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Home > The Community Cats Podcast > Rural and Underfunded but Still Making It Work: How to Lead Local Change featuring Brandi Winkleman, President and Executive Director of A HOPE.
Podcast: The Community Cats Podcast
Episode:

Rural and Underfunded but Still Making It Work: How to Lead Local Change featuring Brandi Winkleman, President and Executive Director of A HOPE.
Category: Kids & family
Duration: 00:34:09
Publish Date: 2025-06-10 09:00:00
Description: "Everybody has a role, and if we open up the conversation just a little more, we can help change the numbers—and the lives of these animals."

This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie’s Fund.

In this powerful and emotionally resonant episode, host Stacy LeBaron welcomes Brandi Winkleman, President and Executive Director of A HOPE Inc., an animal welfare organization based in Milton, Florida. Brandi shares the raw, eye-opening experiences that catapulted her from volunteer to changemaker, including heart-wrenching scenes from her local shelter that inspired her to take action. Through grassroots advocacy, community education, and data-driven approaches, Brandi and her team have transformed a once high-kill county into a model of collaborative, humane solutions.

Listeners will gain insight into the complexities of rural animal welfare and the lifesaving gaps Brandi is working to bridge—especially around low-cost spay/neuter access and shelter-to-rescue transfers. She also provides a behind-the-scenes look at A HOPE's upcoming spay/neuter clinic, designed with input from top industry professionals to meet the unique needs of her community. This episode is a masterclass in how local leadership, transparency, and positive collaboration can create sustainable change.

Press Play Now For:

  • A vivid account of the moment that changed Brandi’s life forever
  • How data visualization helped shift public opinion on shelter euthanasia
  • The two key "lifesaving gaps" Brandi identified—and how she’s solving them
  • Tips on navigating small-town politics and turning skeptics into allies
  • A sneak “peek” at A HOPE’s new 4,000 sq. ft. clinic designed for both efficiency and compassion

Resources & Links:

Sponsor Links:

  • Maddie's Fund (https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/maddies616)

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