Building Bridges: International Lessons for Community Cat Programs, Featuring Maia Rumpho, Founder of Pet Project Rescue

"What we do in Mexico is my dream for Minnesota. We provide free spay neuter to both owned and street animals every single week."

This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie’s Fund and The Community Cat Clinic.

In this international perspective episode, host Stacy LeBaron speaks with Maia Rumpho, founder of Pet Project Rescue, who turned a chance encounter with a street dog in Mexico into a binational animal welfare organization. Maia's journey began in 2007 during an engagement trip to Mexico, where rescuing a street dog sparked her understanding of the resource disparities between communities. What started as a dog-focused rescue evolved into Minnesota's only free TNR program, while maintaining weekly spay/neuter clinics in Mexico that serve as a model for comprehensive community animal care.

Maia shares how her social work background shapes her approach to animal welfare, recognizing that effective programs must address barriers facing the people who care for community cats. Her organization removes financial obstacles that might force caregivers to choose between their own basic needs and helping animals. The conversation explores the striking differences between urban and rural cat populations in Minnesota, where urban colonies typically number 10 or fewer cats while rural areas often have 30 or more. Maia discusses the challenge of veterinary access in rural areas, where both distance and lack of feral cat experience among local veterinarians create significant barriers.

The discussion highlights Maia's experience working in Mexico, where government support, animal control cooperation, and cross-organizational teamwork create an environment she wishes could be replicated in Minnesota. Her Mexico programs include weekly clinics serving 25 animals and annual three-day events handling 1,100-1,200 animals with remarkable efficiency. Maia's vision includes bringing MASH-style clinics to Minnesota, already piloting monthly Friday clinics in North Minneapolis that target the city's highest need area. This episode demonstrates how international experience can inform domestic programs and why collaboration across all sectors is essential for addressing community cat overpopulation.

Press play now for:

• How a 2007 Mexico engagement trip sparked Minnesota's only free TNR program
• The dramatic scale difference: 30+ cat rural colonies vs. 10 or fewer urban populations
• Mexico's collaborative model with government support and skilled veterinarians
• Weekly clinics serving 25 animals and annual 1,100+ animal three-day events
• Why Minnesota procedures cost 4-6 times more than Mexico operations
• Adapting Mexican high-volume models for North Minneapolis communities
• The authorization system that provides flexibility for unexpected additional cats
• Strategic targeting of areas with highest need and lowest income brackets
• Why summer is optimal timing for TNR activities nationwide

Resources mentioned:

• Pet Project Rescue website (https://petprojectrescue.com/)
• Pet Project Rescue Instagram: @PPR_mpls (https://www.instagram.com/ppr_mpls/)
• Pet Project Rescue Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/PetProjectRescue/)
• Pet Project Rescue TNR Program (https://petprojectrescue.com/about/programs/trap-neuter-return-tnr/)
• Coco's Animal Welfare - Playa del Carmen, Mexico partner (https://cocosanimalwelfare.org)
• Rocco's Relief Foundation - Mexico City area partner (https://rrfmexico.org)
• MN SNAP - Minnesota Spay Neuter Assistance Program (https://mnsnap.org/)
• Contact: [e-mail]

Sponsor Links:

• Maddie's Fund (https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/maddies631)
• The Community Cat Clinic (https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/catclin