO" to remember them). He also shares real-world examples of common governance missteps, including conflicts of interest, related board members, executive directors serving as voting board members, and the risks of poorly documented board minutes.
For growing animal welfare organizations—especially those transitioning from all-volunteer to staffed operations—this episode offers practical guidance on when to hire an executive director, how to structure bylaws and policies, and why board composition matters. Tim also addresses board giving requirements, succession planning, and how to recruit skilled board members by first getting your "house in order."
Whether you're a founder wearing too many hats, a seasoned board member, or stepping into governance for the first time, this episode provides clear, actionable insights to help your organization grow responsibly, ethically, and sustainably.
Good governance isn't just paperwork…it's the foundation for saving more lives.
Press Play Now For:
The three legal duties of nonprofit board members—and why most people don't know they have them
What Directors & Officers (D&O) insurance actually protects
Real-life examples of governance "missteps" and how to avoid them
Why accurate board minutes are your organization's legal safety net
The difference between bylaws, policies, and standard operating procedures
When (and how) to hire an executive director
Why related board members can create major conflicts of interest
The ideal board size for animal welfare organizations
Whether board members should have a financial giving requirement
Practical strategies for recruiting strong, skilled board members
Resources & Links:
An Animal Shelter's Guide to Board Governance by Tim Crum Available at https://animalshelterguide.com
Animal Shelter Services
Tim's Previous Podcast Appearance: Community Cats Podcast Episode 611

"Small to mid-size organizations can accomplish a tremendous amount of impact when they work together, shoulder to shoulder in joyful service."
This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, The Animal Rights Foundation, The Trapper's Tips & Tricks Certification Workshop, and The Community Cat Clinic.
In this episode of the Community Cats Podcast, host Stacy LeBaron sits down with Dr. Cheryl McCormick, CEO of the Athens Area Humane Society, for an energetic and inspiring conversation on scaling high-impact, humane strategies for managing community cats. Drawing on her rich background in wildlife ecology and nonprofit leadership, Cheryl shares how her visit to Operation Catnip in Florida sparked a major shift in her organization's approach—resulting in a game-changing, high-volume spay/neuter initiative dubbed "Snip & Tip."
Listeners will hear how Cheryl and her team implemented this model in Georgia, overcoming scorching summer heat, logistical hurdles, and community challenges to sterilize 166 cats in just two days. She outlines the lean-staff, volunteer-driven model powered by professional trappers, strategic scheduling, and strong partnerships with funders. The episode is filled with practical strategies, insights into vet school partnerships, and tips for leveraging data and geography to reduce feline overpopulation—especially in underserved rural areas.
If you're looking for ways to improve cat welfare, build collaborative rescue models, or create sustainable TNR programs, this episode is a masterclass in innovation and impact at scale.
Press Play Now For:
How a visit to Operation Catnip inspired a major organizational pivot
Strategies for high-volume, low-cost sterilization events in rural areas
Why Cheryl believes cat care is a powerful public health initiative
Building sustainable vet pipelines through early student engagement
The magic of "stone soup" funding models for humane programs
Tips on starting community-based "cat action teams" and local satellite support
Resources & Links:
Athens Area Humane Society
Operation Catnip
RedRover
Shelter Animals Count
Fix Georgia Pets
BISSELL Pet Foundation - Fix the Future
Georgia Pet Foundation

"I just thought—why can't we know what care costs before we walk through the door? That's what FairVet is here to solve."
This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, The Animal Rights Foundation, The Underfoot Podcast, and The Community Cat Clinic.
When a pet emergency nearly cost him both his beloved dog and thousands of dollars, Pietro Kabeya decided enough was enough. In this compelling episode, Stacy LeBaron chats with Pietro, the founder of Farevet, an app designed to bring price transparency and affordability to veterinary care.
Pietro shares the emotional story of his dog King, whose medical emergency revealed an alarming disparity in vet costs—from a $5,000 quote to the same procedure for $1,500 just miles apart. This experience sparked his mission to build a platform where pet parents can compare vet prices in real time, crowdsource cost estimates, and avoid unnecessary financial stress during moments of crisis.
Listeners will discover how FareVet works, why price transparency matters, and how the veterinary care landscape varies across regions. Pietro also introduces their upcoming AI chatbot, which aims to simplify the vet search process and help users budget for their pet's care more accurately. Whether you're rescuing community cats or navigating your own pet's health journey, this conversation is a must-hear for anyone seeking to turn compassion into action—and save money doing it.
Press Play Now For:
The origin story behind FairVet and the emergency that changed everything
How massive price discrepancies in vet care sparked a tech revolution
A look at how crowdsourced data powers the FairVet platform
Why itemized vet bills confuse pet parents—and how to decode them
An inside scoop on FairVet's AI assistant and its budgeting potential
Advice for pet parents navigating emergency care and economic euthanasia
Resources & Links:
FareVet.com

