Katie Kottmeyer shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Katie, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
Wake up, immediately regret being awake, take care of my pets, squeeze in a few minutes of work, handle any overnight crises, then haul myself to the gym – regret being there too. Return home, shower, and dive straight into more work. By the time I look up, it’s only 7:30am and I’ve already lived 3 lives.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Katie, founder of Dolly’s Dream Home Rabbit Rescue here in St. Louis and home to the country’s largest bunny specific storefront (yes, that’s a thing).
We’re a foster based rescue with an education team, a transport team, and a rescue team that’s always ready to spring into action when a rabbit is dumped outside.
We run a bunny pet food pantry to help keep rabbits in their homes, and community programs like Bunny Buddies, which is where we bring bunnies to nursing homes, Girl Scout lessons, and more.
Everything we do is about giving rabbits the best life possible – whether that’s through hands on rescue, education, or making sure owners have the resources they need.
And while we take our mission seriously, we also believe in having fun with it. After all, we work for the buns – they’re the real bosses around here.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My middle school orchestra teacher. We used to talk a lot (probably more than she’d prefer, considering I was supposed to be practicing scales).
One day she told me that she knew I could do incredible things if I just had more confidence.
At the time, I was like, “Sure, thanks?” Turns out she was right, though – she saw something in me long before I could see it in myself.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me that if you really want something, you can’t just hope it shows up on your doorstep – you have to fight for it, pour yourself into it, and keep going even when it’s exhausting and unfair.
Success feels good, but it never shows you the grit, stubbornness, or the “I’ll make it happen or I’ll die trying” energy that struggle forces out of you.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What truths are so foundational in your life that you rarely articulate them?
One truth that guides everything we do is quality over quantity. We could rescue more rabbits on paper, but that would mean cutting corners on the care, time, and love each one gets…and that’s not who we are. Every bun we take in deserves the best medical care, socialization, and shot at a happy life. For us, it’s not about how many we save…it’s about how well we save them, then set them up for success.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
Definitely doing what I was born to do and trust me, it’s a pretty niche calling.
Animal rescue isn’t for the faint of heart. If I wasn’t born for this, I’d have had a full on mental breakdown and quit ages ago.
My old 9-5 job? Way easier.
It takes a special kind of person to hold animals during their final moments, walk into hoards, and witness the worst humanity has to offer. Every day is insane, but helping make a difference makes it all worth it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://DollysDreamHome.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dollysdreamhome?igsh=MXkxY2xjem52YnkxNg==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/14L3rfxxhLY/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Image Credits
Katie Kottmeyer
