Podcasts about Alley Cat Allies

The U.S. government has temporarily halted a plan to remove iconic stray cats that live in a historic district in Puerto Rico's capital until a lawsuit opposing the project is resolved, a nonprofit announced in September. The ruling was cheered by those fighting a decision by the U.S. National Park Service to remove an estimated 200 cats that meander a seaside fortress that Spain built in colonial times. The cats, which have long been a tourist attraction, are both beloved and reviled by those who visit and live in Old San Juan, where the 16th-century fortress known as “El Morro” is located. It's part of the San Juan National Historic Site that the U.S. National Park Service operates. The federal agency warned in 2022 that the population of cats had surged and that the felines could transmit illnesses to humans and were likely killing wildlife, adding that the smell of urine and feces enveloped the area. The agency held public hearings on the plan that became heated, with critics noting that the organization selected would decide whether the trapped cats would be adopted, fostered, kept in a shelter, or face other options. Yonaton Aronoff, an attorney for Maryland-based Alley Cat Allies, said in a phone interview that removing the current cats is an impossible task since new cats would take their place. “They're going to have to keep doing this forever,” he said. The U.S. National Park Service was scheduled to start removing the cats in October, but it agreed to halt those plans until a judge rules on a lawsuit that Alley Cat Allies filed in March. The nonprofit alleges that the plan violates acts including the National Environmental Protection Act. Meanwhile, cats of all colors and sizes continue to prowl the trails bordering deep turquoise waters that surround El Morro, and they even have a statue honoring them nearby. Some of the felines are believed to be descendants of cats from the colonial era, while others were brought by a former mayor to kill rats in the mid-20th century. Still others were simply abandoned by their owners. This article was provided by The Associated Press. 

“Our whole lives are really to get the word out that this is the solution.” – Louise on TNR This episode is sponsored in part by Doobert.com, and Maddie's Fund. In this episode, Stacy talks with Louise Holton, Founder of Alley Cat Rescue, and Deborah Holzer, Development Assistant at Alley Cat Rescue. Louise founded National Cat Protection Association in 1997 as the nation's first national cat protection association and an organization that advocates for all cats. In their conversation with Stacy, Louise and Deborah talk all about community cats. The pair touches on some of the campaigns spearheaded by Alley Cat Rescue. Debbie describes the Global Feral Fix Challenge, an annual initiative promoting the spaying and neutering of community cats. Louise highlights some of the resources available on the Alley Cat Rescue website, including the contact information for Cat Action Teams in each state. Louise and Deborah touch on how Alley Cat Rescue educates the general population about TNR. They also discuss veterinary challenges, cat behavior, and how to get involved in TNR. To learn more about Alley Cat Rescue, visit their website.

Join Cindie as she speaks with Alice Burton, Director of Programs for Alley Cat Allies. 

Welcome to the Cat Chat Podcast. Here at Big Cat Rescue we save big cats, spread the word about cat abuse, and all around have a great time! Today we are speaking to our friend Megan Allan from SPCA Florida about the state of fostering, the shelter environment for domesticated and feral animals as her passion TNR/TNVR! Reference and useful links: *Hawaii Island Humane Society - http://www.hihs.org/ *Alley Cat Allies - https://www.alleycat.org *The Unintended Consequences of Changing Natures Balance Article - https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/17/science/17isla.html *New Paradigms for Shelters and Community Cats white paper- https://vetmed-maddie.sites.medinfo.ufl.edu/files/2014/07/New-Paradigms-for-Shelters-and-Community-Cats.pdf *Human Animal Support Services - https://www.humananimalsupportservices.org We interview people from all over the world about many things concerning animal protection, government policy, and the heroic epicness of their lives. If you would like to get in contact with us: catchat@bigcatrescue.org To find more information or show support please head to www.bigcatrescue.org and www.bigcatact.com

