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.Ā
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.Ā
The Sky Is Not The Limit
By building long-lasting, trusted relationships with our partners, weāre 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
54 eager little faces boarded our plane today, and flew with us to Minnesota, where bright futures with new homes and loving families await!
#animalrescue #airtransport #adopt #rescue
This morning, 54 pets from Georgia and Alabama put their football rivalries aside and boarded the plane for their flight to a better future is Minnesota ~ thanks to @bissellpets and @cathy_bissell š¶š±š
These southern ladies and gentleman are newly appointed Midwesterners! And looking forward to meeting their new families and learning all about having a safe, happy home.
We wish them all the very best lives!
This is the guy behind the airport reservations, flight logistics, onboarding, crate configuration, offloading, our resident photographer and videographer, and amazing pilotā¦our Director of Flight Operations.
Hereās a little love for Keith! šØš»āāļøāļøš š¾
Nearly 100 pets made their way from Baton Rouge, LA to Binghamton, NY today, earning their wings as well as a second chance at a safe, beautiful life āļø š©·
#adopt #rescue #airtransport #animalrescue #savinglives
Itās a great day when we canāt possibly fit any more cuteness on the planeā¦and with 95 pets onboard today, we arenāt kidding!
Nearly 100 adorable dogs, cats, puppies and kittens left Baton Rouge for New York, where new adoption centers and incredible teams are ready to welcome them home and help them find wonderful families to call their own.
We donāt think these cuties will have a problem with that! š¶š±š
Big thanks to our partners @bissellpets and @cathy_bissell for another amazing day of rescue!
62 animals flew from Houston, TX to Portland, MEā¦in the hopes of find a fresh start and new life, filled with love and a safe place to spend their days.
#rescue #animalrescue #adopt #airtransport
Weāre kicking the week off with a Texas rescue! š¤ š¾ Thanks to @bissellpets and @cathybissell 62 animals have a chance at a new life in Maine.
48 dogs and 14 cats were brought onboard for their freedom flight this morning in Houston. Just looking at these faces, we have no doubt theyāll find safe, loving homes soon.
Itās love and lobster from here on out! ā¤ļøš¦
š· Georgieās passpork is stamped! Heās officially a New Englander. āŗļø
#Rescue #adopt #animalrescue #airtransport
Flying Saves More Lives
We never lose sight of whatās at stake if we donāt 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.
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