North Shore Animal League America’s most far-reaching program, our Out of State Nationwide Pet Rescues, are responsible for saving over 150,000 dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens since the program’s inception in 1991.
For these on-going rescues, we use our well-equipped, climate-controlled Mobile Rescue Units to transport pets from areas where they would be destroyed to Animal League America. Rescues are conducted from overcrowded municipal shelters in other states, including North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Florida just to name a few.
Closer to home, our rescue units routinely collaborate with municipal shelters in the New York metropolitan area to rescue the puppies, kittens, dogs, and cats slated for death, and bring them to the safety of our Port Washington, N.Y. Adoption Center.
All animals are medically and behaviorally evaluated as they arrive at Animal League America, where they receive the individualized medical care and any rehabilitation they need to be readied for adoption.
Read About Our Rescue Efforts
Survivors of horrific circumstances, two special dogs are ready to find a loving home for the holidays thanks to the teamwork from our incredible shelter partners in South Carolina. Clayton and Freyja made the trip to our Port Washington, NY campus together on our Mobile Unit as part of a rescue mission with partners A Second Chance and Lakeside Animal Rescue.
One of the most destructive storms in Florida’s history, Hurricane Ian has left residents struggling in its wake. As always in times of crisis, North Shore Animal League America mobilized quickly to help, bringing people together and forging new bonds in the process.
As our mobile rescue unit rolled onto our Port Washington, NY campus on Wednesday, August 10, with our dedicated staff standing by to receive the weary four-legged travelers, it seemed like just another day at North Shore Animal League America. But this was not just another day, nor was it just another rescue. This day marked the 50th rescue with our shelter partner, Paws4Life, in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Forty resilient dogs and puppies — representing a wide array of small breeds — arrived to North Shore Animal League America ready for a fresh start. Rescued in collaboration with long-time partner, National Mill Dog Rescue, these endearing animals came from commercial breeding facilities throughout the Colorado area, where their lives were at risk.
Not even a coyote trap was going to stop Dolly — only a year old herself — from taking care of her babies. When North Carolina Animal Control discovered Dolly in the woods, she had the jaws of a trap clamped painfully onto her front paw, and her two precious puppies right by her side.
A victim of animal cruelty, resilient Clarence is giving us all the gift of hope. It is heart-wrenching to consider the circumstances that brought this scrappy, young Terrier into our hands at Animal League America, but thanks to a collaborative rescue effort his future is changed forever.
This past weekend it was clear skies ahead for the 21 dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens who landed at Republic Airport in Farmingdale, NY, on their way to Animal League America and a brighter future. Through a new collaboration with Amelia Air Animal Rescue, and the efforts of our South Carolina partner Lakeside Animal Rescue, Animal League America was able to save these precious animals, some of whom were pulled from overcrowded shelters. All these animals are now well on their way to finding responsible, loving homes as safely and quickly as possible.
Recently, North Shore Animal League America took part in a rescue that saved more than 150 dogs from an extreme hoarding situation in Tennessee. Shelter partner Rescue DOG (Mountain City, TN) led the mission in lifting the dogs – primarily Chihuahuas of varying ages — out of unfathomable living conditions.
Looking into her big, gentle brown eyes, you would never guess what cruelty this sweet dog has suffered.
While living in Louisiana, Jabba was neglected and left tied up outside for months on end. When her back leg became wrapped in some wire, her owners did nothing to help her. The wire became so tight that it cut off circulation to the leg, and soon the limb died.
In the face of a significant winter storm, our rescue team was determined to bring a pregnant tabby to the safety of North Shore Animal League America. Kerrianne was uncomfortable and due very soon. Alone and under great stress, she remained sweet and affectionate with all handlers.
Kicked repeatedly by her owner’s steel-toed boot, Daisy’s bones were left shattered, but not her puppy exuberance. This beautiful, 10-month-old pit bull lived through unspeakable horror as the victim of animal cruelty. Daisy arrived as part of our first rescue transport of 2021, from Paws4Life and the Bossier City Animal Shelter.
As many are looking forward to the end of a year that has seen unprecedented loss, we at North Shore Animal League America are committed to our no-kill mission. For the month of December we expect to bring in almost 300 dogs, cats, puppies and kittens. In a year where we have had to scale back our rescue missions due to the ongoing global pandemic, we did not stop our lifesaving work and continued to do all we could to save more animals.
Looking at a photo of Miracle Baby’s tiny face in the plea for help to save his life, who could resist wanting to assist. Certainly not our Rescue Team, who answered Brooklyn Animal Care Center’s urgent appeal that stated he needed “nutritional support” and a place that could “monitor his temperature.” They immediately set up a transport to pick him up and bring him to North Shore Animal League America.
The staff waited expectantly as the lifesaving transport pulled onto North Shore Animal League America’s Port Washington, N.Y. campus on a weekday evening with 29 tiny kittens aboard, completing their journey to safety.Five of these innocent, young kittens had already been through so much hardship during their short lives. These babies had been abandoned with their mom when the tenant of a rural Virginia property just moved away and left them behind.
Cinderella, Brooklyn, and Emory, three neglected and abandoned mama dogs who came north with their pups to our Port Washington, NY campus on a rescue from Georgia earlier this year, have all found loving, responsible homes.
