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 are some of our furry friends from this morning’s flight! 🚨Binghamton, NY…this is your official warning - incoming cuteness! 🚨
#rescue #animalrescue #adopt #airtransport
Another beautiful morning greeted us in Baton Rouge, where we met our shelter friends and 58 adorable, four-legged passengers…49 paws 🐶 and 9 claws 🐱to be exact. Thanks to @bissellpets and @cathy_bissell ~ these animals are on their way to fresh starts in Binghamton, NY!
We know new homes and best friends forever aren’t far behind. 🩷
This morning, 65 precious pups became pawsitively perfect passengers when they flew with us from Mobile, AL to Lancaster, PA today. These adorable dogs and sweet puppies have a second chance at finding a loving home of their very own thanks to our partners at the @aspca 🧡🐾
They’re doing such amazing work for homeless pets and we’re so lucky to be involved in these wonderful rescue efforts. ✈️ ☺️
It was an incredible day for 70 lucky cats and kittens, thanks to the @aspca and their Animal Relocation Program 🧡, which made sure these sweet felines flew first class from Chattanooga, TN, to Brandywine Valley, PA.
There, amazing teams from local adoption centers were waiting to take them in and show them lots of love while they wait to meet their new families. 🐱🩷
We are so lucky to be the first step in their second chances. It’s only blue skies from here! 🩵
It was a busy day at Chattanooga’s Humane Educational Society (HES) as the team prepared 70 cats and kittens for a big adventure tomorrow! 🐱✈️🧳
Thanks to our amazing partners at the @aspca these sweet kitties will be fly first class from Chattanooga, TN to Pennsylvania - where they’ll make their way to safe, accommodating adoption centers in Brandywine Valley.
After that…a loving home! All thanks to the ASPCA and their Animal Relocation Program. 🧡
#rescue #animalrescue #adopt #airtransport #cats
The Pulse, a Chattanooga, TN publication and local arts and culture guide, wrote a great article about tomorrow’s flight with our partners at the @aspca and our Director of Flight Operations, Keith Felter.
“On the morning of Tuesday, July 14, Chattanooga’s Humane Educational Society (HES) will load up 70 cats and kittens into crates and head to the Wilson Air Center, where the animals will begin their journey to
Brandywine Valley SPCA in West Chester, PA.
The flight will be piloted by Hixson resident and retired Air Force veteran Keith Felter of Race For Life Rescue. After landing in Pennsylvania, ASPCA drivers will transport the cats to Brandywine Valley SPCA, where they will be prepared for adoption.”
You can read more here: https://www.chattanoogapulse.com/citylife/news/hes-teams-up-with-local-pilot-to-fly-70-cats-to-their-foreve/
It was beautiful morning in Baton Rouge while we get ready to rescue…see you soon, New England!
#rescue #animalrescue #adopt #airtransport #flight
The Hump Day Hundred…what a great mid-week boost for the soul, flying 103 dogs, cats, puppies and kittens to better tomorrows, starting today! 🐶🐱🩵
Thanks to @bissellpets and @cathy_bissell these animals were flown from Baton Rouge, LA to new adoption centers in NY, CT and NH.
There are bright futures, families and lots of love ahead for these 53 kitties and 50 pups. 🩷
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.