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
Our Flight Focus
PET OVERPOPULATION
Overcrowded shelters lead to difficult decisions, and outcomes we are all too familiar with. By working with partners like BISSELL Pet Foundation, we’re turning consequences into second chances. Each week, we transport at least 100 healthy, adoptable pets to safe rescues where they have a new opportunity to flourish and find a loving home.
DISASTER RELIEF
There were 18 weather/climate disaster events throughout the year, with losses exceeding $1 billion each that affected the U.S. A lack of emergency resources and limited co-sheltering options often force families to face an agonizing decision: shelter in place to stay with their animals or evacuate without them. We hope to mitigate these perilous situations by offering critical transportation and supplies.
COMMUNITIES IN CRISIS
People living in underserved communities care about their pets as much as anyone else in the nation. However, in these areas there is extreme inequity in access to veterinary care, spay/neuter providers, as well as other services most Americans take for granted. Our goal is to team with corporations and organizations to provide the necessary services and resources to keep pets healthy and with their families.
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
🥁….FLIGHT #100 IS IN THE BOOKS!
Yesterday, thanks to @bissellpets @cathy_bissell we were able to make our 100th rescue, and we’re happy that it was with the team that took us on our first!
We left Baton Rouge, LA with 74 dogs and cats onboard, bound for amazing shelters in Maine and New Hampshire. Here are some of the sweet pups we had the pleasure of helping begin their new life!
✈️🐾❤️
🥁….FLIGHT #100 IS IN THE BOOKS!
Yesterday, thanks to @bissellpets @cathy_bissell we were able to make our 100th rescue, and we’re happy that it was with the team that took us on our first!
We left Baton Rouge, LA with 74 dogs and cats onboard, bound for amazing shelters in Maine and New Hampshire. Here are some of the sweet pups we had the pleasure of helping begin their new life!
✈️🐾❤️
STOP 5: How could we not go back to the very beginning?? 🐈
On October 3, 2022, as the Florida coast was recovering from Hurricane Ian, @bissellpets reached out to ask if we might be able to fly 40 cats from Naples to Nashville. Those tiny tigers became our first passengers!
Since then, we`ve rescued over 6,200 animals! ❤️🐾✈️
STOP 5: How could we not go back to the very beginning?? 🐈
On October 3, 2022, as the Florida coast was recovering from Hurricane Ian, @bissellpets reached out to ask if we might be able to fly 40 cats from Naples to Nashville. Those tiny tigers became our first passengers!
Since then, we`ve rescued over 6,200 animals! ❤️🐾✈️
STOP 4: “If it fits, it flies!” 🐷🐰🐭
While we usually transport dogs and cats, we’ve found a handful of other furry friends onboard as well!
On September 28, 2023, on our way back from NY, we stopped in Eerie County to pick up one, Penelope Pig. 🐽 She needed a little pick me up to a lovely farm in NC, where there was a lot of mud and loads of love for her.
We’ve also welcomed rabbits, guinea pigs, and chinchillas!
STOP 4: “If it fits, it flies!” 🐷🐰🐭
While we usually transport dogs and cats, we’ve found a handful of other furry friends onboard as well!
On September 28, 2023, on our way back from NY, we stopped in Eerie County to pick up one, Penelope Pig. 🐽 She needed a little pick me up to a lovely farm in NC, where there was a lot of mud and loads of love for her.
We’ve also welcomed rabbits, guinea pigs, and chinchillas!
STOP 3: Anyone in animal rescue will tell you there is nothing we love more than a happy ending. It’s what we want for every animal, and what they deserve. So, when we see amazing glow-ups and happy tails from sad trails, we love to share!
On March 2, 2023, we worked with @bissellpets and @nationalmilldogrescue to bring 70 dogs rescued from commercial breeders in Missouri. When they arrived in Manassas, VA, they were covered in ticks, fleas, skin infections, and had been severely neglected. These dogs were some of the saddest I’ve seen. But in the loving hands and expert care of @lostdogandcatrescue @richmondspca @awlaarlington and @pawfectmatch these dogs were absolutely transformed!
