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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☀️ FRR Alum Sunshine (FKA Blizzard from the Winter Litter) may have started out as “Blizzard,” but this girl has always brought the warmth wherever she goes. Now a proud one-year-old (she turned one in December!) and fresh off celebrating her one-year gotcha day in February, she has officially settled into her role as the light of her family’s life.

🎾 If there’s a toy being thrown, Sunshine is ready. Fetch isn’t just a game — it’s her calling. She also loves heading out on walks to explore the world one sniff at a time. And toys? Optional. She’ll happily turn anything she finds along the way into her newest prized possession. A stick, a leaf, a mysterious “treasure” from the sidewalk — it’s all fair game.

🧢 As a puppy, Sunshine had one very serious nemesis: the baseball hat. She’d cautiously sniff it, dramatically jump back, bark at it as if issuing a formal warning, and then sprint away to safety. Clearly, she has since conquered her fears (and any suspicious headwear).

🚗 This social butterfly loves going to the vet — yes, you read that right. New friends? Extra attention? Sign her up. She’s also a big fan of golf cart rides through the neighborhood, ears flapping in the breeze like she’s on parade.

🌧️ When the adventures wind down, Sunshine is happiest curled up in her dog bed, snoozing peacefully while her mom sews on rainy afternoons. She’s equal parts playful energy and cozy cuddle bug — the perfect balance.

🧬 Her DNA results revealed she’s 22% Beagle, 17.9% Australian Cattle Dog, 17.1% Pug, and 16.8% Supermutt — which basically translates to: smart, spirited, loyal, a little goofy, and completely one of a kind.

☀️🐾 From snowy beginnings as Blizzard to the bright and joyful Sunshine she is today, this sweet FRR alum has truly lived up to her name.

👀 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!
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Meet Nim 💛

This 90lb beauty is equal parts gentle giant and regal queen—calm, loving, and oh-so-sweet. Nim is the kind of dog who’s just as happy joining you for a peaceful morning walk as she is lounging nearby, keeping a watchful (and loving) eye on her people.

Dog-friendly, easygoing, and incredibly devoted, Nim is ready to be someone’s loyal best friend for life.

If you’ve been dreaming of a big, soft-hearted companion… Nim is your girl 🐾

Apply to meet her: www.freedom-ride.org/for-adoption
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🚨🐾 DOUBLE ADOPTION WEEKEND ALERT 🐾🚨

Join Freedom Ride Rescue for TWO chances to meet your future best friend next weekend!

🧀 Saturday (March 28) | 2–4 PM | Artisan Beer – Rolesville
Come Pay the Cheese Tax with us! Our resident “Tax Collectors” (aka our adoptable pups) are ready to move out of their foster homes and into a permanent kitchen near you. Whether you’re a fan of sharp cheddar or a slice of American, we have a dog who would love to help you finish your snack—and maybe steal your heart too.

🥂 Sunday (March 29) | 1–3 PM | Pourworks – Raleigh
We LOVE the fresh mimosas at Pourworks, and they love our puppies, so we’re partnering again for a fun early afternoon adoption event. Stop by, say hello, and meet some wonderful dogs looking for their forever families.

Bring a friend and help us send some deserving pups home where they belong.
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Browse our dogs in foster care and available for adoption!

☀️ FRR Alum Sunshine (FKA Blizzard from the Winter Litter) may have started out as “Blizzard,” but this girl has always brought the warmth wherever she goes. Now a proud one-year-old (she turned one in December!) and fresh off celebrating her one-year gotcha day in February, she has officially settled into her role as the light of her family’s life.

🎾 If there’s a toy being thrown, Sunshine is ready. Fetch isn’t just a game — it’s her calling. She also loves heading out on walks to explore the world one sniff at a time. And toys? Optional. She’ll happily turn anything she finds along the way into her newest prized possession. A stick, a leaf, a mysterious “treasure” from the sidewalk — it’s all fair game.

🧢 As a puppy, Sunshine had one very serious nemesis: the baseball hat. She’d cautiously sniff it, dramatically jump back, bark at it as if issuing a formal warning, and then sprint away to safety. Clearly, she has since conquered her fears (and any suspicious headwear).

🚗 This social butterfly loves going to the vet — yes, you read that right. New friends? Extra attention? Sign her up. She’s also a big fan of golf cart rides through the neighborhood, ears flapping in the breeze like she’s on parade.

🌧️ When the adventures wind down, Sunshine is happiest curled up in her dog bed, snoozing peacefully while her mom sews on rainy afternoons. She’s equal parts playful energy and cozy cuddle bug — the perfect balance.

