Meet Michelle Reichler | Attorney & Animal Rescuer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michelle Reichler and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michelle, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
People don’t realize how impactful a reputable animal rescue is to the community. Not only will we often be the difference between life and death for an animal, but we will also provide critical relief to people in the community. Animal owners will spend their last dollar on a pet or stray, so when a rescue steps up, (when that’s possible), they can provide services at an incredibly reduced cost, which might be the reason an owner can keep their pet. Animal rescues might be the reason people can escape dangerous situations in the home. Recently we took in a senior cat from a woman in a very abusive home environment. Her beloved cat was the only thing keeping her from leaving the abuse and she is now safe with peace of mind that her cat is safe with us.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am a probate, guardianship and estate-planning sole practitioner. This area of practice fell into my lap about twelve years ago when I returned to work part time after having my second daughter. I learned the ropes in this completely different area of the law when my boss decided he wanted to wind up his practice. I had a big decision to make: find a new job or make a run of opening my own firm. I decided to run with it and today I have a thriving practice that affords me flexibility to pursue my passions while having a career. None of it has been easy but it’s a pretty niche area of the law, that plenty of other attorneys don’t feel comfortable touching, so it’s where I focus.

I’m proud of my pro bono cases because it makes a huge difference in people’s lives, just by virtue of being an attorney. With very little effort, you can be extremely impactful. I’ve also enjoyed doing pet trusts and seeing the myriad of ways animal issues intersect with the law, in estate planning and in other ways, like housing.

I learned fairly quickly that the single most important thing to your clients is communicating with them and updating them – even when there isn’t much to report. They are just pleased to know they are not forgotten. It’s the single most effective way to keep clients happy. This applies to the rescue world as well.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m an outdoorsy girl, so most likely to the Keys. It’s such a unique place, and there’s nowhere in the world like it. The minute you cross into the Keys, it’s like you are being transported to a tropical island, without ever having to leave the state. I’d probably stay in Playa Largo, a cute resort in Key Largo, hit some of the local bars and spend the days renting a boat and reef -hopping to snorkel. Bahia Honda State Park near Marathon is also fabulous, with lots to see under water, right from the shore. Love the Lazy Lobster restaurant for lunch or dinner – nothing quite screams the Keys more than a giant tiki hut, and Harriet’s Restaurant for breakfast. Key Lime donuts? YES PLEASE!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
So many people! But I’ll limit it to three. I owe all of my rescue knowledge to my co-directors at Saving Sage: Gina Vlasek and Kathy Bieniek. I came to the rescue as merely an impassioned volunteer, but all of the information I needed to take this to the next level, came from these two forces of nature. They had both been in the rescue world for several years before I showed up and were intimately familiar with the ins and outs of rescue, fundraising, medical knowledge, available resources, policies and a million other things. Everything I know came from them and I’m eternally grateful they entrusted me with the responsibility to take my ideas and run with them. We regularly disagree and argue, but at the end of the day, we are family. Not many people have experienced the horrors that we have, so we are forever bonded by failures, frustrations and of course, triumphs.

Also I would not be able to do any of this work if it wasn’t for my husband, Jordan. Rescue is around-the-clock work, with no pay. Even though I have my own law practice and contribute financially to the household, the volunteer work is all-consuming. He embraces my passion, the many pets we’ve acquired, and he joins me whenever I ask for help. This has become such a big part of my life and he patiently accommodates it all. Yes there is plenty of eye rolling involved!

Website: www.savingsagerescue.org

Instagram: @savingsageanimalrescue

Facebook: @savingsageanimalrescuefoundation