Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Melcher.
Hi Rachel, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started volunteering with Harris County Pets in 2016 after seeing a flyer in Petco River Oaks requesting more volunteers for Kitty Committee. The shelter has cats in that store looking for homes and the Kitty Committee is a group of volunteers who takes care of them and their daily needs. Eventually, I started helping the shelter by transporting cats and donations between the shelter and the store. I slowly became the de facto team lead for the volunteers. I started a Facebook page – Cats Around Town – to help the cats find their homes by posting videos and sharing them with the community.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
All in all, it is as smooth as an animal rescue can be. We have overcome personnel changes at the shelter, bouts of ringworm, a large number of cats, or not enough cats at times. Right now, we are facing a volunteer shortage. Our goal is to have enough volunteers to cover about 2 weeks without anyone having to repeat a shift if they don’t want to or if someone is out. Right now, we have 4 or 5 active volunteers and we are struggling with burnout.
We would love to have more people. If you live in the area of Petco River Oaks and would like to sign up, please go to https://www.countypets.com/Volunteer-or-Foster/Volunteer and request to help with Kitty Committee.
As for the independent Facebook Page – Harris County Cats Around Town, the biggest challenge is coming up with something new and creative to say when I video the cats.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My personal line of work is for an investment company. I’ve been there 31 years and do database management and project automation.
My volunteer career has consisted of being a member of Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, a founder of the Wine Committees and culminating as Vice-Chairman for 3 years of the Wine Competition Committee. I retired as a volunteer from Rodeo in 2016.
Looking for a new way to help, I turned to animal rescue where helping those without a voice, strong meows not withstanding, has become my passion. Since I started keeping my own records in 2018, we have adopted out over 450 cats from Petco River Oaks. I’ve built relationships with fosters for Harris County Pets who know and trust that the kittens they have bottle fed tirelessly will be well taken care of in Kitty Committee’s hands and have some exposure on my Facebook Page, Harris County Cats Around Town, to help get them loving homes.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
I can’t say I have one specific childhood memory that is my favorite. It was the overall time and situations that I enjoyed. I grew up before social media and cell phones, in a world where children could go out and play on their own. It made me quite independent and resourceful. Sundays were family days because everything was closed. Kids weren’t pressed into an overscheduled childhood. The joy of playing with my cousins, fishing with my grandparents and time spent with my parents are my favorite memories.
Pricing:
- You can adopt a cat at Petco River Oaks through Harris County Pets for $25. The cat comes already spayed/neutered, micro-chipped and up to date on vaccines.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @hcas.cat
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/HarrisCountyCAT/
- Twitter: @HCCatsAroundTown
Image Credits
Rachel Melcher