JUST LOOK AT THESE FACES!
The gift of a second chance is an amazing thing. ✈️❤️🐾
STOP 3: Anyone in animal rescue will tell you there is nothing we love more than a happy ending. It’s what we want for every animal, and what they deserve. So, when we see amazing glow-ups and happy tails from sad trails, we love to share!
On March 2, 2023, we worked with @bissellpets and @nationalmilldogrescue to bring 70 dogs rescued from commercial breeders in Missouri. When they arrived in Manassas, VA, they were covered in ticks, fleas, skin infections, and had been severely neglected. These dogs were some of the saddest I’ve seen. But in the loving hands and expert care of @lostdogandcatrescue @richmondspca @awlaarlington and @pawfectmatch these dogs were absolutely transformed!
JUST LOOK AT THESE FACES!
The gift of a second chance is an amazing thing. ✈️❤️🐾
STOP 2: On April 5, 2024, we flew 74 pups and puppies from Baton Rouge, LA to Binghamton, NY. Our pilots see a lot of sweet faces (work perk!), but every once in a while, there’s one that looks you in the eyes and goes straight to your heart.
That was just such a day for Keith. A little border collie was lying patiently in his crate when Keith snapped a photo for our social media pages, in fact, he took lots of photos that morning…but he kept coming back to that one.
He sent the pic to his family in Tennessee and by the time they landed in New York, he was making plans to bring that little black and white pup back home with him.
It was quite the adventure for Buddy that day, but he quickly settled in for the ride home and had an equally enthusiastic brother, Otis, waiting to meet him. Otis was adopted from Baton Rouge as well, from another fateful flight. ☺️
We hear no ball is safe around those two! ❤️🐾
STOP 2: On April 5, 2024, we flew 74 pups and puppies from Baton Rouge, LA to Binghamton, NY. Our pilots see a lot of sweet faces (work perk!), but every once in a while, there’s one that looks you in the eyes and goes straight to your heart.
That was just such a day for Keith. A little border collie was lying patiently in his crate when Keith snapped a photo for our social media pages, in fact, he took lots of photos that morning…but he kept coming back to that one.
He sent the pic to his family in Tennessee and by the time they landed in New York, he was making plans to bring that little black and white pup back home with him.
It was quite the adventure for Buddy that day, but he quickly settled in for the ride home and had an equally enthusiastic brother, Otis, waiting to meet him. Otis was adopted from Baton Rouge as well, from another fateful flight. ☺️
We hear no ball is safe around those two! ❤️🐾
STOP 1 on our Flightseeing Tour down Memory Lane: On Dec 15, 2023, we made our first cross country flight from NY > KY > CA. @straydogsupport reached out in need of help to bring 3 special needs pups from Iraq to their new homes in sunny CA.
And it just so happened their new homes were just down the road from @pricelesspetrescue an amazing shelter team who had agreed to take a plane full of dogs from @kentucky_river_regional_animal - but they had no way to get them there. We would be flying over Hazard, KY on our way to Chino Hills and needed to overnight our 3 Iraq pups, so when we took off the next morning, there were a handful of hounds with us!
It was truly a Christmas miracle and a trip we won’t soon forget! ✈️🐾❤️
STOP 1 on our Flightseeing Tour down Memory Lane: On Dec 15, 2023, we made our first cross country flight from NY > KY > CA. @straydogsupport reached out in need of help to bring 3 special needs pups from Iraq to their new homes in sunny CA.
And it just so happened their new homes were just down the road from @pricelesspetrescue an amazing shelter team who had agreed to take a plane full of dogs from @kentucky_river_regional_animal - but they had no way to get them there. We would be flying over Hazard, KY on our way to Chino Hills and needed to overnight our 3 Iraq pups, so when we took off the next morning, there were a handful of hounds with us!
