I'm Todd Bookman, a reporter at New Hampshire Public Radio.

For the last six months, I've been thinking a lot about a cat named Sergeant Tibbs,

who goes missing, who's then found, and who would land at the center of so much human pain,

anger, and confusion.

It's not about the cat anymore. It's just about everything else.

The final days of Sergeant Tibbs, a new podcast from NHPR about what we owe our pets and each other.

Listen now, wherever you get your podcasts.

Our last speaker is Amanda Vashon.

Welcome.

Amanda Vashon seems a little nervous.

She's in Concord, New Hampshire's state capital,

and she's about to testify before the State Senate's Health and Human Services Committee.

Amanda opens up a bright yellow folder.

She's got a printed copy of her speech in there.

Good morning, Madam Chair, members of the committee.

This is the first time I've done this, so bear with me.

Amanda Vash.

Amanda starts out by talking about her job.

She works for a community mental health center as a drug court coordinator.

Drug courts are special programs that can be offered to people who are convicted of a crime

and have substance use disorder.

The drug court mandates a participant to engage in long-term substance use treatment,

...