Kate H.

Kate was a zookeeper for 18 years but she was disabled from the work with hand and wrist issues. She started her second career at a Veteran organization where she worked with shelter dogs and Veterans. She continued to grow in this position and found herself in management and no longer working directly with animals. She missed this piece of her life tremendously. One night while driving home, Kate passed a wet lump in the road. In her rear view mirror she saw the flash of eyes and thought, dead animal eyes do not flash in reflected light like that. She turned around and found a wet, cold, tick covered raccoon baby trying to creep across the road. She searched for a mother, siblings, anything, but with no success. She gathered him up in a blanket, drove home, then proceeded to call rehabilitators. Everyone was full and many she spoke to could tell Kate had some animal background. She heard from more than one that she needed to get her license because they could use the help. This started Kate's journey and she has been caring for injured and orphaned wildlife babies ever since.