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
*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
In spite of a handful of storms making for a little detour or two last week, we still managed to save 283 LIVES IN JUST 4 DAYS!! 🐶🐱
From Baton Rouge,LA to across New England and back again…we put the pets first and kept on pace to make sure they all received the second chance they so deserve. ❤️
A huge thank you to our amazing pilots, who made sure they each arrived safe and sound and ready to start their new lives. And to all our partners, shelter teams and incredible volunteers who put in the long hours and weekends to make these life saving journeys possible! 💛✈️🐾
WHAT A WEEK!!! 🎉🏆🥂⭐️
In spite of a handful of storms making for a little detour or two last week, we still managed to save 283 LIVES IN JUST 4 DAYS!! 🐶🐱
From Baton Rouge,LA to across New England and back again…we put the pets first and kept on pace to make sure they all received the second chance they so deserve. ❤️
A huge thank you to our amazing pilots, who made sure they each arrived safe and sound and ready to start their new lives. And to all our partners, shelter teams and incredible volunteers who put in the long hours and weekends to make these life saving journeys possible! 💛✈️🐾
WHAT A WEEK!!! 🎉🏆🥂⭐️
72 pups are on their way “home”…❤️✈️
#airtransport #animalrescue #adopt #savinglives #fly #shelterdog
72 pups are on their way “home”…❤️✈️
#airtransport #animalrescue #adopt #savinglives #fly #shelterdog
WE’RE ON A RESCUE ROLL!! ✈️🐾💪🏼
Yesterday we joined our @aspca partners in Alabama where 72 dogs and puppies were anxiously waiting to board the plane and begin their new lives in Pennsylvania.
A big thanks to all the shelter teams who came together on a beautiful Saturday morning to make sure these pups were able to make the journey and to those who welcomed them to their new home.
We hope you’re enjoying a Sunday Funday with these sweet ones! ☀️🥏🐶
WE’RE ON A RESCUE ROLL!! ✈️🐾💪🏼
Yesterday we joined our @aspca partners in Alabama where 72 dogs and puppies were anxiously waiting to board the plane and begin their new lives in Pennsylvania.
A big thanks to all the shelter teams who came together on a beautiful Saturday morning to make sure these pups were able to make the journey and to those who welcomed them to their new home.
We hope you’re enjoying a Sunday Funday with these sweet ones! ☀️🥏🐶
🕺🏼🪩💃🏼🐾
Conveyor belts, or electric slides…in any case, welcome to our party ride! ✈️
After a super busy week of rescue that took us from the Deep South to the heart of New England and back again, we decided to celebrate…by flying 68 MORE PETS TO A FRESH START!!! 🐈⬛🐕🎉🥳🤩🐾🩷
What better way to wrap up the week?!?
Plus, we love working with our partners at @bissellpets and @cathy_bissell so we didn’t hesitate to head to Alabama today to meet them, along with all these adorable faces. They’re so cute they managed to coax out the sun! 💛☀️
And it’ll be bright skies from here on out, with new lives and amazing friends awaiting them in Wisconsin! (And maybe a cheese curd or two?! 👌🏼🧀)
HAPPY FRIYAY!!!!
After a super busy week of rescue that took us from the Deep South to the heart of New England and back again, we decided to celebrate…by flying 68 MORE PETS TO A FRESH START!!! 🐈⬛🐕🎉🥳🤩🐾🩷
What better way to wrap up the week?!?
Plus, we love working with our partners at @bissellpets and @cathy_bissell so we didn’t hesitate to head to Alabama today to meet them, along with all these adorable faces. They’re so cute they managed to coax out the sun! 💛☀️
And it’ll be bright skies from here on out, with new lives and amazing friends awaiting them in Wisconsin! (And maybe a cheese curd or two?! 👌🏼🧀)
HAPPY FRIYAY!!!!
KITTIES & PITTIES ARE ON THEIR WAY TO NEW CITIES! 🐾✈️🐕🐈…this morning 86 new passengers were waiting to board in Baton Rouge, thanks to the amazing work of @bissellpets @cathy_bissell and the tireless shelter teams who made these incredible flights happen, rescuing nearly 150 animals in 2 days!
Manchester, NH and Portland, ME…there’s a plane full of cuteness coming your way!
KITTIES & PITTIES ARE ON THEIR WAY TO NEW CITIES! 🐾✈️🐕🐈…this morning 86 new passengers were waiting to board in Baton Rouge, thanks to the amazing work of @bissellpets @cathy_bissell and the tireless shelter teams who made these incredible flights happen, rescuing nearly 150 animals in 2 days!
Manchester, NH and Portland, ME…there’s a plane full of cuteness coming your way!
The perfect Kitten Kit! 🧡🖤🩶🤍 Collect all Four! This amazing offer won’t last long. Don’t miss out! 😻
#rescue #animalrescue #adopt #kitten #cats #airtransport
The perfect Kitten Kit! 🧡🖤🩶🤍 Collect all Four! This amazing offer won’t last long. Don’t miss out! 😻
#rescue #animalrescue #adopt #kitten #cats #airtransport
Fancy Feast Your Eyes on These Flying Felines! 😻❤️ 🐈🐈⬛
This morning we joined @bissellpets @cathy_bissell for the first of two back to back flights from Baton Rouge to New England.
Nothing kicks off a week of rescue like a plane full of paws, claws, whiskers and lots of wags! ✈️…
57 particularly precious pets and purrfect passengers are on our plane and on their way to Bradley, CT.
There’s no better time for a fresh start than springtime! 🌱☀️🧡
Fancy Feast Your Eyes on These Flying Felines! 😻❤️ 🐈🐈⬛
This morning we joined @bissellpets @cathy_bissell for the first of two back to back flights from Baton Rouge to New England.
Nothing kicks off a week of rescue like a plane full of paws, claws, whiskers and lots of wags! ✈️…
57 particularly precious pets and purrfect passengers are on our plane and on their way to Bradley, CT.
There’s no better time for a fresh start than springtime! 🌱☀️🧡
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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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.
