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Writer's pictureKate Johnson

Meet president and CEO Kate Johnson

From caring for kangaroos and lambs as a child to taking over Greys4Pets in her 30s, Kate Johnson has dedicated much of her life to animals.

But there is more to the re-homing organisation’s president and CEO than just care and cuddles.

What was your career background before joining Greys4Pets?

I started building websites and doing graphic design as a teenager as a hobby then I began working for a friend’s software company that was doing RFID (radio-frequency identification) technology research – I would code the ads and do graphic design.

Kate grew up surrounded by animals in Warwick.


I went into healthcare nursing and did sub-acute care for a while but then returned to marketing and events, working for the National Retailer’s Association and hardware organisations. That was sort of a business development role as well.

Now, I am managing Greys4Pets and am about to start a law degree.

I don’t get paid in this role so am also going to do some work at Brisbane Pet Surgery to earn some extra cash.

That’s something people misunderstand – they think I am in a paid position. I am doing this for free and putting my own money into the rescue to pay the bills.

Kate has always cared for animals – big and small.


You’ve also been dealing with health issues?

I have had a very bad run with my health in general.

One condition means I get whole body aches that don’t let up and it can be excruciating.

I also got an injury to my spine.

About three years ago, a big dog got out of my house and was scared and I was running after this dog and tried to rugby tackle it.

I ended up shouldering the ground with my right side and fractured my collar bone and two ribs. But I didn’t know until about a year later that I had also damaged my neck.

Progressively, the pain has been getting worse so I have had three surgeries on my spine and am seeing neurologists and pain specialists to see if I need an implant device that dulls the pain or a disk replacement.

Tell me about your pets!

I have three dogs and three cats,

My 10-year-old Rottweiler X named Jet was the reason I started getting into animal rescue. He is my best friend.

I was in a relationship for about eight years and it was quite emotionally and mentally abusive. When that ended, it was horrible and I was depressed and that’s when Jet came into my life and into that role of partner in crime.

Jet is Kate’s best mate.


I found him advertised for foster. He was covered in scars and had a lot of fear aggression. We bonded but he is still not great with other people so I don’t know how he would have gone somewhere else – he might have gotten into some trouble.

Then there is Kalzetti, a four-year-old Ridgeback x Staffy. I was working for a rescue and she came in with her sister and, out of the two, she was the most frightened.

She was scarred on her head and had obviously been bullied and trodden down so we connected. I fell in love with her. She is aggressive with other dogs because she is frightened so I have to keep her separated, but she gets along well with her brothers.

Then finally Asher, a Staffy x Rottweiler who is three years old but I have had him since he was two days old.

Asher and his brothers and sisters.


There were 10 in the litter and they had no mum. I nursed all 10 until they were old enough to be adopted and they all got homes except him.

My three cats are Spirit, Bentley and Lilly.

Lilly was a stray cat mumma who we birthed here. I raised all her kittens, got them adopted and she ended up living with me. Mum and I do neonatal care so we can do deliveries.

“I have had up to 26 animals at my house at once.”

Aside from my pets, I also often have fosters.

I have had up to 26 animals at my house at once. That was just for a day, as they arrive from transport then people pick them up.

My mum and I constantly have dogs and puppy litters and mumma dogs we have to birth.

When I was a little girl, living in Warwick, we had kangaroos and sheep and goats and lizards – any animals that were injured, the vets gave us to look after.

Mum said I always came home with a cat or a dog from that street that was missing – I always came home with animals.

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