BY KARISSA MILLER

Rescue Ranch, a humane education center in Iredell County, is unique because every animal that comes through the nonprofit’s doors has a forever home at the ranch.

Saved from neglect, hoarding or owner surrender, more than 80 animals — known as Rescue Ranch’s animal ambassadors — permanently reside there.

Rescue Ranch Founder and President Krissie Newman welcomed approximately 120 guests to the organization’s Giving Lunch event on Wednesday afternoon at Twisted Oak in Statesville. She shared her personal journey with the nonprofit’s supporters and those who are interested in learning more.

“I started my journey of rescuing animals when I was young. I would keep animals in my room that my mom and dad didn’t even know about,” she recalled.

“Over time, I got more animals. I had a love and passion for them. It made me realize that this is my journey, and this is what I was meant to do,” she added.

As an adult, Newman met a 13-year-old girl in Virginia at the race track.

“She asked me to help her community by taking in a stray dog. The dog had got pregnant and they had 15 dogs at their house,” Newman said.

They were looking for places to adopt the dogs, but “anytime they would take them somewhere they would get euthanized,” she added.

Newman helped the girl find homes for 11 of the 15 dogs.

“That’s when,” she recalled, “I realized that this was a bigger problem.”

Newman started working with the Humane Society to promote spaying and neutering and to try and get regional clinics open.

“I felt like I was spinning my wheels: What can I do to make a bigger impact in my community?” she said.

While in California, she came across a center that offered adoptions of a variety of rescue animals.

“I decided I was going to come back home and do this in our own backyard. So, the idea of Rescue Ranch was started,” she said. “I had no idea what I was doing with snake or birds … I didn’t know where I was going or what I was doing, but I had fantastic people around me along the way.”

Rescue Ranch, which is located near Statesville, has been serving the community for more than a decade. She asked the organization’s volunteers to stand and be recognized.

The biggest challenge facing the nonprofit is space. Newman has plans for an outdoor classroom and would like to develop other areas on the property for children.

She also shared a short video promoting Rescue Ranch and ways that local groups can become involved through volunteering, donations and annual memberships.

Cayce Blackley and Lynn Bruschi shared why they volunteer at the ranch.

Blackley said she was seeking an opportunity to give back to animals after her rescue dog Reece passed from a series of health issues, including seizures and a brain tumor.

“After she passed, I didn’t know what to do with myself,” she said. “I took the leap and signed up for orientation and conducted my three weeks of training.”

Blackley helps out with the barnyard animals by helping cleans their stalls and feeding them. She has made new friends and said she likes being a part of something bigger than herself.

“If you are considering donating your time through volunteerism, I can attest that is fulfilling and rewarding in more ways than you expect,” Blackley said.

Bruschi said that she finds it relaxing to care for animals.

“If you are having stress and want to have a stress-free morning—come to the ranch. Work with these animals. It’s wonderful,” Bruschi said.

She mentioned that Rescue Ranch offers STEM-based activities for children and provides some great programming for children.

Homeschool student ambassadors Kian, a kindergartner, and Aiden Bannon, a third-grader, attend Rescue Ranch every other Wednesday for class. They like the hands-on experience with animals.

The geckos are Aiden’s favorite. Kian’s prefers the parrots and snakes.

Animal ambassadors attending Wednesday’s lunch included Velvet, a Solomon Island eclectus parrot; Stu, a Leopard gecko; and Bentley, a guinea pig.

Special music was performed by Sydney Lett.

According to Maureen Moore, director of community relations and partnership and development, the goal was to invite members of the community to learn more about Rescue Ranch. She encouraged community members to come for a tour and find a way to plug in to Rescue Ranch’s mission of promoting respect for all animals.

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