North Shore Animal League America often rescues pregnant dogs or dogs with litters of puppies. Recently, two sweet mama dogs arrived with their pups on a rescue transport from Tennessee. Sadly some of their pups starting showing possible signs of canine parvovirus. The ones who tested positive were placed right away in isolation in our Freed Special Recovery Center. Thanks to this vital resource, our special procedures, and amazing staff, there is good news for the pups!
Recently, the Mobile Rescue Unit, piloted by our Rescue Team, pulled onto the North Shore Animal League Campus in Port Washington, N.Y. filled with more than 30 puppies and dogs from a new shelter partner, Animal Rescue Fund (ARF) of Mississippi.
The long journey for these weary felines, by land and air from Puerto Rico, was almost over. And as the 13 cats are unloaded, we reach the milestone of 200 felines rescued together with Proud Rescuers of Puerto Rico and helped them all start new lives.
North Shore Animal League America, working together with the Southwest Georgia Animal Rescue and Transport, welcomed 60 dogs and cats to our Port Washington, NY campus. These innocent animals were in serious danger of euthanasia plus in the path of the terrible tornados that tore through the southern states the week before.
North Shore Animal League America’s Rescue Team received a cry for help from the Georgia Coalition, a group of shelter partners we regularly work with in the south. There were three mama dogs with pups that would be euthanized if they couldn’t find a place for them right away. We immediately said we’d take them, and they were all put on a lifesaving transport directly to our Port Washington, NY campus.
North Shore Animal League America’s Rescue Team revved up their lifesaving efforts for December with more than 300 dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens arriving at our Port Washington, NY campus this month. The homeless animals were welcomed from six different states and one US territory: Georgia, North and South Carolina, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia, and Puerto Rico. Among these new Mutt-i-grees is a nursing mom and her 8 puppies who arrived from Hub City Humane Society in Mississippi.
North Shore Animal League America recently welcomed 36 dogs and puppies on a rescue transport from our newest shelter partner, Hub City Humane Society in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Among the weary travelers was Star, a new mama who was found as a stray in a field with her 11 newborn puppies.
Our Rescue Team here at North Shore Animal League America got off to a very busy start this month with 100 dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens arriving safely at our Port Washington, NY campus. Including a special air rescue facilitated by the Pittsburgh Aviation Animal Rescue Team and their new airvan donated by The Rachael Ray Foundation.
Recently, North Shore Animal League America partnered for the first time with a coalition of groups in North Carolina that work together to save cats and sent a team to bring back 23 cats and four kittens to our Port Washington, N.Y. campus.
Heartbreaking. There’s simply no other way to describe Forest’s condition when he first arrived at North Shore Animal League America. The 8-year-old Shih Tzu was found abandoned in a vacant parking lot struggling to survive. His black and white coat filthy and severely matted. His ears and skin badly infected. Both front legs mangled, the left also wounded due to the unkempt hair that wrapped itself so tightly around the limb it caused lack of blood flow. There’s no telling how long this poor creature was left to suffer in this condition, but he’ll never feel that pain again thanks to the high quality compassionate care he’ll receive at our Pet Health Centers.
Kittens, so innocent and full of life, should spend their formative years exploring and playing, basking in front of sun drenched windows, and enjoying the company of human companions. Unfortunately, not every animal who finds themselves at our Port Washington, N.Y. campus has the luxury of enjoying such spoils. Recently, we met Trey, a 5-month-old kitten, when he and his sibling were picked up by our Rescue Team and swiftly transported to our Pet Health Centers.
Imagine being so malnourished and hungry that your ribs begin to protrude through your skin. So weak and dehydrated that you can barely hold yourself up right. Suffering from an array of physical ailments that never heal because you have no access to medical care. Now imagine being in this condition, but having nowhere to turn and nobody to lean on for support.
Collaborative rescue effort with Proud Rescuers of Puerto Rico brings six homeless kittens from deplorable conditions the tiny island is still suffering after Hurricane Maria hit last year.
Barry Allen, a 4-year-old orange tabby, was a stray in desperate need of human intervention. Found with lacerations and scarring on his head and face, as well as symptoms of dehydration, Barry was also suffering from a severely damaged front right paw that would likely have to be surgically removed to avoid further complications.
As Puerto Rico continues to slowly recover from Hurricanes Irma and Maria, Animal League America collaborated with Save A Gato, a non-profit rescue based in Old San Juan, dedicated saving the lives of the cats of the old city.
As our Mobile Rescue Unit pulled down Lewyt Street on a snowy Saturday afternoon, the 47 dogs and puppies aboard may not have known it at the time, but they were finally safe.
Animal League America's Rescue Team collaborated with Brooklyn Animal Care & Control to save the life of one severely injured kitten, and a homeless mama cat and her five adorable kittens. Now all in the care of our highly skilled medical team and nurturing shelter staff, all seven of these felines will have everything they need to find responsible, loving homes to call their own.
Recently, we were contacted by one our shelter partners in Puerto Rico regarding eight dogs who were in desperate need of our help. The group of dogs were living in the home of their loving foster mother, Doña Santa. The canine family was enjoying a happy, healthy life before their foster mother suddenly became gravely ill.