Alexane Ricard is a Vancouver-based Whisker Media pet public relations and digital marketing expert who is passionate about the pet industry and the companion animals that she has encountered. She runs a nonprofit cat rescue in Greece, where she fundraises to get the country’s millions of stray and feral cats spayed or neutered.
Pet Age recently spoke with Ricard to learn more about her life, her tattoos and the many adventures that she’s experienced.
What can you tell us about Saaving Lives and the work that it does?
Saaving Lives is a global TNR (trap-neuter-return) organization making a difference through compassion and collaboration. I founded it in 2022 with my best friend Amber, whom I met in Greece while rescuing cats. We began trapping cats in a small town near Athens, but a few years later, our mission has expanded across continents. We’re currently preparing for our next TNR project in Mexico, with plans to go to Indonesia next. Our approach is both practical and compassionate, focusing on managing stray cat populations while ensuring their well-being.
We never close our eyes when we see an animal in need and that’s how we end up taking in cats like our latest rescue Daisy, who is paralyzed in her back legs. To expand our impact, we’re actively looking for foster homes in various countries to provide safe havens for cats we rescue, and travelers willing to transport traps to the locations where we work. These traps are essential but can be challenging to find in some parts of the world.
At Saaving Lives, we believe in the power of individual action to create global change. Our mission is to “saave” the world one animal at a time. We are committed to making a meaningful difference, no matter how small each step may seem. Through dedication, compassion and community involvement, we’re working to create a better world for street animals everywhere.
When did you get your first tattoo, and how many do you currently have?
My first tattoo has quite the dramatic backstory! At 16, I got it after my 19-year-old cat passed away. She was my absolute soulmate but, as she was getting older, I always said that my life would literally end when she died. Thankfully, I chose getting a tattoo over that extreme alternative, and my parents welcomed that idea in a much better way.
After that, I started collecting tattoos like souvenirs from my travels, but now I just get them for fun because… why not? One of my favorites is a rose tattoo I got with my college besties while slightly intoxicated, and I absolutely hated it. I thought it was way too basic, but when we went to Mexico, we added a sombrero on it, and now I love it!
I’ve got 15 tattoos now, including some DIY ones. I was quite bored during the pandemic and started tattooing myself some silly ones like a smiley face on my thumb. Another one of my tattoos is inspired by a picture of Luky and I, the best dog I’ve ever met while volunteering at a rescue in Bali. I’d have adopted her in a heartbeat if I could have and still think of her every single day.
If you were to be in a reboot of the sitcom Friends, what character would you be?
I’d be Phoebe! I think I’m always the Phoebe of any group, you know, that slightly naive one who sees the best in everyone, super loyal but whose life is a bit all over the place and unserious. I am wearing as many rings as she is, that’s for sure! And let’s state the obvious, we’re both huge animal lovers and vegetarians (though I’ve been vegan for 10 years).
What I really love about Phoebe is how she turned her tough past into something beautiful. She’s been through so much trauma, and when you look at her twin sister Ursula, who went down a totally different path, it shows how Phoebe actively chose to be kind and positive despite everything. Like her, I try to see the positive and to always stand up for what I believe in, whether it’s fighting for animal rights or standing up against discrimination.
How would you describe the difference between European and American social behavior?
I was born and raised in France but now that I’m working extensively with Americans, I’ve noticed a few differences. The biggest one is probably the “Fake it till you make it” mentality in America. I sometimes wonder how companies find genuinely skilled workers when everyone’s overselling their abilities! In Europe, you really must prove yourself first, no faking allowed. There’s also this tendency in America to polish stories and show off, while I think Europeans are a bit more demure. Also, one thing that still confuses me is how Americans often won’t speak their mind directly. They’ll say they love your work or product even if they don’t really mean it, and I find this confusing. I’ve got into some tricky situations too! What I consider friendly, cheerful business behavior sometimes gets interpreted as flirting here, which never happened to me anywhere else.