🧬 Her DNA results revealed she’s 22% Beagle, 17.9% Australian Cattle Dog, 17.1% Pug, and 16.8% Supermutt — which basically translates to: smart, spirited, loyal, a little goofy, and completely one of a kind.

☀️🐾 From snowy beginnings as Blizzard to the bright and joyful Sunshine she is today, this sweet FRR alum has truly lived up to her name. 

👀 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 Nim 💛

This 90lb beauty is equal parts gentle giant and regal queen—calm, loving, and oh-so-sweet. Nim is the kind of dog who’s just as happy joining you for a peaceful morning walk as she is lounging nearby, keeping a watchful (and loving) eye on her people.

Dog-friendly, easygoing, and incredibly devoted, Nim is ready to be someone’s loyal best friend for life.

If you’ve been dreaming of a big, soft-hearted companion… Nim is your girl 🐾

Apply to meet her: www.freedom-ride.org/for-adoption
🍀🐾 Now that was a paw-ty! 🐾🍀

We had the BEST time keeping the St. Paddy’s Day fun going at our parade after party at Tap Yard Raleigh 💚 From sunshine and wagging tails to an amazing crowd of dog lovers, it truly couldn’t have been a more perfect day.

Tap Yard is one of our absolute favorite spots, and we’re so grateful they continue to welcome us back to show off our adoptable pups time and time again 🐶✨

Even better? A few lucky dogs met their forever families right there at the event—cue the happy tears 🥹💚

Thank you to everyone who came out, supported the rescue, and made the day feel so special. We’re already counting down to the next one! 🍻🐕
Is there anything better than how excited your dog is to see you? (even if you were only gone a minute ;) )

Check out our website for all of the amazing dogs looking for homes right now and apply to meet the one you can imagine greeting you with a big smile every day!
www.freedom-ride.org/for-adoption
Only ONE of our Poky Little Puppies has found their forever home so far, which means Putter, Lollygag, Fritter, Loaf, Meander, and Mosey are still just… well, taking their sweet time finding their people. And while these poky babies may be doing a bit of dillydallying in finding their families, they are VERY quick to steal hearts 💕

These cattle dog/hound/mystery mutt cuties were born January 20 and are ready to mosey on into forever homes of their own. Don’t dawdle!—your perfect pup might be waiting!

Go ahead and putter on over to our website and apply today 🐶✨
www.freedom-ride.org/for-adoption
May 30: GET READY TO ROLL at the 7th Annual "THE FREEDOM RIDE"! We are reinventing it a bit - cars & motorcycles start at the Lonerider in Wake Forest and take off at 11:15 am .... they will have three venues to stop at for cards on their own time (more of a scavenger hunt than the traditional 'ride' like we've done in the past). Go to any or all of the venues for drink specials and buy better cards for your poker hand!

From noon to 5, we'll be having a paw-ty at Lonerider with a DJ, vendors (we have a few more spaces), food trucks, raffles and, of course, adoptable dogs!

Have business swag you want to donate (we are making 100 bags for registered poker-runners)? Want to be a vendor? Email kristy@freedom-ride.org!

Freedom-ride.org/the-freedom-ride
🚨🚨FOSTER NEEDED 🚨🚨This stunning 6-month-old Aussie mix weighs about 30 lbs and is such a sweet, gentle boy according to shelter staff. He’s also dog-friendly and would love a safe place to land while he waits for his forever family.
Right now, he’s living in a crowded shelter where his only protection from the elements is a barrel and wood shavings. He deserves so much more than that. Freedom Ride Rescue covers all costs — you just provide the loving temporary home.
If you can help foster this deserving pup, please reach out. Fostering truly saves lives.
you can help foster this deserving pup, please 
email jennifer@freedom-ride.org today! Fostering truly saves lives!
🍀✨ What a sham-rockin’ good time! ✨🍀

We’re still riding the lucky vibes from the Raleigh St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 14 💚🐾 From our amazing volunteers to our adopters, supporters, and the incredible local community—YOU made this day so special.

There’s nothing we love more than celebrating alongside the people who make this rescue possible (and maybe showing off a few adorable, tail-wagging ambassadors along the way 😉).

Thank you for cheering us on, stopping to say hi, and spreading the love for rescue dogs all along the parade route. We’re so grateful to be part of this community 💚

Until next year… stay lucky, stay kind, and keep supporting rescue 🍀🐶

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