“If you ever need a helping hand, it is at the end of your arm. As you get older you must remember you have a second hand. The first one is to help yourself. The second hand is to help others.”
-Audrey Hepburn
Kate Goudschaal
Executive Board Member
Furry Friends is thrilled to welcome Kate Goudschaal to its Executive Committee. A passionate advocate for animal welfare, Kate has been volunteering with Furry Friends since 2021 and brings with her a wealth of experience from her work with organizations such as the Humane Society for Southwest Washington—where she served as Director of Marketing and Community Engagement from 2008 to 2012—and DoveLewis, where she was Director of Marketing and Communications from 2012 to 2013.
With more than 15 years of fostering experience, Kate has become a dedicated expert in caring for neonatal kittens. “Fostering is typically a round-the-clock assignment, but it is so very rewarding,” she shared. Some of her most memorable moments come from receiving updates and photos from adoptive families—even years later—showing how well her former foster kittens are thriving in their forever homes.
After moving back to Vancouver from Multnomah County in 2021, Kate discovered Furry Friends practically in her backyard. She was immediately impressed by the organization’s compassionate and thoughtful approach to rescue and care. As one of the few volunteers who take on the demanding task of bottle-feeding newborns—some as young as four days old—Kate plays a vital role in giving these fragile kittens a strong start in life.
Kate documents the journey of her foster kittens on her Instagram account @fosterkittensPNW, where she shares their growth from tiny “furry slugs” to playful “popcorn” kittens, and finally into confident teenage cats ready for adoption. One of the highlights of fostering, she says, is participating in the adoption process and helping to match her kittens with loving homes.
She said some of her most rewarding experiences with Furry Friends, in addition to watching the kitties grow and thrive, are when she receives texts and e-mails from the adoptive parents that she has met as a foster “parent.” Sometimes several years have passed when she receives word that the adopted cats are happy and thriving. “I love it when the adopters take the time to send photos and updates and I get to see my foster kitties all grown up as adult cats,” she said.
Kate and her husband live in the Orchards area of Vancouver. Originally from Arizona, they’ve made the Pacific Northwest their home for the past 15 years. Kate currently works from home as Director of Referral Relations for Ethos Veterinary Health, a subsidiary of National Veterinary Associates—an ideal setup for someone tending to bottle babies throughout the day.
Having volunteered with multiple rescue organizations over the years, Kate brings valuable insight and perspective to Furry Friends. “I’m very happy to lend a hand to such a deserving organization,” she said.