N.C. Non-Profit Animal Rescue

Give a Freedom Ride

In the rescue world, a “Freedom Ride” is that magical car ride out of an animal shelter for a dog. At first they are nervous, but there is a moment when they realize they are safe …. tongue out, tail wagging, a new chapter for them.

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About Us

About Our N.C. Rescue

We are proud to be the crazy dog lovers who skip out on work to transport dogs from all over the state to their excited fosters’ homes; who stay up late searching shelter pages for that next “Freedom Ride” potential; who spend countless hours making rescue a reality!

Freedom Ride Rescue brings together individuals who share a love for dogs and a dream to see a no-kill state. Our foster-based network is in the Raleigh/Clayton, NC, area. We bring in dogs of all ages, sizes and breed mixes. We help to rehabilitate these animals – providing security, love, medical, and behavioral training as needed – until they can be adopted to their “fur-ever” homes.

We are foster based: we have no facility and every one of our adoptable (and not quite ready to be adopted) animals are in homes where families are teaching trust, love, basic manners …. preparing your future dog ready to be the best addition to your family that he can be!

As fosters, we are willing to have our heart break after we love, rehabilitate and nurse an unwanted, unloved animal until they prance away with their fur-ever person – often never looking back – as they start their most life’s wonderful chapter: the one as a cherished pet.

So join our road to making freedom rides happen! We are a wonderful, tight-knit family needing volunteers, fosters, donors – basically caring people willing to help in any way they can!

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Stay up to date with current adoptable dogs, available fosters, events and more.

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🍠🐾 Our Sweet Potatoes are ready to roll into Smithfield! 🐾🍠

We're loading up the troops and taking a mini-road trip over to Smithfield to spend the day at the Ham & Yam Festival this Saturday from 9–6! Come soak up the sunshine, enjoy the festivities, and meet some seriously adorable adoptable pups 💛

Whether you’re looking for some weekend family fun, looking to adopt, or just need a little puppy love in your day, we’ve got you covered.

📍 200 S Front St, Smithfield
🗓 Saturday, May 2nd
⏰ 9am–6pm

Come find your perfect match…or at least your favorite sweet potato 😉
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Huge thank you to our friends at Tap Yard for inviting us back out for another amazing event! 🍻🐾 We absolutely love bringing our adoptable pups to hang out, soak up the good vibes, and meet all of you.

Shoutout to our incredible volunteers who make these events possible—you are the heart behind it all 💛 And to everyone who came out to support, snuggle some pups, and learn about adoption…we’re so grateful for you!

We can’t wait to do it again soon 🐶✨
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Low-key, lovable, and living his best cozy life—Hugo is the ultimate chill companion. This handsome pug mix is all about quiet vibes, soft spots to nap, and the occasional plushy toy (or pillow 😄).

His one true weakness? Belly rubs. Give him those, and you’ve got a best friend for life.

If your home is more slow mornings and peaceful evenings, Hugo is ready to be your perfect match 💛

Apply on our website: www.freedom-ride.org/for-adoption
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Browse our dogs in foster care and available for adoption!

🍠🐾 Our Sweet Potatoes are ready to roll into Smithfield! 🐾🍠

We're loading up the troops and taking a mini-road trip over to Smithfield to spend the day at the Ham & Yam Festival this Saturday from 9–6! Come soak up the sunshine, enjoy the festivities, and meet some seriously adorable adoptable pups 💛

Whether you’re looking for some weekend family fun, looking to adopt, or just need a little puppy love in your day, we’ve got you covered.

📍 200 S Front St, Smithfield
🗓 Saturday, May 2nd
⏰ 9am–6pm

Come find your perfect match…or at least your favorite sweet potato 😉
Low-key, lovable, and living his best cozy life—Hugo is the ultimate chill companion. This handsome pug mix is all about quiet vibes, soft spots to nap, and the occasional plushy toy (or pillow 😄).

His one true weakness? Belly rubs. Give him those, and you’ve got a best friend for life.

If your home is more slow mornings and peaceful evenings, Hugo is ready to be your perfect match 💛

Apply on our website: www.freedom-ride.org/for-adoption
MAY DAY! MAY DAY! We need fosters ....

If you are within an hour from the Triangle (where are vets and events are), please email adopt@freedom-ride.org if you are interested in any of these dogs!! If you have upcoming travel, please apply to foster at freedom-ride.org/fostering but wait until you will be in town - we ALWAYS need help but don't want to bounce new dogs between homes!
Meet Mrs. Brisby—a gentle, tender-hearted senior with a quiet kind of magic. Like her namesake, she’s soft, brave, and full of love just waiting to be discovered 

She may be a bit unsure at first, but give her a little patience and kindness, and she’ll melt right into you. Once she feels safe, Mrs. Brisby becomes a sweet snuggle bug who loves cozy companionship and peaceful moments by your side.

