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
NATIONAL RESCUE DOG DAY (NRDD) is proudly observed annually on MAY 20 to bring awareness to the countless number of amazing dogs in shelters around the country who deserve a second chance at a forever home.
NRDD was founded in 2018 by Lisa Wiehebrink, children’s book author and Executive Director of Tails That Teach, an organization that helps children learn the kind and responsible care of their pets. Lisa’s inspiration for National Rescue Dog Day came from her beloved rescue dog Cooper, who was rescued as a puppy from a Los Angeles shelter in 2009 after being found in a vacant lot.
“There is something so special about Cooper. He is a gentle giant with a kind soul. His grateful spirit and unconditional love make me believe that he knows he was rescued. It’s for these reasons that I wanted to encourage others to consider adopting a dog from a shelter,” states Lisa.
WE ARE SMITTEN WITH THESE KITTENS! 🧶🐈 All 118 of them! 😍 Was it a biscuit makers conference? Nope. Just a plane full of Texas cats and kittens getting second chances in Pennsylvania ~ thanks to our incredible partners at the @aspca 🧡
There’s a big, beautiful world waiting to be explored and safe, happy homes ahead for these sweet kitties!🐱
MEWOW!
HAPPY FRI-YAY! We are celebrating Friday with a FULL flight of furs! ~ 84 animals flew from Baton Rouge, LA to Michigan and then onto Connecticut this morning, thanks to our friends at @bissellpets and @cathybissell 🐶🐱🩵
These incredible animals are halfway to a home! Now they safely await their new best friends and wonderful families. There’s lots of love in store for these littles and we’re so happy to have been a part of making it happen.
2 flight…147 animals saved! 💪🏼🎉🥳🐾
It was a good week!! 💕
#Rescue #animalrescue #airtransport #adopt #freedomflight
HAPPY FRI-YAY! We are celebrating Friday with a FULL flight of furs! ~ 84 animals flew from Baton Rouge, LA to Michigan and then onto Connecticut this morning, thanks to our friends at @bissellpets and @cathybissell 🐶🐱🩵
These incredible animals are halfway to a home! Now they safely await their new best friends and wonderful families. There’s lots of love in store for these littles and we’re so happy to have been a part of making it happen.
2 flight…147 animals saved! 💪🏼🎉🥳🐾
It was a good week!! 💕
It was a beautiful morning in Louisiana to make some dreams come true for some very deserving animals…34 cats and 29 dogs to be exact!
Thanks to @bissellpets and @cathy_bissell these incredible pets call New Hampshire home! Safe, warm, loving homes await these special little guys. ✈️ 💕
We have a big week of rescue ahead! Our pilots are prepping the plane for 2 full flights, so pack your bags pups and kitties…over 100 animals will receive the VIP TO FREE treatment! 💅🏻💕 We’ll be serving Second Chances with a destination set for “New Adventures” 🐾🦴🐟
STAY TUNED! ✈️
Pilots, heavy lifters, and sometimes models…Keith and Zach do it all! 💅🏻💪🏼👯♂️🐾 - and always with a smile!
As you can see, the guys were hard at work again today, ensuring 56 dogs and cats flew safely from Georgia to Minnesota…and were expertly escorted off their flight and into the hands of a very happy and excited shelter team!
We were thrilled to help our friends at @bissellpets and @cathy_bissell who made sure these animals received a much deserved second chance at a beautiful life. 🩵
Congratulations Jessica Cushing and Rufus, from Indianapolis, IN! We’re so glad you played and we’re sure Rufus’ keen GSP hunting skills helped locate all those eggs! 🥚🔎🐶🏆🥇
We’re happy to have had the opportunity to learn a bit about Jessica and Rufus as well. Rufus was recently adopted by Jessica, who began fostering him several months ago, after the loss of her first GSP, Gunnar.
In 2015, Jessica adopted Gunnar and they lived a big, beautiful life: traveling to PEI, Maine, Virginia, Navy yards, horse shows and football stadiums, he was always by her side. Although he survived mast cell cancer in 2021, early in 2025 he was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma. Thanks to a wonderful team of veterinarians and surgery, chemo, and holistic support, Jessica was given two more months with her best friend. But in April, he gave all he could and she had to let him go.
Those dark, dismal, heartbreaking days that follow always seem impossible and we can’t imagine opening our hearts and home to another, because no dog is them. And no dog ever will be, but…they will be something different and equally wonderful, if given the chance.
Eventually Jessica returned to volunteering at Illinois Shorthair Rescue @ilshorthairrescue and there, she met Rufus. Jessica agreed to foster him. He needed a lot of training, she needed to heal…they both just needed time. But not long ago, they made it official...Rufus had found his forever home, with his favorite person.
Rufus can be found on the farm, in the horse barn, taking long walks and enjoying brunch around Indianapolis. He is a handsome, joyful, rambunctious boy who loves toys, treats and most importantly...his mom.
We love this story and we hope you enjoy all your Race for Life treats, Rufus!!
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.