"The future is feline. Let's keep understanding our cats."
This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, The Animal Rights Foundation, The Underfoot Podcast, and The Community Cat Clinic.
In this heartfelt and thought-provoking episode, Stacy LeBaron sits down with Dr. Angie Krause, a holistic small-animal veterinarian from Boulder, Colorado, and her veterinary nurse, JoJo Smith. Together, they explore the evolving landscape of feline veterinary care, community cat welfare, and the powerful human-animal bond that fuels it all.
Dr. Angie shares her lifelong love for cats and how her holistic approach—combined with home visits and mobile vet care—provides a less stressful, more authentic picture of feline health. JoJo opens up about the unique emotional richness of end-of-life care and the urgent need to advocate for underserved cats with the same passion and grace we afford to dogs.
From discussing consent in feline handling to championing spay/neuter accessibility and the nuances of community cat caregiving, this conversation will leave you both inspired and informed. You'll also learn about their podcast, Tails of Truth: The Truth About Veterinary Medicine, which dives deeper into these topics.
Whether you're a cat parent, TNR advocate, or simply feline curious, this episode is your invitation to better understand and uplift the cats in your life and community.
Press Play Now For:
Why consent matters in feline veterinary care
The unique value of in-home visits for understanding cats
How Colorado's spay/neuter infrastructure impacts cat populations
The emotional depth of end-of-life decisions for cats
Strategies to approach vet visits with grace and empathy
The role of language in reshaping perceptions about "feral" cats
How to advocate for cats—even if you don't have one at home
Resources & Links:
Dr. Angie Krause's website: boulderholisticvet.com
Podcast: Tails of Truth: The Truth About Veterinary Medicine (available on all major platforms + YouTube)
Community Cats Central Paper Collar Template
Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society

"The cat was telling me—I was just the one writing it down."
This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, The Animal Rights Foundation, and The Underfoot Podcast.
What if there were a scientifically validated system to help shy, fearful, or traumatized cats become adoptable and happy? In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Jacklyn Ellis, Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist and Director of Behavior at the Toronto Humane Society, sits down with host Stacy LeBaron to share her groundbreaking work in feline behavior and welfare. With a PhD in animal welfare and a passion ignited in second grade, Dr. Ellis has built a career helping cats communicate their needs through data-driven insights.
At the heart of the conversation is Dr. Ellis's revolutionary ordinal rating scale system, used to assess behaviors like food intake, response to petting, and play participation. She explains how this simple yet powerful tool not only improves individual case outcomes but also transforms how shelters approach feline care on a larger scale. Hear about whimsical enrichment rooms sponsored by brands, the unique challenges of conflict aggression, and why indoor-only cats need enrichment just as much as their outdoor counterparts.
If you're working with "in-betweener" cats—those that sit on the fence between adoptable and feral—this episode is packed with tools, inspiration, and insights to turn passion into meaningful outcomes.
Press Play Now For:
The backstory behind Dr. Ellis's career in feline behavior
How the Toronto Humane Society tracks and improves cat welfare
The power of data in managing behavioral interventions
Creative enrichment solutions that benefit both cats and adopters
The truth about barn cat programs and their perception in urban areas
Dealing with tough cases like conflict aggression and "dive bombing" cats
How to help indoor-only cats live their best lives
Resources & Links:
Feline Behavioral Ordinal Rating Scale Training (Free Course)
Toronto Humane Society
Dr. Ellis's research publications
Follow & Review:
We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then share a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.