{"podcast":{"title":"United We Spay","slug":"united-we-spay-6721497","podcast_index_feed_id":6721497,"rss_url":"https://feeds.libsyn.com/494283/rss","website_url":"https://www.unitedspayalliance.org/","image_url":"https://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/a/7/9/5/a795a5dc01dbc474e5bbc093207a2619/Final_UWS.jpg","author":"United Spay Alliance","episode_count":33,"summary":"Welcome to United We Spay - the show dedicated to promoting affordable spay/neuter services across the USA and beyond. In each episode, we delve into the heart of a movement that's changing the lives of animals and communities for the better. Our mission is clear: build awareness, educate, and empower. In this podcast, we'll explore the inspiring stories and voices that drive the spay/neuter movement, all while keeping our eyes on the bigger picture. Hosted by Stacy LeBaron, our team at United Spay Alliance is here to make a difference by tackling the root causes of overpopulation, ensuring that every animal has the chance for a better life. Join us as we embark on a journey to address the problems and pain points faced by grassroots rescue and shelter workers, and the general public. We'll answer the three most common questions we receive, discuss the challenges of finding low-cost spay/neuter services, and explore strategies for recruiting more veterinarians to support these crucial efforts. What truly irks us is when the animal welfare space fixates on the symptoms of overpopulation, rather than focusing on prevention through spay/neuter. We believe it's time to change the conv…","last_synced_at":"2026-07-02T18:19:15.165816+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/united-we-spay-6721497"},"episode":{"title":"024: Confronting the Vet Shortage with Cheri Storms","slug":"024-confronting-the-vet-shortage-with-cheri-storms","published_at":"2025-11-06T08:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/united-we-spay-6721497/024-confronting-the-vet-shortage-with-cheri-storms","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/united-we-spay-6721497","url":"https://0759aabc-07b2-466f-8bc4-9f829c391c44.libsyn.com/confronting-the-vet-shortage-with-cheri-storms","audio_url":"https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/0759aabc-07b2-466f-8bc4-9f829c391c44/UWS_Ep024_Storms_Master.mp3?dest-id=4225473","summary":"In this episode of United We Spay, host Stacy LeBaron welcomes Cheri Storms, Executive Director of Pet Friendly Services of Indiana and Chair of the United Spay Alliance Vet Shortage Task Force. With a statewide view of spay/neuter services and firsthand experience navigating the challenges of veterinary access, Cheri brings clarity and urgency to a national crisis: the veterinary shortage threatening spay/neuter capacity across the U.S. Cheri shares how the vet shortage—once a simmering concern—boiled over post-pandemic, leaving shelters, rescues, and pet owners scrambling. She explains how task force initiatives like high-quality, high-volume \"wet labs\" are training veterinarians in the field, and highlights mobile units, voucher systems, and mega clinics as creative workarounds to increase access in \"vet deserts.\" Listeners will hear how states like Colorado and New Hampshire are pioneering mid-level practitioner roles and licensing foreign-trained vets—changes that could reshape the profession and expand public health services for animals. Cheri also addresses funding gaps, the vital role of spay/neuter financial assistance programs, and how communities can support more surgeries, more quickly. If you care about animal welfare, public health, or the future of veterinary medicine, this episode provides a clear-eyed look at where we're heading—and what we must do to fix it. In this episode, you will hear: The surprising truth about new vet school grads and their surgical skills How wet labs and mid-level practitioners could help solve the vet crisis Real talk: Why voucher programs work—and why they're underfunded What's working in Indiana: mobile units, mega clinics & community buy-in How states are stepping in with innovative laws to address the shortage Why early s…","meta_description":"In this episode of United We Spay, host Stacy LeBaron welcomes Cheri Storms, Executive Director of Pet Friendly Services of Indiana and Chair of the Unite…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1510,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/united-we-spay-6721497/episodes/024-confronting-the-vet-shortage-with-cheri-storms/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/united-we-spay-6721497/024-confronting-the-vet-shortage-with-cheri-storms.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}