Who we are

Our Mission

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 brings 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.

Adopt a dogMake a Donation

HISTORY

Co-founded by Mollie Doll and Larry Hughes, the first freedom ride for our rescue was Rider, from Granville County Animal Shelter. Mollie and Larry envisioned a tiny, boutique rescue saving around 50 dogs a year on that first shelter “pull” back in August 2019.

The support and incredible passion in the rescue community quickly illustrated there would be WAY more freedom ride than originally anticipated. We have saved nearly 3700 dogs (and eight cats) since that first freedom ride! 

Freedom Ride Rescue is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

STAFF

In January 2022, the Board of Directors added two (extremely) part-time staff positions to support our mission of “No paws left behind”. Mollie Doll and Jennifer Kilduff work around the clock – every day of the week – so FRR is excited to (under) compensate them for their tireless dedication.

Mollie has been in the driver’s seat since day one! Not only is she the founder of our rescue, but she is a constant source of wisdom, guidance, and support to our fosters and volunteers. In her staff role, she continues to coordinate the chaos that is dog rescue, and ensuring everyone along for the ride gets the support they need.

Jenn joined FRR shortly after the rescue launched, finding her stride in shelter communications and foster coordination. Chances are that any FRR dog you know is here because Jen worked magic! She continues working as a matchmaker between shelter dogs, transporters, and fosters – saving as many dogs as she can, and having a fun time while doing it.

BOARD of DIRECTORS

Freedom Ride Rescue is proud to have a strong board that tackles the bigger picture topics for our nonprofit: sponsorship/donations, major medical/behavioral discussions – while all are active fosters! 

Larry Hughes

Larry Hughes

Larry co-founded the rescue in August 2019 and has been our board president since January 2021, Larry keeps an eye on our finances (paying the bills and filing taxes) and chairs logistics for our two biggest annual events, THE Freedom Ride and the Turkey Day 5K.

Julie Pellicore

Julie Pellicore

Julie is a vet tech so has found her niche at our rescue’s neo-natal foster – taking orphans who otherwise would not have a chance of survival and pregnant moms. She adopted her first medical case with us, a days old cleft lip pup. He is now “Uncle Milton” our FRR mascot. She aids in our rescue’s medical protocols, making sure we follow best practices.

Colleen Bouchard

Colleen Bouchard

Colleen has been core to FRR since the start – from volunteering, fostering, adopting and our official go to (retired) groomer for our matted messes. She has been instrumental in our events, and with her husband, Keith, spearheaded our annual ‘THE Freedom Ride’ poker run. She will undoubtedly help us strengthen relationships with our core and help us expand and welcome others to our road trip. The Bouchards have two rescue dogs, including FRR Alumni Tunie.

Previous Board Members

Board Aug. 2025 – Feb. 2026

Larry Hughes
Juilie Pellicore

Colleen Bouchard

Jessica Bellas
Melanie Lotzkar

Board Aug. 2023 – 25

Larry Hughes
Juilie Pellicore
Melanie Lotzkar

Board 2023 – July 2025

Larry Hughes
Juilie Pellicore
Melanie Lotzkar

Board 2022 – 2023

Larry Hughes
Michelle Bandklayder
Julie Pellicore

Board 2021

Larry Hughes
Julie Pellicore

Board 2019 – 2020

Mike Casey
Courtney Hutchings
Michele Lukic
Heather Metour

“As anyone who goes into dog rescue knows, it is not a for-profit business, but the rewards are priceless "

~ Emmylou Harris

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.

Make a Donation

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!

foster application

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.

Browse Our Dogs

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.

Make a Donation

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!

foster application

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.

Browse Our Dogs