Rhino Rescues Helps Furry Friends Find Forever Homes
At Gaston College, we’re always looking for ways to make a positive impact on our community. Recently, a simple idea from one of our instructors has blossomed into a heartwarming success story that has done just that.
It all started with an email. Andrea Gill, one of our dedicated instructors, wanted to spread the word about the amazing animals that our Veterinary Medical Technology students and staff work with. Every week, we partner with Gaston County Animal Care and Enforcement to care for eight animals. Andrea realized these furry friends needed more than temporary care—they needed forever homes.
“In the last spring semester, we had so many amazing animals,” Andrea shared. “I just wished I could let people know what kind of animals could be adopted and thought people would be interested in helping.”
That’s when “Rhino Rescues” was born. Andrea began sending out weekly emails to Gaston College faculty and staff, highlighting one special animal each time. The response has been overwhelming.
“I knew I was sending the emails to faculty and staff, but I thought maybe somebody knows somebody who wants a cat or a dog that we’ve shown,” Andrea explained. Her intuition was spot on. The Gaston College community rallied around these animals, and the results have been nothing short of incredible.
In just a short time, five out of seven featured animals so far have found their forever homes. It’s a success that’s exceeded even Andrea’s wildest expectations. “Somebody asked me what my goals were when we first started and I thought if I could’ve gotten one adoption per semester that would be good,” she said. “I really didn’t know how people would respond to the emails. But I’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback and have had people get interested in seeing more.”
The impact of “Rhino Rescues” goes beyond just finding homes for these animals. It’s bringing our college community together, fostering a sense of compassion, and making a real difference in our local area. “There’s so many animals in the shelter that it’s just nice to get their faces out into the community and have people adopt some of them,” Andrea noted.
Encouraged by this success, Andrea is committed to continuing the program. She’s particularly excited about sharing updates on the adopted animals, giving everyone a chance to see these furry friends thriving in their new homes. “I definitely plan on keeping it going and I would call it a success so far,” she said. “I’m excited. I think it’s going well and I plan on continuing it.”
Initiatives like these embody our College mission to educate and care for people—and, in this case, our furry friends, too!