GUEST: Bonney Brown was Executive Director for six years at Nevada Humane Society, an open-admission shelter. She has been Chief Operating Officer, National No More Homeless Pets Director and Communications Director for Best Friends and was National Campaign Director for Alley Cat Allies. Bonney is currently president and co-founder of Humane Network, where she is often involved in assessing and creating fundraising campaigns for shelters and other animal organizations.    MAIN QUESTION: What works to engage more members of the community with our animal welfare work so that we can raise more funds — and what doesn't work?   TAKEAWAYS: Stories with great photos are powerful. Donors give twice as much when presented with a story about an individual animal than about the overall needs of the organization. Don't expect stories and photos to happen. Assign someone to gather them – it can even be a volunteer. Train staff to take better cellphone photos so they can snap something good when a situation arises. Use “you” and “your” in your communications so that your audience feels they are a part of what's happening. Thank people. It makes them feel they play a valued role in  your organization's good works. Let people know that donations of any size help. It helps people feel comfortable sending more modest gifts. In fact, research shows that using this phrase increases the number of people who give.  Communicate with your supporters more than you think you should. Fundraising is about building relationships, and relationships require communication. LINKS: Humane Network (website) End-of-year fundraising tips webinar with Bonney Brown (video) Leadership recommendation: “How I Manage My Time - 10 Time Management Tips" by Ali Abdaal (video) 

GUEST: Diane Blankenburg is CEO & Co-Founder of Humane Network. She was Community Programs & Development Director for Nevada Humane Society, Katrina Rescue and Recovery Director for Alley Cat Allies for 2 years, and Network Director for Best Friends Animal Society.    MAIN QUESTION: How can leaders and managers handle internal staff conflict better?   TAKEAWAYS: A leader or manager should get involved with a staff conflict if it starts to get in the way of work getting done, goals of the organization, or team relationships. Consider the consequences of not dealing with the situation. The ultimate goal is to find common ground among the individuals concerned that you can then build a solution on. Sit down with the individuals involved and try to understand the whole picture, knowing that there may be more going on than just the surface conflict. Don't make assumptions; ask the people involved what is creating this issue. When emotions are high, one way to ratchet down the tension is to show empathy, convey you understand how they feel, and reflect back what you've heard from them. Conflict is not something to fear. When differences can be expressed and discussed respectfully, conflict can be a healthy part of an organization's culture that leads to better brainstorming, plans, solutions, and relationships. Conflict can sometimes be prevented by setting clear expectations. Having job descriptions, processes and checklists in place, as well as reinforcing the mission and  expectations verbally, can help keep people pulling in the same direction. LINKS: Humane Network (website) Leadership recommendation: “How I Manage My Time - 10 Time Management Tips" by Ali Abdaal (video) 

GUESTS: Bonney Brown is Humane Network president and Shelter Success Simplified podcast co-host and was executive director at Nevada Humane Society, National Campaign Director for Alley Cat Allies, and COO at Best Friends Animal Society. Diane Blankenburg is Humane Network CEO and was community programs and development director at Nevada Humane Society and network director at Best Friends Animal Society. MAIN QUESTION: Why is continuing education so important in animal welfare? TAKEAWAYS: Continuing education benefits you and can benefit your team in many ways: Makes the most of your time by providing both curated information as well as feedback and experience. Helps you create a professional network with other students and leaders in the field. Bolsters your resume for advancement. Provides CAWA CE credits. Animal organizations are increasingly looking for certified education or training when hiring managers and leaders. Sending staff to receive certified education in animal welfare can be part of your succession planning and grooming people for advancement. LINKS: Starting May 24: University of the Pacific Shelter Management Certificate Program details  University of the Pacific Shelter Management Certificate Program direct signup University of the Pacific Animal Shelter Behavioral Management Certificate Course details University of Florida Professional Certificate in Shelter Medicine Online Best Friends Animal Society and Southern Utah University Partnership Programs 