She enjoys the company of other dogs (and even cats!), and has a soft spot for squeaky balls—though she prefers to keep her prized possessions all to herself 😉

Mrs. Brisby is looking for a calm, loving home where she can feel safe, cherished, and finally at ease. If you know that senior dogs are something truly special… she just might be your perfect match 🐶💕

Read more about her and apply to meet her here: www.freedom-ride.org/for-adoption
Help Alpine and other Freedom Ride dogs continue to get transport with Alpine's "Gas Fundraiser"! If you can make a donation or send us gas station gift card (GC), we can offer support to the incredible fleet of volunteers who do the freedom rides from county shelters to our dedicated fosters ... 

We are grateful to Chris who got Alpine safely to us today! He will be available for adoption after some decompression time (Alpine, not Chris!)

#pawitforward #gaspricesaretoohigh #freedomriderescue
🐾 FRR Alum Cinder (FKA Raven) is right where she belongs, and her family couldn’t be a better fit! 

💞 😄 Cinder loves cuddling her brother Moose—like, really loves it. Moose has learned to live with being her emotional support dog and frequent pillow. While he’s not the biggest fan of being laid on, he takes it in stride… and occasionally gets his revenge by sitting on her in the passenger seat of the car.

🚗 Cinder has definitely claimed shotgun as her spot. No matter what, she’s just happy to be along for the ride—and that’s what matters most!

⚾ She recently attended her second Bark in the Park event and is officially a Durham Bulls fan… but an even bigger fan of those $1 hot dogs! 🌭

🍂 From zoomies through piles of leaves in the fall to frolicking in the snow with Moose, Cinder fully embraces every season with joy and energy.

🌙 At home, you’ll usually find her sleeping upside down—just one of her many adorable quirks.

🌲 Umstead Park is one of her favorite places to explore, complete with scenic walks and the occasional photo op (and treat, of course!).

❤️ Her mom, Avery, is so grateful for Freedom Ride Rescue and everything they did for Cinder—and for all the amazing work they continue to do for other dogs in need.

👀 We absolutely love hearing about how our alumni are doing! Want to see your alum featured? Share their photos and stories on our alumni page—you could be our next spotlight!
Meet Razz—a little goofball with a BIG personality and an even bigger zest for life 💛

This playful pup is the perfect mix of independent explorer and fun-loving sidekick. He’s happy to entertain himself with his toys, but his tail really gets going when it’s time for adventures, playdates, and making new friends!

Zoomies in the yard? ✔️
Fetch champion? ✔️
Exploring every inch of the outdoors? Absolutely ✔️

Razz is always down for whatever comes next—and he’ll keep you laughing the whole time with his silly antics and joyful spirit. And when the fun winds down? Razz is ready to switch gears and be your cuddle buddy 💕

If you’re looking for a dog who brings the fun and the love, Razz might just be your perfect match 🐶✨

Read more about him and apply here: www.freedom-ride.org/for-adoption

Saving one dog will not change the world, but surely for that one dog, the world will change forever.”

~ Karen Davison

Services

What We Do

Rescue Dogs

We are proud to be the crazy dog lovers who skip out on work to transport dogs from all over the state to their excited fosters’ homes … who stay up late searching shelter pages for that next “Freedom Ride” potential …. who volunteer countless hours making rescue a reality!

Provide Medical Care

Freedom Ride Rescue provides all supplies (crates, food, bowls) and gets the animal in for a vet visit (for a spay, neuter and/or vaccines); we’ll also provide flea and heartworm preventatives. Anything and everything to make a happy and healthy pet!

Find A Home

We love, rehabilitate and nurse an unwanted, unloved animal until they prance away with their fur-ever person as they start their most life’s wonderful chapter: the one as a cherished pet.

Upcoming Events

 Don't miss our fun-filled line up of events!

help save a life

Donations cover vet expenses, shelter fees, continuing long-term care, and any other costs that arise treating dogs in great need. We prepare our dogs for success with a microchip, spay/neuter and make sure they are up to date on vaccines and preventatives. We are a 501(c)(3) organization making your financial contributions tax deductible.

foster

Join our tight-knit rescue family! We need fosters until dogs are adopted, for temporary needs, for medical cases and/or for end of life hospice care. Supplies and vet care is provided. You help your dog blossom and find his fur-ever home and in the process learn what a rewarding experience fostering really is!

Adopt

Adopting a rescue animal helps to save the life of an animal in need, through no fault of their own! And you get a new best friend out of the deal. Seriously, what could be better than that? We take in all mixes of breeds and all ages! You can meet adoptable dogs at our weekly adoption events or put in an application for specific dogs.

Lost a Pet?

Freedom Ride Rescue partners with Petco Love Lost to make reuniting lost pets easier using image recognition technology to search a national lost and found database. 

Report Lost Pet