“We’re trying . . . [to] demonstrate that this can be done, done effectively with great results, and . . . exemplify this to every town, because my ultimate belief is that there should be TNR in every town.”

This episode is sponsored in part by Humane Network, Doobert, and Maddie's Fund.

In this episode, Stacy chats with Joe Federico, co-founder, and director of Stray Paws Animal Haven. After over two decades as a restaurant owner, Joe decided to leave the industry to embark on a journey driven by his passion for animal welfare.

After moving to Southern California, he noticed an abundance of stray and feral cats in his neighborhood, and his search for a solution to their suffering and overpopulation of neighborhood cats brought him to the nonprofit organization FixNation, where he was a full-time volunteer for 8 years.

Seeing the need for more capacity, Joe decided to establish Stray Paws Animal Haven in 2018, along with co-founder Melissa Bento. The organization, based in Los Angeles, California, focuses on reducing the stray animal population through TNR, medical rehab, transport, relocation, adoption, networking, and education. Their team of over 70 volunteer trappers is responsible for spaying/neutering an average of over 150 cats per week.

In his conversation with Stacy, Joe details how he became involved in TNR and provides insight into the services that Stray Paws Animal Haven provides. He discusses his encounters with community members and how he has helped sway those who previously only saw the cats as a neighborhood problem.

Joe also shares some of the challenges he encountered with covid, how the organization overcame them, and how it forced them to become more efficient.

To learn more about Stray Paws Animal Haven, visit their website or Instagram.

If you enjoyed this episode, check out our interview with Audra Farrell, Community Cares Program Supervisor at the San Francisco SPCA in episode 101.