Guest: Becky Robison is President and Founder of Alley Cat Allies. Becky founded Alley Cat Allies in 1990 and has since played a leading role in the growth of Trap-Neuter-Return into the mainstream approach for outdoor cats. Her book, “The Evolution of the Cat Revolution,” documents 25 years of pioneering efforts to revolutionize the way cats are treated in the United States. Main question: What do shelter leaders need to know and do to support their organizations' TNR programs? Takeaways: * Be confident in your organization’s support of TNR. Don’t apologize for it – it is the most effective and humane way to stabilize and manage outdoor cat populations. It’s the right thing to do by the cats, and communities at large overwhelmingly prefer it to killing cats. * TNR’s effectiveness has been proven - it works because removing cats merely allows new cats to move into the same area. Your organization may even have data showing its benefits in your own community and/or data showing that previous trap-kill programs did not work. * People are contacting your organization about this issue because you are the animal welfare or cat experts in your community. Create a script for training new staff and to ensure consistent messaging. * When someone calls to express concern about TNR, ask questions to understand why they are calling – some people will be concerned about the welfare of the cats and need reassurance. Others will have a specific issue you can address with specific advice that will minimize or eliminate their specific issue. * Your organization shouldn’t loan out traps to people who use them to remove cats. * When doing TNR in a specific neighborhood, you may want to use doorhangers to communicate with local residents about trapping plans. You can buy pre-made TNR door hangers and find many free resources you can print yourself at AlleyCat.org. Links: * Alley Cat Allies: https://www.alleycat.org * Alley Cat Allies' brochures, pamphlets, door hangers, and more to educate the public about TNR: https://alley-cat-allies.myshopify.com/collections/community-relations * Download resource documents your organization can use to address concerns about community cats: * Addressing Common Concerns About Outdoor Cats - One-Page Solutions https://2917dbb3-64ed-41ad-a761-74ecc505ac66.filesusr.com/ugd/b03e13_32fc512816604938be9ba9fd21ecdebb.docx?dn=Addressing%20Common%20Concerns%20About%20Outdoor * Cats in the Neighborhood FAQ - for sharing with concerned neighbors https://2917dbb3-64ed-41ad-a761-74ecc505ac66.filesusr.com/ugd/b03e13_f4bbc99e8fe74ccb82c8a20d15953973.docx?dn=Cats%20in%20the%20Neighborhood%20FAQ%20-%20for%20shari * Conflict Resolution Tips for Community Cat Disputes https://2917dbb3-64ed-41ad-a761-74ecc505ac66.filesusr.com/ugd/b03e13_2a8d1f1aadc54103b9e73669503ea62c.docx?dn=Resolving%20Neighbor%20disputes%20-%20for%20caregi * Resolving Neighbor Disputes - solutions to common concerns https://2917dbb3-64ed-41ad-a761-74ecc505ac66.filesusr.com/ugd/b03e13_fe94be975197489cb9ba9f5ebf33ebf7.docx?dn=Resolving%20Neighbor%20disputes%20-%20for%20caregi * Leadership recommendation: Dan Heath's video "How to Write a Mission Statement That Doesn't Suck" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJhG3HZ7b4o Recorded Dec. 10, 2020

On this week’s show: Becky Robinson on COVID and cats. Becky is the President and Founder of Alley Cat Allies. EPISODE NOTES: ICovid and Cats

Guest: Bonney Brown, president and co-founder of Humane Network. She was Executive Director of Nevada Humane Society for 6 years; Chief Operating Officer, National No More Homeless Pets Director and Communications Director for Best Friends Animal Society; and was National Campaign Director for Alley Cat Allies. Main question: “We’ve struggled to a hire a good leader for our organization. Someone looks great on paper or really rocks the interview, but then it does not work out well. What can we do to make sure we hire the right executive level people?” Links: * ​Template - interview questions for an animal shelter rescue Executive Director (scroll down to the Hiring & Recruitment section for Word doc download) * Mark's recommendation: "The Power of Habit" by Charles Duhigg (book) (audio version) Recorded pre-COVID.

Guest: Diane Blankenburg, CEO and Co-Founder of Humane Network. She was also Community Programs & Development Director for Nevada Humane Society, Katrina Rescue and Recovery Director for Alley Cat Allies, and Network Director for Best Friends Animal Society. Main question: “Our organization struggles to get everyone on the same page. We do not function as a team. Many people are doing their own thing in their own way. Can you help us?” Takeaways: * Communicate clear expectations – make sure you have a clear mission with clear goals that are communicated well, often and through multiple channels to staff. Each department and each individual needs to understand their responsibilities and have clear expectations for performance that are linked to the high-level organizational goals.   * Monitor progress – measure results at the individual, department and organization level, give feedback, and make adjustments as you go. Don’t wait for an annual performance review to give feedback.   * Reward good performance. Be on the lookout for people doing things right. Also keep in mind that not addressing and following up on inappropriate behavior can seem like a reward. Links: * Checklist: Shelter walk-through * Checklist: How to make your shelter a welcoming place * Mark's recommendation: FollowUpThen email productivity tool * Comment on the podcast's Facebook page Recorded pre-COVID.

