The United States Census Bureau classifies 3% of the land in the country as urban, and they say that 80% of the total population lives in that area, which means tens of millions of pet owners spread out across a vast, rural area of the country.

Rural America is as diverse as it is big. It's multicultural. The people and communities span the socioeconomic spectrum, and just as we see in urban communities, there is a lack of services for pet owners. Helping underserved rural communities can be a big challenge, whether it's due to a complete lack of services available or simply logistical issues. How can we create practical programs to connect pet owners with veterinary services if the closest veterinarian is 20, 50, or even 100 miles away?

On this episode of The Best Friends Podcast, we take our first look at this issue of underserved communities in rural America. What is the data telling us? And we learn how the Oklahoma Humane Society is ignoring city limits, listening, and using partnerships to increase lifesaving statewide.