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

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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

The Wright Brothers may only be known for their pioneering, but a shared love for their dogs was a vital aspect of who they were.

Wilbur’s dog, a mixed breed named Flyer, was adopted during the summer of 1908 while the Wright brothers were working on their airplane in France. Flyer traveled across Europe with the brothers and is widely believed to have been the first dog to fly in an airplane, although
there is no official record of the event.

Orville’s dog, a Saint Bernard named Scipio, was adopted in 1917 from Nina Dodd’s White Star Kennels in Long Branch, New Jersey for $75. Scipio was adored by Orville, which is made clear by the sheer number of photographs of Scipio, as well as of them together. Upon Orville’s death, one photo was found in his wallet, and it was of his beloved Scipio, who had passed away decades before Orville. No one knows for sure where Orville Wright’s beloved St. Bernard, Scipio, is buried.
But historians speculate that Orville may have had the dog laid to rest in his family plot at Woodland Cemetery in Dayton, Ohio.

So next time you book a flight with your furry friends, know that even the first pilots were not immune to the love of an animal companion!

If you enjoy learning about stories like these, as well as our adventures in animal rescue, help support our work today. Become part of the team and ensure animals in need find second chances.

https://gcld.co/ZL937AY

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The Wright Brothers may only be known for their pioneering, but a shared love for their dogs was a vital aspect of who they were.

Wilbur’s dog, a mixed breed named Flyer, was adopted during the summer of 1908 while the Wright brothers were working on their airplane in France. Flyer traveled across Europe with the brothers and is widely believed to have been the first dog to fly in an airplane, although
there is no official record of the event.

Orville’s dog, a Saint Bernard named Scipio, was adopted in 1917 from Nina Dodd’s White Star Kennels in Long Branch, New Jersey for $75. Scipio was adored by Orville, which is made clear by the sheer number of photographs of Scipio, as well as of them together. Upon Orville’s death, one photo was found in his wallet, and it was of his beloved Scipio, who had passed away decades before Orville. No one knows for sure where Orville Wright’s beloved St. Bernard, Scipio, is buried.
But historians speculate that Orville may have had the dog laid to rest in his family plot at Woodland Cemetery in Dayton, Ohio.

So next time you book a flight with your furry friends, know that even the first pilots were not immune to the love of an animal companion!

If you enjoy learning about stories like these, as well as our adventures in animal rescue, help support our work today. Become part of the team and ensure animals in need find second chances.

https://gcld.co/ZL937AY

Meet Keith Felter!

Keith is our Director of Flight Operations here at Race for Life Rescue. He wanted to be a pilot from a young age, citing that his interest began thanks to his great-uncle, who flew B-17s in World War II. Whenever he visited his great-grandmother’s house, he was always intrigued by a model of a P-51 in the living room that his great-uncle had given to her. Keith also maintains that growing up on a dairy farm made the decision to become a pilot quite easy, as he knew he wanted to do something different.

His most exciting pilot excursion happened long before he joined Race for Life Rescue. During a military training exercise called “Red Flag Alaska,” he was leading a team of four C-130s. Due to poor weather conditions, they ended up having to execute a real-world search and rescue due to an aircraft that crashed in the exercise. “We got to do, like, every tactical thing that a C-130 does in poor weather conditions.”

When he is not flying for Race for Life, Keith is chilling at home with his three dogs and two cats. He met two of the three dogs, Otis and Buddy, through his work here at Race for Life Rescue. The third, Gabriella, was adopted from a shelter in Alabama to be Otis’s playmate, as Keith’s other dog at the time was too old to keep up with him.

Both of Keith’s cats were strays that they adopted. A mother cat and a litter of kittens had been living in the garden of Keith’s family’s house prior to them moving in. Most were taken to a shelter. However, two kittens were missed and were subsequently adopted. Talk about a happy accident!

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Meet Keith Felter!

Keith is our Director of Flight Operations here at Race for Life Rescue. He wanted to be a pilot from a young age, citing that his interest began thanks to his great-uncle, who flew B-17s in World War II. Whenever he visited his great-grandmother’s house, he was always intrigued by a model of a P-51 in the living room that his great-uncle had given to her. Keith also maintains that growing up on a dairy farm made the decision to become a pilot quite easy, as he knew he wanted to do something different.

His most exciting pilot excursion happened long before he joined Race for Life Rescue. During a military training exercise called “Red Flag Alaska,” he was leading a team of four C-130s. Due to poor weather conditions, they ended up having to execute a real-world search and rescue due to an aircraft that crashed in the exercise. “We got to do, like, every tactical thing that a C-130 does in poor weather conditions.”

When he is not flying for Race for Life, Keith is chilling at home with his three dogs and two cats. He met two of the three dogs, Otis and Buddy, through his work here at Race for Life Rescue. The third, Gabriella, was adopted from a shelter in Alabama to be Otis’s playmate, as Keith’s other dog at the time was too old to keep up with him.