In this episode we are talking with Vicki Farretta who is a long time TNR advocate from Washington state.  We will discuss what TNR is, why its important, and ways that you can help with your community cats. If you want to dive deeper into learning about TNR, here are some great places to start:  Trap-Neuter-Return Community Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1479283405672836/ Alley Cat Allies: https://www.alleycat.org/ Neighborhood Cats: https://www.neighborhoodcats.org/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/carrie-pawpins/support

Becky Robinson and Friend On this podcast, Becky Robinson, founder and president of Alley Cat Allies, talks about improving the status of feral or "community cats."  She founded the organization 30 years ago and, during that time, is has become the leading cat advocacy organization. During the 27-minute interview, we discuss a variety of subjects including: Trap-Neuter-Return programs for felines Shelters becoming more "pro-cat" Issues surrounding "orphan" kittens How to guestimate the ages of kittens How to properly bottle-feed kittens Why not to grab every kitten you find without its mom How to help cats in your community -- it only takes one or two advocates to make a difference Where to turn for help This was an interesting interview and we are already working to schedule Ms. Robinson in the near future.

Erin Robinson admits that once upon a time, she simply didn’t know that community cats existed, let alone what you were supposed to do about them. That all began to change when she started volunteering in a county animal services facility during college in North Carolina, and when she went on to work for a high-volume spay/neuter clinic connected to Operation Catnip in Gainsville, Florida. Erin hasn’t stopped working with community cats since, and she worked with Alley Cat Allies before landing her current role as Community Cats Program Manager at Humane Rescue Alliance in Washington, D.C. Over the past decade, Humane Rescue Alliance’s community cat programs have gone from being a small, grassroots, volunteer-based part of the organization to becoming truly mission-critical. The program offers free TNR for cats within Washington, D.C., including spay/neuter surgery, distemper and rabies vaccinations, topical treatment for parasites, and microchipping as part of their TNR packages. Erin feels that it’s important to do as much as possible for community cats’ health in one visit, as it’s likely that this will be the only touch point the organization will have with these cats. The program is funded by donors, and includes a relocation program called Blue Collar Cats for cats who are TNR candidates, but who don’t have a safe place to return. Through this program, which has already placed 117 cats, cats are relocated to a business or homeowner who has reached out to request a cat. The program has very careful acclimation guidelines (available on the program website), and while most adopters are looking for assistance with rodent control, Erin stresses that these folks are truly giving these cats a new lease on life by adopting them. She is tracking retention and while initial results look great, Erin looks forward to reporting back on the program’s numbers in a few years to see how it’s working. A true believer in the importance of data and metrics, Erin is eager to work on collecting statistics on this and other programs to assist folks with convincing others that TNR is the right way to handle community cat populations. To learn more, visit humanerescuealliance.org/communitycats, where you can connect directly to the Blue Collar Cats website as well.

