"You have to earn a cat's love and respect—and when you do, you have it forever." – Dr. Nicole Liebman
This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund and the Rescue Cleaners and Disinfectants.
In this inspiring episode of the Community Cats Podcast, host Stacy LeBaron sits down with Dr. Nicole Liebman and Ron Coughlin, the passionate duo behind PAD Home Pet Services—a pioneering in-home pet care company dedicated to making veterinary support more accessible and compassionate, especially for cats.
Dr. Liebman, a lifelong animal lover and veterinary oncologist, shares her deep respect for feline behavior and the importance of minimizing stress during care. Alongside Ron Coughlin, former CEO of Petco and current animal welfare advocate, the pair explore how PAD's in-home model meets critical needs in underserved communities—reducing stress for cats, supporting overburdened clinics, and empowering veterinary technicians.
They unpack staggering industry realities—like how over half of all cats never see a veterinarian each year—and share how PAD fills the gap by providing services such as nail clipping, hospice support, post-surgical care, and more, all within the comfort of a pet's home. The episode highlights collaborations with rescue groups like Little Wanderers and emphasizes how this innovative model is already expanding beyond New York City.
Listeners will also gain a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges of veterinary care deserts, technician shortages, and how PAD's community-focused, tech-driven model aims to be a game-changer—without sacrificing the personal, heart-centered care that animals deserve.
Whether you're a cat lover, rescuer, or industry professional, this conversation will leave you inspired to reimagine what accessible, compassionate pet care can look like.
Press Play Now For:
- Why 53% of cats aren't getting veterinary care—and what PAD is doing about it
- The importance of veterinary techs in in-home care
- Challenges facing NYC's rescue and TNR community
- PAD's impact in care deserts like the Bronx and Long Island
- Why at-home care can reduce clinic congestion and improve patient outcomes
- Ron's vision for a national model without compromising care standards
- Dr. Liebman's touching story of a beloved bodega cat's forever home journey
Resources & Links:
- PAD Home Pet Services (https://padhps.com/)
- Email: ron@padhps.com
- Little Wanderers NYC (https://lwnyc.org/)
- Animal Medical Center NYC (https://www.amcny.org/)
- Rancho Coastal Humane Society (https://rchumanesociety.org/)
- Meals on Wheels Pet Support Program (https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/find-meals-and-services/)
Sponsor Links:
- Maddie's Fund (https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/maddies623)
- Rescue Cleaners and Disinfectants (https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/virox)
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.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Ruthie's Table 4
For more than 30 years The River Cafe in London, has been the home-from-home of artists, architects, designers, actors, collectors, writers, activists, and politicians. Michael Caine, Glenn Close, JJ Abrams, Steve McQueen, Victoria and David Beckham, and Lily Allen, are just some of the people who love to call The River Cafe home. On River Cafe Table 4, Rogers sits down with her customers—who have become friends—to talk about food memories. Table 4 explores how food impacts every aspect of our lives. “Foods is politics, food is cultural, food is how you express love, food is about your heritage, it defines who you and who you want to be,” says Rogers. Each week, Rogers invites her guest to reminisce about family suppers and first dates, what they cook, how they eat when performing, the restaurants they choose, and what food they seek when they need comfort. And to punctuate each episode of Table 4, guests such as Ralph Fiennes, Emily Blunt, and Alfonso Cuarón, read their favourite recipe from one of the best-selling River Cafe cookbooks. Table 4 itself, is situated near The River Cafe’s open kitchen, close to the bright pink wood-fired oven and next to the glossy yellow pass, where Ruthie oversees the restaurant. You are invited to take a seat at this intimate table and join the conversation. For more information, recipes, and ingredients, go to https://shoptherivercafe.co.uk/ Web: https://rivercafe.co.uk/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/therivercafelondon/ Facebook: https://en-gb.facebook.com/therivercafelondon/ For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iheartradio app, apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com