Building a United Voice for Michigan's Animals, Featuring Courtney Protz-Sanders, Founder of Paws for Life Rescue and Board Member of the Michigan Pet Alliance

"One of the worst things is to have a passion to do something, but no idea how or where to start. That's where we come in—we're a resource. You're not floating out there alone." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund. Courtney Protz-Sanders, founder of Paws for Life Rescue and board member of the Michigan Pet Alliance, shares her journey from individual rescuer to statewide advocate for animal welfare. In this episode, Courtney and host Stacy LeBaron dive into how collaboration, legislative engagement, and education can transform communities and protect animals more effectively. With over two decades in the field, Courtney explains how the Michigan Pet Alliance (MPA) brings shelters, rescuers, pet owners, and professionals together to fight for legislative change, share resources, and strengthen local programs. From telehealth veterinary access and regional workshops to battling unjust ordinances like outdoor feeding bans, the MPA stands as a powerful force for change. This episode is packed with practical insights for individuals and organizations alike. Whether you're trapping your first colony cat or lobbying for animal welfare laws, you'll learn why uniting under a shared mission makes all the difference. Courtney's emphasis on education, proactive leadership, and building coalitions provides a hopeful roadmap for communities nationwide. Press Play Now For: Why collaboration is key to effective animal advocacy How the Michigan Pet Alliance supports community cat caretakers The fight to legalize telehealth veterinary services in Michigan Navigating ordinances that hinder TNR and outdoor feeding Practical tips for getting involved with local advocacy efforts The importance of accessible, high-quality training for rescuers Resources: Michigan Pet Alliance (http://michiganpet.org) Paws for Life Rescue (http://pawsforliferescue.org) TNR Certification Workshop (https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/conferences-and-events/) CSNIP (Spay/Neuter) (http://csnip.org) All About Animals Rescue (http://allaboutanimalsrescue.org) Sponsor Links: Maddie's Fund (https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/maddies638) 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(https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-community-cats-podcast/id1125752101?mt=2). 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.