Today, April 20, is the day of Cameron Paul's memorial service in San Mateo, CA.  I hope to get some interviews from the Bay Area's Mix D.J's.  That gave us our doses of what now is called Old School.   Cameron Paul was who every young mix DJ wanted to be, if you lived in the California, Bay Area. Here is a week three power-mix of Cameron Paul's Power Mixes and pieces of his Mixx-It collections are ground breaking and put together here for another week. Cameron passed late in March. Here is Cameron Paul's Obituary Cameron Paul Graubart, born and raised in San Francisco, CA passed away in peace with Christ on March 26, 2018 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Cameron was a music producer and legendary DJ who, under the stage name Cameron Paul, revolutionized club music and introduced the world to a new form of entertainment, "Mixx-It". Cameron's music could be heard on the legendary Bay Area radio stations KSOL and KMEL-FM, and he earned gold records for his remixes of iconic songs like Salt n Pepa's "Push It" and George Michaels' "I Want Your Sex". In the 1980's and 1990's, his music drew enormous crowds to San Francisco dance clubs like City Nights and Studio West where the masses danced the nights away to his unique style of music. Cameron's irreplaceable contribution to the music industry resulted in him being inducted into the Legends of Vinyl DJ Hall of Fame, solidifying his reign as an artist whose music will inspire others all over the world for generations to come. Cameron was preceded in death by his loving sister Laura Graubart. He leaves behind his loving parents, Larry and Caroline Graubart of San Francisco, CA; his devoted sister Suzanne (Cole) Sack, and her husband Steve; his niece Kirsten Pegeron; two nephews: Brandon and Jordan Cole; and many cousins. A Memorial Service will be held from 12-3pm on Friday, April 20, 2018 at Sneider & Sullivan & O'Connell's Funeral Home, 977 S. El Camino Real, San Mateo, CA. Cameron had a compassionate heart and shared his love for animals with his sisters, Laura and Suzanne. In lieu of flowers, he requested donations be made to Alley Cat Allies, a charity that assists shelters in saving cats and kittens around the US. Donations can be made under Cameron's name directly to donate@alleycat.org or to the Porta Caeli Hospice House in Tulsa, Oklahoma where he was lovingly cared for in his final days.

In The Next few weeks on the Rewind we will pay tribute to Mixx-It and Cameron Paul.. Cameron has left us for the other side and this is the obit for the services coming up April 20th Cameron Paul Graubart, born and raised in San Francisco, CA passed away in peace with Christ on March 26, 2018 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Cameron was a music producer and legendary DJ who, under the stage name Cameron Paul, revolutionized club music and introduced the world to a new form of entertainment, "Mixx-It". Cameron's music could be heard on the legendary Bay Area radio stations KSOL and KMEL-FM, and he earned gold records for his remixes of iconic songs like Salt n Pepa's "Push It" and George Michaels' "I Want Your Sex". In the 1980's and 1990's, his music drew enormous crowds to San Francisco dance clubs like City Nights and Studio West where the masses danced the nights away to his unique style of music. Cameron's irreplaceable contribution to the music industry resulted in him being inducted into the Legends of Vinyl DJ Hall of Fame, solidifying his reign as an artist whose music will inspire others all over the world for generations to come. Cameron was preceded in death by his loving sister Laura Graubart. He leaves behind his loving parents, Larry and Caroline Graubart of San Francisco, CA; his devoted sister Suzanne (Cole) Sack, and her husband Steve; his niece Kirsten Pegeron; two nephews: Brandon and Jordan Cole; and many cousins. A Memorial Service will be held from 12-3pm on Friday, April 20, 2018 at Sneider & Sullivan & O'Connell's Funeral Home, 977 S. El Camino Real, San Mateo, CA. Cameron had a compassionate heart and shared his love for animals with his sisters, Laura and Suzanne. In lieu of flowers, he requested donations be made to Alley Cat Allies, a charity that assists shelters in saving cats and kittens around the US. Donations can be made under Cameron's name directly to donate@alleycat.org or to the Porta Caeli Hospice House in Tulsa, Oklahoma where he was lovingly cared for in his final days.

In The Next few weeks on the Rewind we will pay tribute Mixx-It and Cameron Paul.. Cameron has left us for the other side and this is the obit for the services coming up April 20th Cameron Paul Graubart, born and raised in San Francisco, CA passed away in peace with Christ on March 26, 2018 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Cameron was a music producer and legendary DJ who, under the stage name Cameron Paul, revolutionized club music and introduced the world to a new form of entertainment, "Mixx-It". Cameron's music could be heard on the legendary Bay Area radio stations KSOL and KMEL-FM, and he earned gold records for his remixes of iconic songs like Salt n Pepa's "Push It" and George Michaels' "I Want Your Sex". In the 1980's and 1990's, his music drew enormous crowds to San Francisco dance clubs like City Nights and Studio West where the masses danced the nights away to his unique style of music. Cameron's irreplaceable contribution to the music industry resulted in him being inducted into the Legends of Vinyl DJ Hall of Fame, solidifying his reign as an artist whose music will inspire others all over the world for generations to come. Cameron was preceded in death by his loving sister Laura Graubart. He leaves behind his loving parents, Larry and Caroline Graubart of San Francisco, CA; his devoted sister Suzanne (Cole) Sack, and her husband Steve; his niece Kirsten Pegeron; two nephews: Brandon and Jordan Cole; and many cousins. A Memorial Service will be held from 12-3pm on Friday, April 20, 2018 at Sneider & Sullivan & O'Connell's Funeral Home, 977 S. El Camino Real, San Mateo, CA. Cameron had a compassionate heart and shared his love for animals with his sisters, Laura and Suzanne. In lieu of flowers, he requested donations be made to Alley Cat Allies, a charity that assists shelters in saving cats and kittens around the US. Donations can be made under Cameron's name directly to donate@alleycat.org or to the Porta Caeli Hospice House in Tulsa, Oklahoma where he was lovingly cared for in his final days.

