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.
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
See us on Instagram
Browse our dogs in foster care and available for adoption!
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
Join us SUNDAY at Clouds Taproom for our annual HOWL-O-WEEN Party! The CANINE COSTUME CONTEST is open to ANY dog who wants to dress up .... not just fosters and alumni!!! (We just want to see LOTS of dogs and puppies!!!)
* Sign in from 2 - 3 to be in the costume contest - $5 donation - judging starts at 3 pm!
* Get your dog`s professional photo done by Ashley Sherrow from Assorted Poppies (she will be taking a break from the photoshoot to photograph the contest!!!!)
* Let your dog `hunt` yummy treats on a ball pitt
* Try luck at our incredible raffle items
* Or just come have a cold beer while your dog enjoys a pup cup
The PARTY is 2 - 5 pm!! Come see us at 1233 Front Street on Oct. 18!!
@cloudsbrewingraleigh Freedom Ride Rescue @assortedpoppiesphoto
🐾 FRR Alum Walter (FKA Phoenix) was adopted in August, and this sweet boy has officially settled right into his forever life! His new life includes walks, treats, lots and lots of pictures, and a mom who is already completely obsessed with him. ❤️
🏡 When Walter first arrived home, he was still figuring out all the new sounds, routines, and rules that came with his new life. But he didn’t take long to figure out the important things: where the treats are kept, which blankets are the softest, and that staying close to Mom is always a pretty great place to be. 🥰
☕ Fridays are extra special because Mom works from home! That means they get to take a walk together and stop for a pup cup, too. And when they’re out walking around the lake, Walter is in his absolute happy place. He loves taking his time to sniff around and investigate everything the world has to offer. 🌿🐶
🛁 Walter is also a big fan of his spa days! He visits the groomer like a true gentleman and is always such a good boy. ✨
🐕 And if you really want to see Walter light up, take him to the dog park! He absolutely adores it and has the best time running around and enjoying all the fun. 💙
🎓 Next week, Walter starts training with his mom, and they’re excited to keep learning and growing together! We have a feeling this handsome boy is going to do wonderfully. 🥹
❤️ His mom is incredibly grateful to Freedom Ride Rescue for bringing the two of them together. Walter may have started out as Phoenix, but he has officially found the life he was meant for, and we couldn’t be happier for this very good boy! 🐾
👀 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!
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.