About – Six Kittens Rescue

Mallori and Jai, the founders of Six Kittens Rescue, spent two years rescuing abandoned and orphaned kittens, ensuring they received the care they so desperately needed. When a friend asked for help with his mom’s kitten situation, they were quick to step in. On the first night, they managed to rescue six out of ten kittens. As they set up a cozy space for the kittens, Mallori and Jai realized they weren’t alone in this mission. It was then that they decided to establish Six Kittens Rescue.

The rescued kittens were affectionately named the Pumpkin Pie Patch, with names like Nutmeg, Pumpkin, Allspice, Clove, Pillsbury, and Pie. Among them, Nutmeg was the smallest and struggled with her weight. Sadly, she wasn’t putting any pressure on her back leg, and after a visit to Bryan Animal Clinic, it was discovered that Nutmeg had a broken femoral head that had been fractured for some time. Although plans were made for an amputation once she grew stronger, Nutmeg passed away unexpectedly due to complications from her injury.

Nutmeg’s story is the heart of Six Kittens Rescue. In her memory, we have included her face in our logo, a constant reminder of why we do what we do.

Dr. Jai Girard, Phd

Executive Director, Co-Founder

Jai (‘09, ’15, ‘24), a proud military kid, has always had a deep love for animals. Her journey brought her from Okinawa, Japan, to Bryan-College Station after being accepted to Texas A&M University. During her time at Texas A&M, she spent four years in the Corps of Cadets and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology. Jai then pursued a Master’s in Youth Development and a PhD in Recreation, Park, and Tourism Science. Jai currently works as the Director of Education and Workforce Development for the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging, and Travel Association developing workforce initiatives for Virginia’s hospitality industry.

Jai is the proud mom of Sake (14), a rescued husky mix, Noodles (16) and Fiyero (17), two senior kitties who came to her later in life. With over a decade of experience in hospitality management, Jai’s business acumen is crucial to the success of our rescue.

Jai’s favorite part of Six Kittens Rescue is helping families find their new best friend!

Dr. Mallori Girard, Phd

Chief Operations Officer, Co-Founder

Mallori (‘20, ‘24) has dedicated her life to improving the lives of those who cannot help themselves. A former college athlete, she initially pursued an animal science degree with dreams of attending veterinary school. While her career path shifted, her passion for helping animals never wavered. With a PhD in Recreation, Park, & Tourism Science, Mallori currently works as a Disability Support Professional and advocate for members of Richmond, Virginia’s IDD community.

Mallori is the proud mom of several rescues: Yoshi (1 year Shiba Inu), Dr. Dill Pickle (6-month American Bully), Cat (13 year old shelter kitty), and Jellyfish, an SKR agent-of-chaos. Her veterinary knowledge, management experience, and compassionate spirit make her an invaluable member of our organization.

Her favorite part of working with Six Kittens Rescue is caring for mama kitties and their babies throughout the nursing process

Dr. Vanna Dickerson, DVM

Team Veterinarian

Vanna, originally from Georgia, began her veterinary career as an assistant in a local general practice for nearly 10 years. After completing her undergraduate studies at the University of North Georgia, she earned her DVM from the University of Georgia, followed by a rotating internship in Washington, DC. She then returned to UGA for a research fellowship and surgical residency, where she developed a passion for soft tissue and feline surgery. Now an assistant professor of small animal soft tissue and minimally invasive surgery at Texas A&M University, Dr. Dickerson also serves as the faculty advisor for the TAMU student chapter of The American Association of Feline Practitioners.

She and her husband, also part of the Texas A&M family, enjoy spending time with their daughter and four cats (including three SKR foster-fails) while exploring Texas together.

Vanna’s favorite part of working with SKR is using her medical expertise to benefit BCS felines and the community.

Jess Mathews

Board Member

Born and raised in the Pineywoods of Deep East Texas, Jessica moved to College Station with her family in 2010. While raising three young children as a stay-at-home mom, she became an active community leader and volunteer. Jessica served as the Staff Appreciation Chair at Rock Prairie PTO and became known as the “Butterfly Lady” for her educational work on monarch butterflies in Brazos County schools. In 2018, she received the Brazos County Keep Brazos Beautiful ‘Emerging Leader Award’ for her efforts.

Jessica’s love for animals led her to volunteer with Six Kittens Rescue, where her family fosters kittens together.

Dr. Amanda Blake, Phd

TNR Team Lead

Amanda (‘15, ‘17, ‘22) is an accomplished Associate Research Scientist at the Texas A&M GI Laboratory, where she focuses on studying various gastrointestinal diseases in companion animals. Her expertise and dedication to advancing veterinary medicine are matched by her passion for animal welfare.

Amanda is the proud mom of two beloved cats (including an SKR foster fail who found a forever home with her), and a number of neighborhood feral cats that she cares for. Beyond her professional work, Amanda is deeply committed to community service. She is an avid volunteer with Aggieland Humane Society’s Spay & Neuter programs and has earned the title of the local “TrapQueen” for her tireless efforts in controlling the feral cat population. Whether it’s through her scientific research or her hands-on involvement in animal rescue, Dr. Blake is dedicated to improving the lives of animals in her community.

Shayne Gregson

Adoption Team Coordinator

Shayne Gregson (’19), a proud Aggie engineer, returned to College Station to be closer to her family, bringing with her a wealth of experience from her farm life upbringing. After moving back to BCS, Shayne dedicated her time to rescuing and fostering dogs from Houston and San Antonio before shifting her focus to supporting her local community.

Shayne’s home is a lively place filled with dogs, cats (including a special SKR alum), fish, and children. She takes great joy in watching her kids grow up with a deep sense of responsibility and care for their pets.

What Shayne cherishes most about SKR is its unwavering commitment to improving the community, both for pets and people, through education

Ella Yurk

Foster Team Coordinator

Ella has been part of the SKR family for over a year, serving on the Adoption Team and more recently supporting the Foster Team. With a degree in Forensic Psychology from Southern New Hampshire University and a current role at Texas A&M, Ella brings compassion, organization, and heart to everything she does. She shares her home with three beloved SKR alumni—Alaska, Andy, and Frankie—and felt called to deepen her involvement when Mal and Jai relocated to Virginia. Now stepping into the role of Foster Coordinator, Ella is committed to continuing the legacy of support and care built by her predecessor, Jess. Her goal is to make fostering as smooth and fulfilling as possible, and she’s always just a message away for questions, concerns, or ideas.