Interview! Brianna Lovell, Outreach and Events Manager, at Alley Cat Allies   “No action is too big or too small.”   To commemorate National Feral Cat Day (NFCD), Stacy speaks with Brianna about the origins of this annual event. Originally, National Feral Cat Day was simply a way to celebrate Alley Cat Allies’ 10th anniversary, but in the years following that, it’s become a catalyst for groups to undertake a variety of projects that educate the community or help cats directly.  Brianna notes that individuals can do something as simple as posting on social media or take part on a more involved project like a fundraiser or spay/neuter clinic. “It’s up to everyone out there to make the change happen,” she says. Brianna also discusses the many resources on Alley Cat Allies website, and the “grueling task” of choosing photos for their annual calendar.   For more information visit www.alleycat.org

Interview! Diane Blankenberg, Chief Executive Officer and Principal Consultant for Humane Network Imagine being on the ground trying to rescue owned and community cats after Hurricane Katrina, as well as the recent flooding in Louisiana.  Diane Blankenberg describes her amazing experiences working with Alley Cat Allies to help reunite people and their cats, including working at a “cat rescue camp” as well as assisting with TNR following these crises.  She describes how, after Katrina, some owned cats were so traumatized that they appeared initially to be ferals.  Community cats, says Diane, “have amazing survival instincts; after the recent floods many of them stayed in trees until they could be returned to their colonies."   For more information please visit humanenetwork.org.

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 her own reluctant transition to believing in trap-neuter-release. Now working with Alley Cat Allies, Alice discusses other initiatives, like National Feral Cat Day. For more information, visit alleycat.org or call Alley Cat Allies’ national help desk at 240-482-1980. To find out more visit Ally Cat Allies online.

Today's author writes a cozy mystery series with echoes of my favorite film, "The Thin Man." (Dashiell Hammett's book is darn good as well, but I'm a sucker for Myrna Loy and William Powell.) Her Nick and Nora mysteries feature a crime reporter starting over back in her home town and a cat who may -- or may not -- be the reincarnation of a missing detective. Together with a wonderful supporting cast, they solve crimes and mete out justice. Meow If It's Murder is the first in this charming series. Toni and I chat about a lot of things: favorite authors (including the delightful Krista Davis, who you can hear interviewed here) and two charities she actively supports: Kids Need To Read (founded by Denise Gary, P.J. Haarsma, and actor Nathan Fillion) and Alley Cat Allies. To learn more about Toni, be sure to check out her author page and of course the blog she shares with her cat, ROCCO. He interviews mystery authors and runs frequent book giveaways, so don't miss it. As always, here's the transcript if you'd rather read than listen. Enjoy! Transcript of T.C. LoTempio Interview Laura Brennan: T.C. LoTempio is the national bestselling author of the Nick and Nora Mystery series, as well as nearly a dozen other books, ranging from paranormal mysteries to rom com. Meow if It’s Murder introduced Nora Charles, a crime reporter who longs for a quiet life, and Nick, the cat who adopted her. Toni, thank you for joining me. T.C. LoTempio: Thank you for having me, Laura. LB: Tell me a little bit about yourself. What got you started writing? TL: Okay. Well, I’ve been writing since I was ten years old. My mother used to read me stories at night, and I wouldn’t like the ending, so I’d make up my own. And then I’d buy comic books, and I wouldn’t like the way those ended, so I’d make up those stories. And it just progressed from there. I used to write fairy tales, you know, and I was always good at English in school. I got away from it a little bit. I got married, life got in the way as they say. And then, after my parents died, I kinda got back into it. I was at a training session with a friend, and we were learning how to do e-mails at the time, that’s how long ago this was. And she said to me, “Oh, you write such good e-mails. You should probably be a writer.” And I said, “You know, I think I am one. I just have to get back into it.” And it just took off from there. LB: You’ve actually written many, many different kinds of novels. Are you finding your genre? TL: I think it started out that way. Actually, the type of novel that I enjoy writing the most is the one that I stopped because agents would tell me there’s no market for it. It’s Horror. Stephen King-type books. And they said, unless you are Stephen King, there’s no market for it. So I figured, well, if I want to get published, I’d better write something else. LB: I find that hilarious, since I’m a member of the Horror Writers Association and a lot of people are actually selling horror these days. TL: Well, that’s good to know, if I want to start writing it again. LB: Certainly in movies, almost the closest thing there is to a Whodunit is a horror film. TL: I would tend to agree with you. I must’ve seen “Halloween” at least three dozen times, if not more. LB: Yeah, and it’s too bad, too, because they used to make movies very much like -- to bring this back to your wonderful series -- very much like “The Thin Man.” And they don’t make those anymore. TL: I know, and isn’t that a shame? I think maybe more people might go to the movies if they did that. LB: Absolutely! So, tell me how “The Thin Man” -- was “The Thin Man” really your inspiration? Because it trickles through your series so beautifully. TL: Well, it was kind of a combination of William Powell and my cat. LB: For those who haven’t yet read your series, just a little background. It’s a cozy series about a woman named Nora who’s in her thirties and she’s been very suc...

