Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Forbis.
Hi Katie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was five years old the first time I saw a wolf. The profile of a grey wolf on the cover of a book caught my eye one day during a class trip to the library. I distinctly remember thinking, “this is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” I was captivated, breathlessly flipping through the book- awestruck at each photograph. That day sparked a flame of passion that was never extinguished. Dimmed, sure, but always an integral part of my core self.
Although I loved wolves, I hated the idea of every career path that could allow me to explore that passion. As a natural creative, the science fields of study were not a good fit for me. Instead, I chose to pursue a Business Marketing degree and explore freelance photography. I thought that meant closing the door to working with wolves forever. It wasn’t until my husband and I rescued our special needs wolfdog, Nymeria, that I realized the door wasn’t closed, it was only a matter of how hard I was willing to work to open it. Through her, I’ve met some of my closest friends and found a viable path towards my passion. Where I used to believe marketing and photography were skills that could never support my dream of working with these animals, I’ve found that they are invaluable skills that will one day support and elevate a nonprofit sanctuary for captive wolves and wolfdogs.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road definitely has not been smooth, but I like to see that as confirmation that I’m on the right course.
The first challenge I encountered was the rescue of my low-content wolfdog, Nymeria. My husband and I adopted her knowing that she had a disease called Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI), which basically means she cannot digest anything on her own. What we didn’t know was that, 30 days after we brought her home and at only two years old, she would be diagnosed with Severe Bilateral Hip Dysplasia. We then had to decide whether we would return her to the rescue, who refused to help us, or raise the money to take care of her. It was hard, but one month later and through strategic marketing efforts, I was able to fundraise enough to give her the medical care she needed.
My latest challenge is centered around patience. Last fall, my husband and I decided that I would seriously pursue advocacy and work with wolfdogs. The caveat? We need to work through our student loans before I dive in full-time. I don’t want to wait, I want to be all in immediately! However, I’ve been able to use this holding period as a chance to continue to hone my skills as a professional marketer and photographer so that I have strong skills to bring to the table down the road. Whenever we travel, if there is someone in the region I can network with in the wolfdog community, I make it a point to offer them free photography in return for the opportunity to learn from them for a few hours.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Right now, my work looks a little untraditional. When it comes to wolfdogs in particular, my main focus is continued education. I spend a lot of time reading, researching, and learning what I can from those that are more knowledgeable than me. My main focus is education, something I’ve been involved with on online forums for a while but have recently expanded to my Instagram account. I would love to one day have an educational rescue facility here in Middle TN, but that’s a long way off… if it’s ever in the cards. (Animal care nonprofits are expensive, y’all!) Right now, I’m doing what I can to educate people where possible, network, and learn!
In the short term, I am taking on a handful of clients in the wolfdog community to do free marketing work to get a more robust understanding of the digital environment with these guys. I would love to get more involved in an exotic/canine community locally to do work if the opportunity were to arise.
What matters most to you? Why?
The animals do, full stop. I don’t care about money or career success, all I want in this world is to help these animals. Wolves and wolfdogs are extremely misunderstood creatures with a dangerous amount of common myths and misconceptions. It breaks my heart to bear witness to some of the situations these animals are put in just because of their breed.
Looking forward, I would love to be an integral player in shifting the messaging around these animals and public perception of them and their wild counterparts. My focus could be defined in three parts:
1. General Education – What wolfdogs are, what they are not and dispelling the popular myths around them.
2. Private Owner Education – What it takes to provide a stable and successful home for wolfdogs and how to accommodate them in a home environment.
3. Rescue, Rehab, and Lifelong Care – Providing a stable and comfortable environment for wolfdogs that need sanctuary placement.
While the third item is on hold, I’m doing everything I can to tackle the first two. My soul is the most full when I’m doing what I’m called to do- and that’s advocating for these animals.
Contact Info:
- Email: MelissaKatieForbis@gmail.com
- Website: http://bit.ly/MelissaKate8
- Instagram: @MelissaKate8
- Twitter: @MelissaKate8
Image Credits
– Melissa Kate Photography – Monty Sloan Photography – Rachel Lauren Photography
