We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Katie Kottmeyer. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Katie below.

Katie, appreciate you joining us today. How do you think about vacations as a business owner? Do you take them and if so, how? If you don’t, why not?

As one of the largest nonprofit rabbit rescues in the country, it’s impossible to take a vacation.

We run 100% volunteer operated so that all the money benefits the bunnies which means everyone has full time jobs and I myself often work 120 hour weeks.

Our team never intended to do more than help just a couple bunnies but the need in our area – and frankly all of them – is so great that we have well over 100 bunnies on our waitlist at all times.

Between community education programs, foster courses, scheduling, arraigning vet transports, setting up rescues, catching dumped bunnies, taking care of the 75+ bunnies in our care, coordinating foster homes, working to open a storefront, and more, taking a vacation would be a waste of time.

Katie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

We are a nonprofit rabbit rescue who went from just a 20 year old college graduate to one of the largest programs in the country in less than 2 years.

Below is a little post we wrote for something else so you can edit it as you need.

Something MINDBLOWING to us is that since the start of the year we’ve had 226 adoptions.

You read that right. Two HUNDRED and thirty just at the time of writing this.

Every single animal that comes to Dolly’s Dream Home is examined by our veterinary team, spayed/neutered, vaccinated against RHDV2, and microchipped. They’re considered exotics, so with proper vet care and supplies, we lose about $280 per bunny…even with the adoption fee.

Our fosters work to socialize and litter train each bunny. A perk of the foster system is that the bunnies are literally family, which makes their integration into a forever home much easier. It also allows foster families to get to know their bunnies and learn exactly what kind of environment they’d thrive in.

Every single one of those 230 adopters took our free virtual education course, had their setup approved, and more. Our buns forever families are also given our personal contacts to ask any questions or share updates as often as needed. Once part of Dolly’s, always part of Dolly’s.

Without our exceptional team of fosters, educators, transporters, rescuers, coordinators, and more, we wouldn’t be nearly the organization we are today.

This is teamwork. This is Dolly’s.

Also people can learn more about us primarily on Facebook or at DollysDreamHome.org

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

Community education.

People love to learn and they love to support groups doing positive work within the communities.

We have programs such as Bunny Buddies (taking buns to visit residents at local nursing homes), a free virtual education course that many other rescues now use for their programs, and have grooming days amongst other things.

Community programs are an easy and free way to get your name out into the public.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

Partnerships.

Partner with other small businesses and anyone in your sector. If they’re also trying to grow then they’ll want your help just as much as you want theirs.

Contact Info:

• Website: DollysDreamHome.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dollysdreamhome/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/DollysDreamHome/

Image Credits
Katie Kottmeyer