Dear Animal Volunteers,
If you feel like your only two options are “stay & suffer,” or “leave, abandon the animals, & live with guilt” —
I built The Thriving Volunteer as a third option:
You can stay & be supported. You can stay & be well. 🐾
If you’re an animal shelter or rescue volunteer feeling overwhelmed, heartbroken, or like you’re the only one holding it all… this space is for you. 💛
I’ve spent 20+ years in animal welfare, so I understand this work deeply.
And as a grief + breathwork support specialist, I’m here to hold you and introduce you to resources so you can keep showing up for the animals without losing yourself in the process.
The Thriving Volunteer is a support community for animal volunteers who need care - not more pressure.
Inside the membership:
Live Zoom huddles every other Wednesday — guided visualizations, somatic support, and creative grief work. No extra "work" - just show up as you are and be supported.
Guest expert sessions with insights to strengthen the work we do
Tools to process grief, stress, and overwhelm
Ongoing community where people truly understand
YOU GIVE SO MUCH, LET ME GIVE TO YOU
🌻
YOU GIVE SO MUCH, LET ME GIVE TO YOU 🌻
Take care of yourself, so you can keep showing up for the animals.
The animals need us steady and secure, and the volunteer community needs to stop losing its best people to burnout.
We keep running in place if we keep starting over due to poor retention, lack of organization, and no structured support.
Compassion fatigue can be prevented with preparation and open communication, with continued education and a sense of belonging that’s rooted in balance, practical tips for enhanced wellbeing, and shared connection.
You don’t have to be in fight-or-flight to be devoted.
You don’t have to be a martyr to be dedicated.
You don’t have to sacrifice your nervous system to prove you care.
You are not weak for feeling. You’re human. You are alive. You need and deserve support, and the animals need and deserve people who embody a vibe of wellness to remind them of what home felt like.
So they can borrow that bliss while they wait at the shelter or with their foster family to (hopefully) find home again.
I’m Katya
FOUNDER, THE THRIVING VOLUNTEER
LONGTIME dog FOSTER, shelter VOLUNTEER & dog TRAINER
HARVARD-EDUCATED, AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR, “BE YOUR DOG’S BEST FRIEND”
SUPPORTING ANIMALS & THE PEOPLE WHO CARE FOR THEM
I built Thriving Volunteer because volunteers are the heart of this work, and too often, they’re carrying it alone.
I’m here to help animal volunteers stay steady, supported, and resourced… so they can keep showing up for the animals without burning out in the process.
If you’ve ever felt like your choices were “stay and suffer” or “leave and abandon”… there’s a third option. You can stay and be supported amongst a warm, grounding community. You can let the animals inspire your continued evolution, education, and empowerment.
My background includes:
20+ year as an animal advocate and volunteer
Foster to over 75+ foster dogs, focusing on seniors
Masters of Education, Harvard Graduate School | Risk & Prevention with at-risk communities
Trauma-informed, certified in breathwork + creative grief coach
Certified Family Paws educator + positive-reinforcement trainer
Award-winning author, “Be Your Dog’s Best Friend” (2025)
BFA, NYU Tisch | Writer + performer
The Thriving Volunteer Membership
Gently, We Begin
01
Join the Community
If HELPING ANIMALS MATTERS to you, you belong.
Join The Thriving Volunteer community for peer-support, tools-based, doable somatic coaching, and grief guidance.
While others go to brunch or a ball game on the weekend, you’re hosing poop off kennel floors or cleaning litterboxes. You’re our idea of the cool kid, you are our hero, now get over here!
02
Come as
You Are
what an honor to hold space for you - as you arE
A place to practice balance and boundaries, not perfectionism… The Thriving Volunteer is:
*A support system for animal volunteers nationwide who truly understand volunteer culture and share in its guts and glory along with you.
*Full of people who truly love animals and want to keep going sustainably, and who dare trust that by listening to themselves they can better attune to the animals they advocate for.
*A safe community discussion space to collaborate, share wins, mourn losses, and learn from fellow volunteers. To feel not alone in it so we can keep going and growing.
03
Use the Tools
practical resources for recharging, connection & feeling SUPPORTed
As a member of the community, you will gain ongoing support and simple, manageable tools to align your body, mind, grief and joy in real time. You will have access to:
*2 Volunteer Support Circles per month (live on Zoom) - a guided container to show up, be witnessed, share, and leave feeling steadier.
*Monthly Special Guest Experts (live on Zoom) with experienced, helpful, relevant experts in the field.
*Access to A Tiny Tips Library - grounding resets you can use instantly at any time. Even when the work feels like chaos, you will know how to reenergize and center yourself with these custom-designed practices.
TESTIMONIALS
Welcome to my nerdy collection of certifications!
Join the newsletter for a free Tiny Tip from our Membership Community:
3 MINUTES TO GO FROM OVERWHELM TO CALM
Download this exercise and find some relief in your day to day exchanges with animals. If you struggle to feel present, energized, or relaxed around the pets in your life, this tool will give you the guidance you need.