We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kate Ray a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Kate thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

Reflecting on my journey, I realized that pursuing my dreams was a significant risk, but one I was willing to take. From a young age, I felt a deep calling to help animals, regardless of their species, and I’ve always sought opportunities to do so—whether in a zoo, veterinary practice, or emergency medicine.

While I found fulfillment in my job, I felt a lingering emptiness; I ached to make a greater impact on the community around me. My lifelong dream of establishing an animal rescue often felt out of reach, complicated by uncertainty about where to begin.

However, a turning point came when I was involved in a serious accident caused by a drunk driver. This traumatic experience opened my eyes to the fragility of life and reinforced my realization that if I truly wanted to create lasting change, I needed to take the leap and pursue my passion right then and now.

Though the path has been far from easy, the sacrifices I’ve made to get to this point have been worth it, leading me to a life where I can continue to help those who have no voice. When people say you have to pour your blood, sweat, and tears into your dreams, they mean it. I have sacrificed so much to get to this point and I wouldn’t trade this journey for anything. Every day is another day to make a change in this world and help make a difference in an impactful way.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am the founder of Dusty Tails, a nonprofit animal rescue born from a lifelong dream to help animals in need. My vision has always been to create a sanctuary where they can live out their lives without worry as we work tirelessly to find them loving forever homes. However, the path to establishing a rescue isn’t well-defined, and I often found myself second-guessing my abilities due to the lack of resources and guidance.

In 2020, I experienced a turning point when I was involved in a serious accident with a drunk driver, resulting in multiple physical injuries, including a spinal fracture. This life-altering event made me acutely aware of the fragility of life. It prompted deep reflection on how I wanted to be remembered. I realized that my true desire was to create a significant and lasting impact on the lives of animals in our local community.

Many people might be surprised to learn that in South Carolina alone, hundreds of thousands of animals enter shelter systems each year, and tragically, many do not make it out. I see these animals as diamonds in the rough, each deserving the opportunity to shine. My mission became clear: I wanted to be the person who could lend a hand and help them become the best versions of themselves while guiding them to their forever homes.

Taking a leap of faith, I committed to saving at least ten animals in my first year. To my delight, I surpassed that goal within the first month. This motivated me to dig deeper, work harder, and truly make my dream a reality. For the past three years, I have driven to our rural shelter partners weekly, rescuing animals facing euthanasia and bringing them into a safe environment where they receive the medical care they need.

Though I’ve made countless sacrifices along the way, I wouldn’t change a thing. This year, we are in the exciting process of building a ‘doggy paradise’ on two acres of land, a dream I never thought possible. Every day, I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity to change the lives of so many deserving animals, and I remain deeply committed to expanding our efforts to save even more lives in the future

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Looking back, I feel like the entire journey of running Dusty Tails highlights my resilience. We’ve faced countless challenges — from a lack of fosters to limited funding, and always feeling like we’re bursting at the seams with space. But I always say, “Nothing worth doing is easy,” and if things are easy, be thankful. One story that really stands out to me is about a dog named Franklin.

Franklin came to us from a local shelter in Charleston after being dumped by his owner. He was an adorable, beefy, 8-week-old pit bull puppy with a blocky head — but he also had neurological symptoms that set him apart from the other puppies. He wasn’t available for adoption at the time, and if we didn’t step in, he would’ve been euthanized. The shelter just didn’t have the resources to handle his medical needs.

When I met Franklin, I fell in love instantly. He was exactly the kind of dog I have a soft spot for — the underdogs, the ones who need that extra TLC. These are the dogs that often get overlooked because they require so much more work. But I knew right away that we had to help him.

We got him into our vet and then to a specialist for a neurological workup. That’s when we learned Franklin had Cerebellar Hypoplasia, a condition that affected his balance and coordination. Essentially, his brain hadn’t developed fully, and he would always walk in a wobbly, uncoordinated way — like a drunk person. He couldn’t do stairs, had trouble with incontinence, and needed constant care. It was a lot of work. Honestly, it was overwhelming at times.

Franklin lived in my personal care for almost a year. I spent countless hours cleaning up after him and providing him with everything he needed to live a happy life. There were times when I wasn’t sure if we’d ever find him a forever home. But we didn’t give up. We stood by Franklin the way we stand by all our dogs — because they’re our responsibility, even if they don’t have a permanent home yet.

Then, one day, we got an inquiry from an amazing family in Wisconsin who had seen Franklin’s story. They were willing to take him in, and after a lot of coordination, we made it happen. We got Franklin to Wisconsin, and today he’s living the dream life. It was a long and challenging journey with him, but seeing him thrive in his new home made it all worth it.

Franklin’s story is a perfect example of resilience — not just mine, but the resilience of every dog that comes into Dusty Tails. We never give up on them, and we’ll always be there for them, even if it takes longer than we’d like. In the end, Franklin found his forever family, but even if he hadn’t, he would have always had us.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

When I first started Dusty Tails, I knew social media would be key to the rescue’s growth. It’s how we share the stories of our animals and connect with people not just locally, but globally. At the time, though, I wasn’t very tech-savvy, so social media wasn’t exactly my forte. Still, I did my best to share the stories behind our animals and the heart of why we do what we do.

Balancing social media with all the other tasks of running a rescue was challenging. There were days when it felt like there wasn’t enough time in the world to get everything done. But we’ve been fortunate to have some incredible followers who not only attend our events but also reach out to see how they can help.

One of the best things that happened was when I received an email from Eliana, a student at the College of the Canyons, who was eager to get involved. After connecting with her, it quickly became clear that she had a natural talent for social media. About a year ago, she took over our accounts, and since then, our following has literally tripled.

Eliana has been a game-changer. She not only highlights our animals and their stories, but she’s also built partnerships with local businesses, helping us extend our reach even further. With her daily posts and dedication, Eliana has truly changed the lives of so many animals and brought our rescue to a whole new level.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dustytailsanimalrescue.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stories/dustytailsrescue/
• Facebook: Dusty Tails Animal Rescue