N.C. Non-Profit Animal Rescue
Give a Freedom RideIn 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.
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.
We had SUCH a great day yesterday!! Photos coming but look at Mike's preview of the 6th Annual Clouds Taproom canine costume contest!!!
Once a shy girl who found comfort in her crate, Shirley is blossoming into a playful pup who enjoys her dog friends and couch cuddles. She’s house-trained, does well on leash and in the car, and needs a canine companion to help her feel confident.
Apply to adopt Shirley through Freedom Ride Rescue—her next chapter could be with you!
www.freedom-ride.org
Little dog week at Freedom Ride Rescue!!!
Today's theme: we need fosters ... if you are willing to open your home and hearts, the rescue will cover expense, vet needs - you just give a dog a safe place until adopted! If you have trips plans, wait until you are home for a bit and then join us!! These dogs are already so stressed we try not to bounce them between homes if possible ...
Our needs:
* Well trained red and white mix who just turned one
* A cute young shepherd gal (maybe three months??)
* Adoptable little black and white low rider gal (2-3 years old)
Give us your info at freedom-ride.org/fostering to join our road trip!
#fosteringsaveslives #PawItForward #freedomriderescue
See us on Instagram
Browse our dogs in foster care and available for adoption!
Once a shy girl who found comfort in her crate, Shirley is blossoming into a playful pup who enjoys her dog friends and couch cuddles. She’s house-trained, does well on leash and in the car, and needs a canine companion to help her feel confident.
Apply to adopt Shirley through Freedom Ride Rescue—her next chapter could be with you!
www.freedom-ride.org
Junie is a precious pug mix pupper ready to steal your heart with her ridiculously cute and smooshable face. Apply to meet her!
www.freedoom-ride.org
We talk about spaying and neutering a lot—and we’ll keep talking about it. Because every day, we see why it matters. 🐾
We see the unwanted litters, the puppies needing a safe place to go, and the dogs waiting in shelters while rescues scramble to find one more foster home. Across our state, there are more dogs needing help than there are places for them to land. Unaltered pets continuing to reproduce add to that overwhelming need.
Behind every litter are individual lives, each deserving care, safety, and a loving home. Preventing unplanned litters means fewer dogs facing an uncertain future and gives shelters and rescues a better chance to help those already here.
Please make spaying or neutering part of your pet’s care plan, and talk with your veterinarian about the right timing. If cost is a barrier, look for low-cost programs in your community.
We feel strongly about this because we know the faces behind the numbers. 💙
Got Costume? `Cuz we got judges!!
If you want to compete in our costume contest, sign in from 2 - 3 pm tomorrow (Sunday, Oct. 18) then have your costume(s) ready to parade at 3 pm!
Our judges are all huge rescue supporters! Martha Waggoner (professionally a retired Associated Press editor) is a Freedom Ride - and Cause for Paws - mom of Fig and Ruby .... this is her fourth time judging and her personal costumes are always great: last year (pictured) was Elsbeth!
Jarod Aguilar is a FRR volunteer!! His company, Roof Dawgs, is both a Turkey Day sponsor AND donates a portion of every roof and gutter job to Freedom Ride Rescue!!
Mike Kidd is the new owner of PetWants East ... his patrons have the option to donate food to FRR with every purchase! AND he has three full time groomers at his East Peace Street, Raleigh store: he`s graciously giving our rescue dogs complimentary grooms and nail trims as they have openings!!
Want a chance to win? Here are the 2026 categories:
The Categories:
* Audience Favorite (New this year: Letting the patrons vote for their favorite!)
* Best Couple/Team Costume (Person/Dog couple or Dog/Dog couple)
* Best Pop Culture Reference (Show us your favorite movies, TV shows, or viral moments)
* Most Creative Costume (Think outside the treat bag! Originality wins!)
* Most Paw-some Overall (The top prize for the best of the best!)
Even if you aren`t competing, we`ll have The Social Hound, a taco food truck, pup cups and raffles - so come join us at Clouds Brewing Taproom (1233 Front St, Raleigh) from 2 - 5!!
@cloudsbrewing @assortedpoppiesphoto @freedomride.rescue
SUNDAY`S 6th annual CLOUDY with a Chance of BOOS Canine Costume Paw-ty is ON from 2 - 5 pm! You can sign up for the dog costume contest from 2 - 3 pm ($5 donation to enter) then our judging parade will start at 3 pm ...
We are THRILLED to announce our judges: Martha Waggoner (retired AP editor and rescue mom - including "the perfect FRR dog" Ruby) pictured is Martha as "ELSPETH" last year - this is her 4th year judging for us. Jarod Aguilar is joining us - his company, Roof Dawgs, is a Turkey Day sponsor AND his company gives a portion of every roof/gutter job they do to FRR. Mike Kidd, the new owner of the Pet Wants East Raleigh store, has been donating free grooming to our new intakes since his store opened! Plus patrons have the option to donate food to Freedom Ride with every purchase!
How you gonna win?? Look at our FIVE costume categories:
* Audience Favorite (New this year: Letting the patrons vote for their favorite!)
* Best Couple/Team Costume (Person/Dog couple or Dog/Dog couple)
* Best Pop Culture Reference (Show us your favorite movies, TV shows, or viral moments)
* Most Creative Costume (Think outside the treat bag! Originality wins!)
* Most Paw-some Overall (The top prize for the best of the best!)
This is open to ALL dogs but we are hoping to see a LOT of Freedom alumni ... @the_social_hound is joining us plus a TACO TRUCK! And as always, we will have adoptable dogs and puppies ready to be your ride or die!
See what adoptable dogs are coming at:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1614638083714194/
@cloudsbrewingraleigh @the_social_hound @freedomride.rescue
#freedomriderescue #fosteringsaveslives #pawitforward #dogsincostumes
This affectionate boy loves fetch, outdoor fun, and spending time with his people. He’s great with kids and other animals, knows several commands, and is already house-trained and crate-trained!
Looking for a buddy for adventures and affection? Apply to adopt Remi through Freedom Ride Rescue!
www.freedom-ride.org
Weather was HORRIBLE last weekend, but it held off to give us a fabulous day at Barkitecture! We had a great time and love that so much money was raised for German Shepherd Rescue & Adoptions, Hope Animal Rescue, Paws for Life and Connie`s Kittens!! (FRR was a reciepient several years ago and LOVE coming back to support this amazing event #rescuesunite).
Our plans fell through Sunday so we did a pop up at Tap Yard Raleigh - thanks Zack Medford for taking our founer`s call! It was a silly afternoon of pizza, drinks and puppies in halloween costumes! Our volunteers work SO hard that we really needed Sunday!!
Our little country sweetheart is ready for her starring role: somebody’s beloved best friend. Until then, she’s giving her fans a little screen time—because finding your forever family takes more than working 9 to 5! 🐾
We`re sure you`re bound to fall a little in love with this sweetheart and help us get her one share closer to home.
Apply to adopt through Freedom Ride Rescue!
www.freedom-ride.org
Strong spirit, big dreams—and so much life ahead! 💕🐾
Mabel survived a heartbreaking start, and now this affectionate hound mix puppy is healing, exploring, and letting her lively personality shine. She needs patient people with puppy-training experience who can guide her high energy, puppy mouthing, and developing dog social skills.
Help this brave girl find her bright future—apply to adopt Mabel through Freedom Ride Rescue! 💙
www.freedom-ride.org
Saving one dog will not change the world, but surely for that one dog, the world will change forever.”
~
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!
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.