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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🐾 Red, White & WOOF is coming to Clayton! 🐾

Looking for the perfect thing to do this Memorial Day weekend? Join us at Deep River Brewing Company on Saturday, May 23rd, from 2–4 PM for an afternoon full of adorable adoptable dogs, cold drinks, and community fun! 🍻🐶

We’re also excited that our friends from Binky and Bell will be joining us with their amazing dog-themed goodies and gifts — and they’ll be donating a portion of their proceeds back to Freedom Ride Rescue! 🐾🛍️

Whether you’re looking to adopt, shop for your pup, or just spend your afternoon surrounded by wagging tails and great people, we’d love to see you there! ❤️🤍💙
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All dogs listed here have been added to the website to begin receiving applications. If you are interested in any of these dogs, please visit www.freedom-ride.org/for-adoption to read more information and submit an adoption application ... See MoreSee Less

What a fun afternoon at Rosecomb Beer Garden this past weekend!

A huge thank you to the Rosecomb team for welcoming our crew back again and helping us create such a great day for our dogs and supporters. We’re so grateful for community partners who continue to support rescue! ❤️

And of course, thank you to our incredible volunteers and fosters who work tirelessly behind the scenes every single day to help dogs find loving homes. None of this happens without you. 🫶

We also loved seeing so many familiar faces and meeting lots of new friends who stopped by to say hello, snuggle some pups, and support Freedom Ride Rescue. We can’t wait to do it again soon! 🐶✨
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Browse our dogs in foster care and available for adoption!

🐾 Red, White & WOOF is coming to Clayton! 🐾

Looking for the perfect thing to do this Memorial Day weekend? Join us at Deep River Brewing Company on Saturday, May 23rd, from 2–4 PM for an afternoon full of adorable adoptable dogs, cold drinks, and community fun! 🍻🐶

We’re also excited that our friends from Binky and Bell will be joining us with their amazing dog-themed goodies and gifts — and they’ll be donating a portion of their proceeds back to Freedom Ride Rescue! 🐾🛍️

Whether you’re looking to adopt, shop for your pup, or just spend your afternoon surrounded by wagging tails and great people, we’d love to see you there! ❤️🤍💙
From Albania to the American dream!

Leka’s story started with heartbreak, but you’d never know it from that smile. This resilient little guy has traded survival mode for squeaky toys, neighborhood walks, and soaking up love from everyone he meets. ❤️

✔️ Dog friendly
✔️ Cat friendly
✔️ Potty trained
✔️ Professional squeaky toy enthusiast

Now all Leka needs is a forever family to help him finish his happily ever after. 

If Leka's sweet face and fashion sense have stolen your heart, head to our website to read more about him and his perfect home, then submit an application to meet him! 

www.freedom-ride.org/for-adoption
Leka has officially proven he can serve looks with the best of them. Now he just needs a forever home that can keep him dressed for the runway. ✨🐾

This tiny fashion icon has already overcome more than most dogs ever should. After being rescued from an abusive situation in Albania and making the long journey to America, Leka has embraced his new life with resilience, sweetness, and an absolutely adorable smile.

At around 13 pounds, this stylish little guy loves people, gets along beautifully with dogs and cats, enjoys neighborhood walks, and is fully potty trained. He’s also discovered the joy of squeaky toys and may or may not consider them one of America’s greatest inventions.

Leka is equal parts survivor, sweetheart, and supermodel—and he’s ready to complete his American dream with a family of his own. 💙

Apply to meet this top model today: www.freedom-ride.org/for-adoption
48 dogs found their families in April… and we’d call that a VERY happy month. 🐾

From tiny puppies to deserving long-timers, 48 incredible dogs are now officially living the good life with families of their very own. There is nothing better than watching these pups leave foster care behind and begin their happily ever afters. 🤎

Happy tails to every dog and every family who opened their hearts this month. Thank you to our adopters, fosters, volunteers, and supporters for helping make these stories possible! 🐶

Check out all the amazing dogs still available for adoption: www.freedom-ride.org/for-adoption
FRR Alum Sadie (FKA Mikey) is a feisty and playful pup with a big personality. She’s known for her hilarious zoomies, her goofy antics, and her endless love for her family. Equal parts silly and sweet, she truly keeps everyone entertained.

💛 Sadie is all about love and cuddles. She adores snuggling up with her people, playing with other dogs, and visiting the dog park. She even enjoys howling now and then (ok, all the time)! At home, she can often be found napping peacefully near her favorite kitty sibling—or trying to convince the cats to join in on her playtime (with mixed success). She also has a natural herding instinct and likes to keep an eye on her feline friends.

🧬 Sadie’s family did a DNA test and discovered she’s a unique mix: 45.8% Australian Shepherd, 33.3% German Shepherd Dog, and 20.9% Supermutt (including Lab, Collie, Border Collie, and Australian Cattle Dog). She’s 3.5 years old and already looking forward to celebrating her birthday in December!

🎾 While she loves zooming around and being playful, Sadie also excels at learning new tricks and soaking up cuddle time. She enjoys hanging out in her crate when it’s time to relax and recharge.

🏡 Sadie was one of nine puppies rescued by FRR. When her family first saw her on Petfinder, she was listed as “Mikey”—a name lovingly given by her foster family’s young son. At the adoption event, she immediately stole their hearts. She wiggled with excitement when meeting her mom and then promptly fell asleep on her dad the first time he held her. From that moment on, they knew she was the one.

✨Now, Sadie is living her best life, bringing joy, laughter, and lots of cuddles to her forever home. Her family feels incredibly lucky to have such a loving, silly, and special pup to call their own.

👀 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!
Dory is soft eyes, cozy naps, gentle snuggles, and the kind of quiet love that sneaks up on you. 💙🐾

This low-energy sweetheart is happiest curled up in a comfy bed near her people, soaking up soft pets and simply enjoying your company. She loves calm strolls, is fully house-trained, and brings a peaceful presence to a home.

Dory is still building confidence and learning that the world can be safe, so she’s looking for a patient, understanding family who will move at her pace. She may need a little extra reassurance sometimes, but in return, she offers endless loyalty, quiet affection, and the sweetest companionship.

If your idea of a perfect evening includes blankets, gentle walks, and a snuggly little shadow by your side, Dory might just be your girl. ✨

Apply to meet Dory: www.freedom-ride.org/for-adoption
THATS RIGHT! Our Booth at this year’s Pride events in Raleigh has been secured. Located on Fayetteville St, our booth will be setup on Friday Night (6/26). More information regarding available merchandise, volunteers, and animals will be released as we approach the event. 

Interested in volunteering? Sign up TODAY at 
freedom-ride.org

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