Helping people and pets in rural America comes with many challenges. For example, how do you offer even the most basic veterinary services when there are no vets who can help within 100 miles, and buying a transport van is a pipe dream? How do you recruit new foster homes when you've already asked everyone in town? Reassigning staff to support new programs can be a valuable strategy, but how can you when overburdened employees already perform several roles - everything from animal care to adoptions, volunteer coordinator, and fundraiser?

What are the best practices in rural shelters, and how do they differ from those in larger communities? And what can we all do to support the lifesaving organizations in those communities? Learning from those who have found ways to overcome the obstacles is a good place to start!

This week, we head to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, to speak with the executive director for the Good Shepherd Humane Society, Cole Wakefield, to learn more about what it's like to save lives in the Ozarks.

For more lifesaving resources related to this episode, check out the website for The Best Friends Podcast: bestfriends.org/podcast