Are you ready to become a part of something bigger? On this episode of United We Spay, join us as Stacy explores spay/neuter initiatives in Panama with guest Patricia Chan. From a pioneering woman in the Panama Canal Commission to becoming an advocate for animal welfare, Patricia’s story is inspirational. Hear the story behind Spay Panama, a groundbreaking organization that has spayed or neutered over 320,000 animals, and learn how education plays a significant role in shifting public attitudes toward animal welfare. We also traverse the intricate logistics of massive spay/neuter events, taking you behind the scenes of Spay Panama's upcoming event, aiming to spay and neuter 700 animals in two days. Imagine a 32-year-old bus serving as a mobile clinic, community involvement at the heart of the initiative, and the unique challenge of a country without animal control. Become part of our journey as we unravel the inspiring, complex, and gratifying world of animal welfare in Panama. In this episode, you will hear: Patrician Chan’s background as the first woman division chief for the Panama Canal Commission Her advocacy for spay/neuter initiatives in Panama and co-founding Spay Panama The challenges Patricia faced and the growth of Spay Panama The importance of education in changing attitudes toward animals Spay Panama's upcoming event and their goal to neuter and spay 700 animals over two days using a converted bus as a mobile clinic Community involvement in spay/neuter initiatives and Panama’s unique lack of animal control, resulting in reliance on volunteers Insight into the operations of Spay Panama, their funding struggles, and how they handle various challenges, including dealing with feral cats and dogs Spay Panama’s efforts to maintain self-sustainability, asking for donations or contributions in kind for their services, and the role of volunteers Advice for those interested in starting spay/neuter initiatives Resources from this Episode: Spay/Neuter Spotlight: Spay Panama: unitedspayalliance.org/spay/neuter-spotlight-spay-panama Feline Fix by Five program: www.unitedspayalliance.org/feline-fix-by-five Follow and 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. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Episode Credits: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.