For over thirty years, Michele has worked in multiple Animal advocacy-related venues including Animal care, welfare and shelters, thoroughbred Horse racing and sport Horse breeding farms, veterinary assistance, and Wildlife rescue and rehabilitation. The past fifteen years, Michele has served as a carer for rescued Elephants in sanctuary. Her work and expertise have also brought her outside the U.S. to work with severely traumatized Elephants in India and South Africa. She approaches Elephant care and understanding through a trauma-informed lens focusing on individuality, well-being, understanding and self-discovery  to help facilitate their healing.

Prior to her work with Elephants, Michele served as a California State Humane Officer investigating criminal Animal cruelty which included active rescues of Animals in distress and crisis. Her responsibilities included monitoring and inspections of treatment of Animals in circuses and rodeos. Having studied psychology and criminal justice and served in the investigation and subsequent prosecution of many cases of violence against Animals, Michele began formal studies in trauma and trauma healing as work as an intern with The Kerulos Center for Nonviolence where she became a member of the Stewardship council in 2009.