HOPE HAS WINGS
Race for Life Rescue is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that provides air transportation for animals in life-threatening situations. Not only ensuring they survive, but thrive.
What We Do
To put it simply, we save lives. We rescue animals from overpopulated shelters, areas affected by natural disaster, and relocate those living in unhealthy environments to safe locations where they have a chance to begin a new life and find a loving home.
How We Do It
With a state-of-the-art airplane and team of dedicated pilots, we fly animals in the most gentle, safe, and secure conditions. We make every effort to minimize any stress or anxiety they might experience, because transporting animals by air ensures they reach a safe location as quickly as possible.
Where We Operate
While our headquarters is in Annapolis, MD, our plane resides in Nashville, TN – a prime midwest location that allows us to easily transport animals and fly rescue missions all over the United States, throughout the Caribbean and South America.
Our Mission
“At Race for Life Rescue, we believe every animal deserves a safe, healthy environment where they can flourish. Our goals are to reduce euthanasia by relocating animals to adoption centers that have a greater capacity for care and high adoption rates, provide lifesaving supplies and emergency evacuation for animals during natural disasters, and support underserved communities with the provisions and program needs necessary to their success.”
Jim DeFrancesco, Founder
Facts You Should Know
Nearly 7 million animals enter U.S. shelters each year and over 1 million of them are euthanized.
In 2024, there were 27 natural disasters in the U.S., resulting in losses of over $1B each.
83% of pet owners live in areas impacted by disaster.
There are 22 million pets living in underserved communities.
Race For Life Rescue Numbers
Flights
VOLUNTEERS
ANIMALS SAVED
STATES COVERED
*including Puerto Rico
Be a Champion For The Animals
We’re asking everyone to consider a monthly gift to Race for Life Rescue. Monthly gifts are the best, most effective way for you to help us continue rescuing animals and ensuring they have long, happy lives.
The Sky Is Not The Limit
By building long-lasting, trusted relationships with our partners, we’re able to maximize our missions and expand our rescue territory. If you think we could provide an impact in your mission to save animals and support communities, we want to hear from you!
Featured Flights & Mission Highlights
🇺🇸❤️🪖🎖️
Nearly 4 million dogs are surrendered to shelters every year in the US. 🐾💔
Every day, but especially today, we celebrate the many homeless dogs in our communities, as well as the shelters and teams that work so hard to help them find loving families.
We love and appreciate you all. Today and every day. ❤️
Nearly 4 million dogs are surrendered to shelters every year in the US. 🐾💔
Every day, but especially today, we celebrate the many homeless dogs in our communities, as well as the shelters and teams that work so hard to help them find loving families.
We love and appreciate you all. Today and every day. ❤️
Just a few of the beautiful faces who graced the conveyor belt today 💋💅🏻…a handsome handful among the 93 Louisiana dogs, cats, puppies and kittens we flew today!
Nearly 100 pets have bright new futures ahead of them…and maybe a modeling contract…in Maryland, New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts ❤️
#rescue #animalrescue #airplane #airtransport #adopt #rescuedogs
Just a few of the beautiful faces who graced the conveyor belt today 💋💅🏻…a handsome handful among the 93 Louisiana dogs, cats, puppies and kittens we flew today!
Nearly 100 pets have bright new futures ahead of them…and maybe a modeling contract…in Maryland, New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts ❤️
#rescue #animalrescue #airplane #airtransport #adopt #rescuedogs
Goodness, me…NINETY THREE?!? Yep, 93! 😮🤩
93 Louisiana dogs, cats, puppies and kittens boarded our plane bound for second chances and new lives in Maryland, New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts…whew! 🥳🐾🐶🐱
Thanks to our partners @bissellpets and @cathy_bissell we were able to fill our plane with nearly 100 animals today!! ❤️ - their hard work and dedication to animal rescue, along with the many shelter teams that ensure these pets are healthy and hopeful, is reflected in the impact of our flight today. 👏🏼 Honored to be a part of this team! ✈️🩵
Goodness, me…NINETY THREE?!? Yep, 93! 😮🤩
93 Louisiana dogs, cats, puppies and kittens boarded our plane bound for second chances and new lives in Maryland, New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts…whew! 🥳🐾🐶🐱
Thanks to our partners @bissellpets and @cathy_bissell we were able to fill our plane with nearly 100 animals today!! ❤️ - their hard work and dedication to animal rescue, along with the many shelter teams that ensure these pets are healthy and hopeful, is reflected in the impact of our flight today. 👏🏼 Honored to be a part of this team! ✈️🩵
These adorable pooches are resting easy on the East coast ☀️🐾😎…63 pups flew with us from Mobile, AL to Wilmington, DE thanks to our partners at the @aspca 🧡
Adventure awaits with river walks, beach romps and lots of love with new families and furry friends! 🦴🐶
These adorable pooches are resting easy on the East coast ☀️🐾😎…63 pups flew with us from Mobile, AL to Wilmington, DE thanks to our partners at the @aspca 🧡
Adventure awaits with river walks, beach romps and lots of love with new families and furry friends! 🦴🐶
What’ll it be?….sixty-three, please! 🎟️✈️
63 one way tickets from Mobile, AL to Wilmington, DE for some very lucky dogs, thanks to the @aspca 🧡🐾😎
These pups have bright futures, river strolls, sunny beaches, green fields and new best friends awaiting them in Wilmington!
We were so happy to join our partners on this adventure and fly these deserving dogs to brighter days. ☀️🦴🐶
Then let’s do it again!!
What’ll it be?….sixty-three, please! 🎟️✈️
63 one way tickets from Mobile, AL to Wilmington, DE for some very lucky dogs, thanks to the @aspca 🧡🐾😎
These pups have bright futures, river strolls, sunny beaches, green fields and new best friends awaiting them in Wilmington!
We were so happy to join our partners on this adventure and fly these deserving dogs to brighter days. ☀️🦴🐶
Then let’s do it again!!
There are MILLIONS of shelter pets waiting for loving homes, please consider adopting if/when you’re looking for a new best friend!
Every town has a local shelter close by, and they’re filled with amazing pets. 💕
There are MILLIONS of shelter pets waiting for loving homes, please consider adopting if/when you’re looking for a new best friend!
Every town has a local shelter close by, and they’re filled with amazing pets. 💕
“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds” 🫡…Mother Nature gave us a run for our money this morning in Baton Rouge, where we waited out a little springtime storm before flying 81 animals from Louisiana to New York!
Thanks to @bissellpets @cathy_bissell and the outstanding shelter teams around Baton Rouge, we were able to give nearly 100 pets a second chance at life, love and a healthy future. ✈️ 🐾 ❤️
#adopt #rescue #airtransport
“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds” 🫡…Mother Nature gave us a run for our money this morning in Baton Rouge, where we waited out a little springtime storm before flying 81 animals from Louisiana to New York!
Thanks to @bissellpets @cathy_bissell and the outstanding shelter teams around Baton Rouge, we were able to give nearly 100 pets a second chance at life, love and a healthy future. ✈️ 🐾 ❤️
#adopt #rescue #airtransport
Flying Saves More Lives
We never lose sight of what’s at stake if we don’t complete our mission. We aim to safely transport as many cats and dogs as we can from overcrowded shelters to new adoption partners across the US.
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Get On Board Now
Race For Life Rescue intends to become one the largest animal air transport programs in the country. We are building a passionate team of pilots and animal advocates to increase our animal rescue operation and conduct multiple rescue missions each week.
We need your help. Every donation, each partnership, and all our volunteers are vital in helping us achieve our goal of providing thousands of animals with a new life, in a loving home.
