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
Today, 42 dogs and puppies flew with us and enjoyed a picture perfect spring day in the clouds! Thanks to our partners at the @aspca 🧡 these precious pups left Mobile, AL and headed north to Coatesville, PA, where shelter teams welcomed them into safe adoption centers where they’re to find amazing new families and forever friends. 🐶 🐾 🎾
In March, news broke about a hoarding case in California that made headlines around the world. On March 20, 2026, LA County officials executed a massive animal rescue at a Lake Hughes property, seizing an estimated 700 dogs and cats in what is believed to be the largest animal hoarding case in U.S. history.
Recently @bigdogranchrescue reached out to see if we could fly some of these puppies and dogs to their incredible rescue facility in Alabama. It would be a long flight and require lots of planning, but today it happened!
59 dog and puppies boarded the plane in Van Nuys, CA and set off on an epic cross country journey. In an hour or so, they will be greeted by the welcoming committee of Big Dog Ranch Rescue and given the VIP treatment they deserve. The lush grounds and beautiful facilities will be the perfect place for them to recuperate and await adoptive families who can’t wait to give them a loving home.
✈️💕🐾🐶
We’re on our way to the west coast for a special rescue to wrap up the week! STAY TUNED!
Crates Full of Cuteness = Hump Day Happiness 🐾💕
#animalrescue #rescue #adopt #airtransport
Oh, the places you’ll go!…now that all 61 of you pups, puppies, cats and kitties have a second chance and beautiful, long lives ahead. 🩵
And speaking of going, thanks to @bissellpets and @cathy_bissell - these sweet souls have left Baton Rouge behind and are on their way to Connecticut and New Hampshire ✈️🩷 🎉
New England, New Beginnings! 🐶🐱🐾
🐣ONLINE EASTER EGG HUNT🐣 The sunshine is making us feel extra festive, so we’re inviting you to join our Easter egg hunt! Over the last two weeks, we’ve hidden THREE (3) brightly colored eggs in photos among our most recent rescue flight posts.
Find the eggs and send us a screen capture or identify the dates, flight destination and photo number in an email to: info@raceforliferescue.org
All the correctly identified responses will be included in a drawing for a Race for Life Rescue gift basket. We’ll mail the goodies to the lucky winner! 🐰🌷🩷🍭
DEADLINE: Sunday, April 5th @ midnight ⏱️
COME PLAY WITH US!! 🐇
HERE WE GO! 68 animals joined a flight bound for a brighter future this morning!
#adopt #animalrescue #airtransport #rescue
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.