Social work student helps keep people and pets together
Emma Bole’s nontraditional practicum placement at an animal sanctuary pairs her love for social work and animals.
When Emma Bole began her online Master of Social Work program at the UNC School of Social Work, she didn’t think her clients would have so much fur … or four legs … or come with a bit of slobber.
But the direct practice student from Jacksonville, Florida, has expanded her social work skills not only with the humans at her practicum placement, but with animal friends as well.
Bole is working with Beautiful Together Animal Sanctuary in Chapel Hill, a nonprofit that rescues animals surrendered by their owners and offers pet surrender prevention for pet owners in crisis. That’s where Bole’s social work background is most needed, especially in a state with one of the highest pet euthanasia rates in the country.
“It’s definitely not a traditional office,” Bole said. “I work with our animal surrender prevention team and, as a no-kill shelter, we probably get 50-100 outreaches a day.” The owners’ reasons include not being able to afford pet food, animal behavioral issues and changes in life circumstances.
“In my role, I help people assess their situation,” Bole said. “It’s a little like case management where I help match them with resources to keep them together with their pet. I connect them with supports to help them take care of their animal the best way they can, especially when they’re going through a temporary crisis.”
Bole, who earned her undergraduate degrees in psychology and gerontology from the University of South Florida, has a background in substance abuse, but wanted to challenge herself with her practicum placement.
“I wanted to do something super creative and different,” Bole said. “I’m confident in my abilities to step into case management or a community health role. A lot of placement opportunities are in those fields, but why not take an opportunity to do something nontraditional? I thought, ‘Let’s go for it.’”
Helping animals and their owners is rewarding, she said.
“I want what’s best for the animal, but I also want what’s best for the person, too,” she said. “That’s where the social work piece comes in. We consider what’s best for the person, as well. It’s been fun building that side of things out for Beautiful Together.”
Bole said learning about the similarities between human welfare and animal welfare has been eye-opening.
“There’s so much overlap,” Bole said. “There are so many parallels that I wasn’t aware of before. These big systems, like financial and housing supports, play big roles in how people are able to care for their pets. Being a direct practice student, I didn’t have a lot of the macro knowledge coming in, but learning more about the social justice aspects of social work has been immensely helpful.”
She loves when she’s able to help people realize they may not have to surrender their pet after all. “When something goes wrong and people have to reach out to us at Beautiful Together, most of the time they just need one person to listen to them and care,” she said. “I get to use my direct practice skills there.”
But Bole’s favorite aspect of the job is helping families connect with the right pet.
“Oh, my gosh, my most rewarding part are the adoptions that are successful,” Bole said. “We want our adoptions to stick and hearing back from families that it was successful is the best thing.”
During the 2025-26 academic year, UNC School of Social Work students completed more than 490 practicum placements, providing 229,427 hours of social work services. Learn more about the school’s practicum program.
