Rob’s Rescues Inc is a non-profit Section 501(3)(c) company that advocates for shelter animals and wildlife, educates the community on how to help animals and supports wildlife rehabbers and non-profit organizations involved in rescue, rehabilitation and conservation.
The organization was started in 2014 when the then 8 year old Rob Macmillan was a frequent visitor to the Cherokee County Animal Shelter in Canton, GA. Since the age of 6 years old Rob had been reading to dogs and cats in the shelter as reading aloud was effective speech therapy. In 2014 he asked what else he could do to help the dogs and cats in the shelter. His mom suggested he send an email to Candi Hannigan, the then editor of Aroundabout Local Media that published a monthly community magazine in Canton and other surrounding cities. It was a great surprise when Candi actually responded to the email and expressed interest in this idea.
From 2014 to 2024 Rob visited shelters and published a monthly article in five Aroundabout Local Media magazines talking about a dog and cat available for adoption. The article grew over time to include in-person, monthly interviews with a vast amount of people involved in rescue, wildlife rehabilitation and conservation.
Rob was also filmed by Dreampost Films for the Dr. Good Unleashed video series.
Rob has also collected a massive amount of pet food for people in need in the community through outreach projects and donations. He has also talked in classrooms, boy scout meetings and been a guest speaker, as well as a guest on two podcasts. He was awarded The President’s Volunteer Service Award in 2017, signed by President Donald J Trump. He has a YouTube video on the website that can be shown in classrooms to educate children on how to help shelter animals.
I am inspired by Rob's dedication to learning about and helping animals in need. Rob shines a light on how to help animals. It is clear that Rob has a passion for creatures great and small.
Crystal Mandica of The Amphibian Foundation
Rob and Ms. Lori Kekel, Operations Manager of Cherokee County Animal Shelter
Rob is often asked how he started his mission:
When I was about 6 years old I would go to the shelter and read to dogs and cats. When I got a little older I asked my mom what else we could do for the dogs and cats in the shelter. When I was 8 years old my mom suggested I write to the editor of a local magazine and ask if I could have some space to write about a dog and a cat in the shelter and hopefully help to get it adopted. The editor, Ms. Candi Hannigan, said yes! I now have a full page column in 4 local magazines. As well as writing about a dog and a cat needing homes I interview people and the interviews go into my column too. My very first interview was with Dr. Good who started the Homeless Pets Foundation. One of my favorites was with Sheriff Butch Conway of Gwinnett County who started the Jail Dogs Program. I had a tour around the jail with him and shot hoops int he jail basketball court.
