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
*as well as Puerto Rico and the Bahamas
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
Here he is!….CLYDE is #10,000! He is 18 weeks old, a redbone hound mix from Beauregard Parish, Louisiana and chock full of sweet, wiggly, happiness. 🐾🤩😍
We are so grateful he’ll be spending a bit of his new life with the team at @animalleague - they’re absolutely the best and Clyde couldn’t have a better start at a new life anywhere else.
If you’re looking to open your heart and your home to a new four-legged friend, and you live in the Port Washington area, COME MEET CLYDE!! 🐶🩵
We’re glad to have had him along for the ride! ✈️
Thanks to @bissellpets and @cathy_bissell ~ today’s rescue flight is carrying our 10,000th PASSENGER from Baton Rouge, LA to Binghamton and Farmingdale, NY.
In one of these 57 crates of cuteness is our spotlight pup! He will be welcomed by the team at @animalleague when we land in Farmingdale, NY and become one of the lucky temporary residents at their Port Washington shelter while awaiting a happy home of his own.
STAY TUNED!
⭐️ TODAY IS THE DAY! ⭐️ It’s a beautiful morning in Baton Rouge, LA and our pilots are anxious for the arrival of their passengers - because one special pup will be our 10,000TH ANIMAL RESCUED!! 🩵🎉🩷
3 countries, 36 states, 160 flights, 3 years = 10,000 ANIMALS SAVED ✈️ 🐾 💛 🤩 🥳
There was almost too much cuteness to count, but our manifest said 45 absolutely adorable dogs were waiting for us in Mobile, AL...thanks to our friends at the @aspca
These pups flew with us to Wilmington, DE, safe and sound and ready to wait out Winter Storm Fern from the warm beds of their new shelter. With faces like these, it won`t be long before they`re in happy homes with new families and friends 🧡
With 3 incredible flights this week, we creeped EVEN CLOSER to hitting our 10,000 Animals Saved milestone! 🐶🐱🐾🩵 We’re certainly kicking 2026 off right, and if you can help us keep up the momentum…this will be our best year yet!!
Visit raceforliferescue.org to show your support and DONATE TODAY!
Flight two was a super cute crew! 48 dogs and 28 cats left Baton Rouge, LA for New England this morning...with shelter destinations in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine. Thanks to @bissellpets and @cathy_bissell new homes, loving families, warm beds and snuggles watching the snow fall await these lucky ones.
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.
Our Partners
We've Also Worked With...
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.