Alley Cat Allies' founder Becky Robinson discusses feral cats, the problem, and the solutions, after our tantalizing chat with Pramoda Chitrabhanu, author of Foods of Earth, Tastes of Heaven.

Thursday, July 16th, 2015, 9:40PM Chris Ramirez & D. Pauline Williams http://youtu.be/3SGQTVOoQUo 0:05 Google Technical Support, Copyright & Kindle Payments 0:17 Creating a Viral Video 0:31 Drunk Dialing on Facebook, Messenger Pests & Dad’s Shared Account 0:42 Instagram Playboy & ISIS Beheadings 0:52 Walmart, Target & Dollar Stores 0:55 El Chapo, Donald Trump & Fake Hillary Sex Scandal 1:11 Cubans vs Mexicans 1:13 Gasoline & Water Restrictions 1:20 Alley Cat Allies, Feline Butt Jewels & Cat Defecating 1:37 Joomla vs WordPress, Women in Tech & Perfect Job for a Woman 1:48 Document Control 1:52 Mac vs Windows PC & Writing a Novel 2:03 FIFA Women's World Cup USA Champions 2:07 Everyone’s a Celebrity, Selfie Sticks & Facebook Algorithms 2:15 Which Celebrity has Pauline Met & Who She Wants Next

They hide in alleys, abandoned houses, fight over scrapes of food and live lives tragically cuts short by disease, neglect and misunderstanding. These are the oft forgotten feral cat. My guest, Becky Robinson is the Founder and President of Alley Cat Allies. Promoting the health, welfare of all cats has been the mission of this unique organization of ½ million supporters. Learn how you can help feral colonies, your local animal shelters whether or not you are a cat owner. Questions or comments? Email Dr. Cruz at: thepetdoctor@petliferadio.com. More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Friends of Forgotten Felines on Pet Life Radio.

Cathy Unruh is a nationally recognized animal advocate and Emmy Award-winning broadcast journalist. Her work has been featured in such print and on-line publications as Cat Fancy, Paw Nation, The Examiner, and AOL/Huffington Post. She currently hosts a talk show titled Up Close with Cathy Unruh for WEDU-TV in Tampa-St. Petersburg. Unruh makes frequent media and personal appearances across the United States, many of them on behalf of animals. She is affiliated at the highest levels with The Humane Society of the United States, the ASPCA, Farm Sanctuary, Best Friends Animal Society and Alley Cat Allies. Unruh is a part-time resident of Cat Cay in the Bahamas, where she met and adopted Lucy Miracle, the narrator and protagonist of Taming Me. The Book of Shadows is making an awesome aching muscle balm. The Psychic Toolbox continues the herbal theme tonight in chatting about some great uses for oranges so tune in and find out some very useful information.