It was truly a Christmas miracle and a trip we won’t soon forget! ✈️🐾❤️
Hi Friends! 👋🏽 Remember us?! ✈️🐾 Folks who have been here a while know we’re usually pretty quiet at the beginning of the year, but for the newer crew; it’s annual maintenance and inspection time, pilot training, and good ol’ Mother Nature often pops in and grounds us for a little longer than we’d like. Although she keeps us on our toes, off our feet and in the air is what we do best!
So, this week we’re returning to the air and it happens to mark another big milestone for us…IT’S OUR 100th FLIGHT!!! 🎉🎈🥳
While we’re loading the plane and getting ready to take off with these extra special passengers today, we thought we’d take a look back at a handful of our most memorable flights…..🎥🎞️
Hi Friends! 👋🏽 Remember us?! ✈️🐾 Folks who have been here a while know we’re usually pretty quiet at the beginning of the year, but for the newer crew; it’s annual maintenance and inspection time, pilot training, and good ol’ Mother Nature often pops in and grounds us for a little longer than we’d like. Although she keeps us on our toes, off our feet and in the air is what we do best!
So, this week we’re returning to the air and it happens to mark another big milestone for us…IT’S OUR 100th FLIGHT!!! 🎉🎈🥳
While we’re loading the plane and getting ready to take off with these extra special passengers today, we thought we’d take a look back at a handful of our most memorable flights…..🎥🎞️
As another year winds down, it’s a good time to reflect on what we’ve accomplished, be thankful for how far we’ve come, and proudly share where we’re going in 2025.
In January, we promised a year chock-full of ambitious rescue goals and far-reaching objectives, which we strived to reach with each passing week. And we are so very proud to say that this year has been everything we hoped for and more...we have squeezed so much incredible work into these past 12 months.
With that being said, we are beyond excited to announce our new partnership ~ with the @aspca
🧡🧡🧡 🐶🐱✈️ 🧡🧡🧡
Over the last several months, we’ve been talking with the amazing ASPCA team, discussing how we might work together to save more lives through air transportation and much needed relocation for dogs and cats in overwhelmed shelters.
On Tuesday, November 19th, we flew to Hattiesburg, MS, where 46 dogs were waiting to board our plane bound for Coatesville, PA. Since that day, we’ve flown a total of four missions from Mississippi to Pennsylvania, transporting 112 dogs and 67 cats, nearly 200 animals, to a fresh start in a safe place, where we hope they’ll be able to live long, healthy lives.
We’re looking forward to making many more flights with the ASPCA! It’s an honor to be their partner and share in the outstanding work their organization does for animals across the country.
#ahomefortheholidays #aspca #animalrescue #adopt
As another year winds down, it’s a good time to reflect on what we’ve accomplished, be thankful for how far we’ve come, and proudly share where we’re going in 2025.
In January, we promised a year chock-full of ambitious rescue goals and far-reaching objectives, which we strived to reach with each passing week. And we are so very proud to say that this year has been everything we hoped for and more...we have squeezed so much incredible work into these past 12 months.
With that being said, we are beyond excited to announce our new partnership ~ with the @aspca
🧡🧡🧡 🐶🐱✈️ 🧡🧡🧡
Over the last several months, we’ve been talking with the amazing ASPCA team, discussing how we might work together to save more lives through air transportation and much needed relocation for dogs and cats in overwhelmed shelters.
On Tuesday, November 19th, we flew to Hattiesburg, MS, where 46 dogs were waiting to board our plane bound for Coatesville, PA. Since that day, we’ve flown a total of four missions from Mississippi to Pennsylvania, transporting 112 dogs and 67 cats, nearly 200 animals, to a fresh start in a safe place, where we hope they’ll be able to live long, healthy lives.
We’re looking forward to making many more flights with the ASPCA! It’s an honor to be their partner and share in the outstanding work their organization does for animals across the country.
#ahomefortheholidays #aspca #animalrescue #adopt
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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Our Partners
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.