Both of Keith’s cats were strays that they adopted. A mother cat and a litter of kittens had been living in the garden of Keith’s family’s house prior to them moving in. Most were taken to a shelter. However, two kittens were missed and were subsequently adopted. Talk about a happy accident!

Another incredible flight in the books! Today, 78 animals were flown to safe shelters with loving teams who are so excited to help them find wonderful families to call their own.

#animalrescue #rescue #airtransport #adopt

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Another incredible flight in the books! Today, 78 animals were flown to safe shelters with loving teams who are so excited to help them find wonderful families to call their own.

#animalrescue #rescue #airtransport #adopt

It was a whopper of a rescue Wednesday! Just the ways we like it. ☺️ This morning, in Baton Rouge, 78 pets met us bright and early to make their fresh start flight to New England!

Thanks to @bissellpets and @cathy_bissell 51 dogs, 26 cats, and 1 pig ~ that’s right, another pig passenger! ~ flew to wonderful shelters in CT, NY, RI and NH today.

We know it’s the first step in finding loving homes and happy lives! 🩵

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Open post by race4liferescue with ID 18118539787901260

It was a whopper of a rescue Wednesday! Just the ways we like it. ☺️ This morning, in Baton Rouge, 78 pets met us bright and early to make their fresh start flight to New England!

Thanks to @bissellpets and @cathy_bissell 51 dogs, 26 cats, and 1 pig ~ that’s right, another pig passenger! ~ flew to wonderful shelters in CT, NY, RI and NH today.

We know it’s the first step in finding loving homes and happy lives! 🩵

As NATIONAL AVIATION DAY approaches (Orville Wright’s birthday 🎂 - August 19th) we decided to celebrate the entire month! So, each Friday in August we’ll feature one of our pilots and some interesting facts about them and their flying careers.

First up, we have our volunteer pilot, Chris Egan! Chris is so great…always energetic, passionate about our purpose, quick to laugh, and just an all-around swell guy. ☺️ We’re lucky to have him! 🩵

Here’s a bit more about Chris.

If you’d like to show your appreciation for flight and the incredible, life-saving work we’re able to do because of it…DONATE TODAY: https://gcld.co/ZL937AY

#aviation #pilots #animalrescue #airtransport

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Open post by race4liferescue with ID 18065036654737138

As NATIONAL AVIATION DAY approaches (Orville Wright’s birthday 🎂 - August 19th) we decided to celebrate the entire month! So, each Friday in August we’ll feature one of our pilots and some interesting facts about them and their flying careers.

First up, we have our volunteer pilot, Chris Egan! Chris is so great…always energetic, passionate about our purpose, quick to laugh, and just an all-around swell guy. ☺️ We’re lucky to have him! 🩵

Here’s a bit more about Chris.

If you’d like to show your appreciation for flight and the incredible, life-saving work we’re able to do because of it…DONATE TODAY: https://gcld.co/ZL937AY

#aviation #pilots #animalrescue #airtransport

Today went to the dogs! And we couldn’t be happier. Thanks to our partners at the @aspca 25 dogs became first class passengers with one way tickets to brighter tomorrows in Minnesota. 🐶🐾

We look forward to hearing all the wonderful adoption stories, because we have no doubt these cuties will have happily ever after ahead of them! 🩷

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Open post by race4liferescue with ID 18111403621795727

Today went to the dogs! And we couldn’t be happier. Thanks to our partners at the @aspca 25 dogs became first class passengers with one way tickets to brighter tomorrows in Minnesota. 🐶🐾

We look forward to hearing all the wonderful adoption stories, because we have no doubt these cuties will have happily ever after ahead of them! 🩷

It was another sweet day in the sky as 63 kittens, puppies, dogs and cats boarded our plane in Baton Rouge this morning. 🩵🩷

Thanks to @bissellpets and @cathy_bissell 32 cats and 31 dogs made their way to Minnesota today…where new beginnings are on the horizon for these adorable animals!

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Open post by race4liferescue with ID 17938326798324672

It was another sweet day in the sky as 63 kittens, puppies, dogs and cats boarded our plane in Baton Rouge this morning. 🩵🩷

Thanks to @bissellpets and @cathy_bissell 32 cats and 31 dogs made their way to Minnesota today…where new beginnings are on the horizon for these adorable animals!

Here are some of our furry friends from this morning’s flight! 🚨Binghamton, NY…this is your official warning - incoming cuteness! 🚨

#rescue #animalrescue #adopt #airtransport

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Open post by race4liferescue with ID 18121967632805417

Here are some of our furry friends from this morning’s flight! 🚨Binghamton, NY…this is your official warning - incoming cuteness! 🚨

#rescue #animalrescue #adopt #airtransport

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

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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.