Volunteer of the Month – Michele Wright
Michele Wright is RAPS’ Volunteer of the Month for May!
Michele began volunteering at the RAPS Cat Sanctuary in May 2009. A friend had told her about this “Kitty Club Med” and, while Michele had to work, her husband went to check it out.
“When he got back, he couldn’t stop talking about it,” Michele recalls. “I wasn’t sure about the whole thing. Then when he brought me there one Sunday for a visit, I was blown away! It’s such a great place for the cats and I knew I had to do something to help. I can’t imagine my life without it now. It’s become such a huge part of my life.”
In addition to volunteering hands-on with the cats, Michele’s dedication is most evident to friends of RAPS as the photographer who has captured the faces and personalities of so many RAPS cats, dogs and other animals as a photographer. Her Furry Friends Photography is a pet portrait business, but she has devoted countless hours to photographing RAPS animals. Her photos are the centerpieces of our annual RAPS fundraising calendars and are included in the giant portraits that enliven the walls of the RAPS Animal Hospital. On top of all this, her new book of photography, “Rescued,” features pets from RAPS and other shelters that have been rescued and found their forever homes. Michele donates a portion of each book sold to RAPS, as she does photography sessions for our fundraising events.
“There are so many good memories that I have,” says Michele. “I have loved and lost a lot of cat friends there, but there are always others to give love to. Every one of them has such a unique personality.”
Equally unique is Michele, an irreplaceable volunteer whose love of animals and eye for the perfect shot has given so much to the animals and people of RAPS.
Thanks Michele – and congratulations on being our Volunteer of the Month for May!