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It takes a village to care for some pets and stray animals

Pet owner in the Rogue Valley of southern Oregon.
Rogue Valley Street Dogs
Pet owner in the Rogue Valley of southern Oregon.

In a society of rugged individualism, people often find themselves needing assistance from others, like neighbors, local community organizations, and even state and federal programs that provide temporary assistance. For pets of low-income residents, and stray animals that wander the streets, collective support of the village/community is also needed.

Joining the Exchange are two guests: Laurie Cuddy is president of Rogue Valley Street Dogs; and Amanda Linnehan is president and executive director of Rogue Community Cat Rescue.

Efforts to spay and neuter are not always affordable options for low-income residents. And without such procedures, pets and stray animals (that have no designated owner), often reproduce and increase the population of vulnerable animals in a community, which can pose a variety of problems and health risks. Controlling the population of pets and stray animals takes a village/community to cooperate and collaborate.

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Mike Green is host of the Jefferson Exchange. He's an award-winning journalist with over 20 years experience in media, specializing in media innovation, inclusive economics and entrepreneurship.
Natalie Golay is the Senior Producer of the Jefferson Exchange, where she brings a storyteller’s curiosity to conversations about the people, ideas and issues shaping our region. Natalie has more than 20 years of communications experience and a background spanning visual arts, multimedia production and law.