Cathy Unruh is a nationally recognized animal advocate and Emmy Award-winning broadcast journalist. Her work has been featured in such print and on-line publications as Cat Fancy, Paw Nation, The Examiner, and AOL/Huffington Post. She currently hosts a talk show titled Up Close with Cathy Unruh for WEDU-TV in Tampa-St. Petersburg. Unruh makes frequent media and personal appearances across the United States, many of them on behalf of animals. She is affiliated at the highest levels with The Humane Society of the United States, the ASPCA, Farm Sanctuary, Best Friends Animal Society and Alley Cat Allies. Unruh is a part-time resident of Cat Cay in the Bahamas, where she met and adopted Lucy Miracle, the narrator and protagonist of Taming Me. The Book of Shadows is making an awesome aching muscle balm. The Psychic Toolbox continues the herbal theme tonight in chatting about some great uses for oranges so tune in and find out some very useful information.

Each year, Oh Behave show host Arden Moore takes on her favorite role: Santa Paws. In this special episode, she offers terrific pet gifts you can vie to win and pawsome ways you can give back by helping worthy pet charities. You have a chance to win these pet products: Kitty S’cape Playground by Solvit Products, Canine Fitness Vest from Pet Zen Products, Tagg The Pet Tracker, $169 gift basket from The Honest Kitchen, The Pet Loo and a Litter Genie. Simply email Arden (Arden@fourleggedlife.com) with the code words for the products you hope to win. In addition, you get to learn how to help these pet causes: Henrys World, Morris Animal Foundation, Kids Against Animal Cruelty, Surfdog Ricochet and the military, 2nd Chance 4 Pets and Alley Cat Allies. Questions or Comments? Send them to: arden@petliferadio.com. More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Oh Behave - Oh Behave Show Host Arden Moore Becomes Santa Paws and Unleashes Great Ways to Win Pet Products And Aid Pet Charities with Arden Moore

The un-owned cats of America caterwaul from alleyways, give birth in woodpiles, and slink beneath dumpsters eking out a meager existence on the scraps of civilization. Nobody knows how many live homeless and unloved, but wherever cats gather, controversy soon follows. Many "solutions" have been tried, and opinions abound regarding the best way to deal with un-owned and feral felines. In the last decade, a small army of dedicated and caring cat advocates has come to believe that TNR is a viable and ethical answer. Join Becky Robinson, president and co-founder of Alley Cat Allies, the recognized authority on feral cats. More details on this episode MP3 Podcast -Feral Friends: TNR for "Community Cats"Behavior with Amy Shojai on Pet Life Radio

Susan Daffron talks to Amanda Casazza, the Alley Cat Allies (ACA) Atlantic City Fieldwork Coordinator about a cat named Big Daddy. This plus sized tuxedo kitty is a real "lover" who likes to snuggle up with people. He was found living along the Atlantic City Boardwalk by Alley Cat Allies volunteers, and was so friendly the group decided to put him up for adoption. For many years, ACA has had a Trap-Neuter-Return program for feral cats along the boardwalk, and also have placed adoptable cats in new loving homes. Because of his social nature Big Daddy was placed in foster care, where he is greatly enjoying indoor kitty life. Big Daddy does have a couple of medical issues that a new owner will need to understand. The first is that he has a hematoma in his ear, which needs to be cleaned a couple times a week. However, Big Daddy is incredibly good about the process and just sits in your lap while you clean his ear, so the process is easy. The second thing is that Big Daddy is FIV positive. FIV stands for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, which is a slowly progressing virus that affects a cat's immune system. It is not transmissible to humans and can only be passed to other cats through blood transfusions or serious, penetrating bite wounds. Contrary to rumors, cats with FIV can live long, healthy lives and share their homes with other cats, as long as the cats get along and don't fight. If his new owners work with their veterinarian to keep him healthy, Big Daddy can be a loving companion for many years to come. More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Big Daddy - A Big Love of a Cat - with Susan Daffron on PetLifeRadio.com