Emergency Rescue
Animal Rescue Corps was founded as a nonprofit on November 17, 2010, to address an underserved and neglected need: every day, animals suffer in situations of large-scale cruelty in places that lack the expertise and resources to save them. These animals can suffer for years or even generations. Animal Rescue Corps conducts large-scale rescues – meaning rescuing large numbers of animals at once – from abusive and neglectful situations like puppy mills, hoarding, fighting rings, exotic animal cases, and more, as well as from natural disasters such as floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, blizzards, and more.

As part of our rescue work, we also conduct investigations, collect and document evidence, detail medical findings, and provide expert testimony for any legal hearings or criminal trials related to the case. Through every step of the journey, Animal Rescue Corps is a trusted partner to the animals, law enforcement agencies, and communities we serve. We provide compassionate, professional, and effective partnerships to ensure positive outcomes whenever and wherever large numbers of animals and their communities need.

Shelter Relief
North America faces an inequitable distribution of animals available for adoption and demand for adoption. ARC’s Shelter Relief Program intakes animals from overburdened shelters, especially in the south and southeast, where many animals are at risk of euthanasia immediately after hold times are up or, conversely, can be warehoused in kennels in low-adoption areas for years with little hope of placement. We provide complete medical exams, vaccinations, and health certificates, and we care for the animals until we match them with our network of placement partners in high-adoption regions.

ARC’s Shelter Relief Program also provides community support in many other forms, including providing food and supplies, sending volunteers to assist with a crisis or a day of action, providing assistance with cruelty and neglect cases, and building and strengthening networks across the animal protection movement.

Education and Training
At Animal Rescue Corps, education about animals is interwoven into every aspect of our work. We raise public awareness around the plight of animals through solutions-based education designed to increase knowledge of animal issues and amplify compassion, respect, and positive interactions with animals. We also offer training to law enforcement, shelter professionals, and civilians, teaching them to effectively, safely, and responsibly bring aid to animals in peril.

There are still no animal shelters or animal services staffing in many municipalities and cities across North America. In places like these, rescuing one animal can be a challenge, and when animals suffer in large-scale situations, there is little to no recourse. In still other places, animal control agencies cannot further stretch already stretched budgets and resources to address large-scale animal suffering or lack the specific training needed to do so. ARC brings the professional expertise, human resources, tactical equipment, networks, and financial backing necessary for its rescue operations, including investigations and permanent placements. ARC works with communities that don’t have the resources to confront the cruelty themselves, especially when large numbers of suffering animals are involved. And ARC provides all care and sheltering needs for animals until legal custody is awarded, meaning that our rescue and shelter partners can save space and resources and do what they do best: find animals forever homes.

For many municipal and law enforcement agencies, the assurance that they can address large-scale situations of animal cruelty at no charge or burden to their communities is a determinative factor in their decision to take action. Because of ARC’s compassionate donor and volunteer networks, ARC can offer this assurance to animals in need, who may have suffered for years unaided, and their communities.

If you know of, or think you know of, a large number of animals who are suffering due to abuse, neglect, or a natural disaster, please report it immediately to your local law enforcement and animal control authorities and then fill out ARC’s Report Cruelty form.

If you know of, or think you know of, a situation where a single animal or a smaller number of animals are being abused or neglected, please contact your local law enforcement and animal control authorities or local animal rescue groups.

A common complaint is, “I filed a report, but the authorities did nothing.” Please be persistent if this happens. You can also contact us at reportcruelty@animalrescuecorps.org for advice.

NOTE: Animals are too often put in situations in which they are defenseless, and they depend on us to speak up for them. It is always better to err on the side of caution and report possible abuse than to do nothing. Together we will all make a difference, one life at a time.

Animal Rescue Corps’ headquarters is located in the Washington, DC area and our flagship Rescue Center is outside Nashville, TN. Rescue work is conducted all over North America and wherever else Animal Rescue Corps is called to action.

Our mailing address is: 1380 Monroe St. NW #326, Washington, DC 20010-3452

Animal Rescue Corps rescues any species of animals. Our rescue team has rescued domestic and wild animals (dogs, cats, birds, equines, pigs, monkeys, etc.). The primary requisite for Animal Rescue Corps’ involvement is that there be a number of animals in need of rescuing that’s larger than what local authorities have the resources to save. Additionally, Animal Rescue Corps must be able to work within the legal system and ideally effect a lasting change for each situation.

Animals who are suffering from abuse, neglect, or a natural disaster are reported to Animal Rescue Corps through a variety of ways: a concerned citizen, an inside worker of a business practicing cruelty, law enforcement or government authorities, or through an internally-generated Animal Rescue Corps investigation.

During a rescue, Animal Rescue Corps provides physical, medical, and social care to the rescued animals at our Rescue Center in Tennessee or a temporary emergency shelter. Once the animals are legally awarded to Animal Rescue Corps and are healthy enough to place, Animal Rescue Corps works with carefully selected placement partners to facilitate the care and rehabilitation of the rescued animals until they are adopted into a forever home or sanctuary.

It should also be noted that all cruelty is thoroughly documented and turned over to law enforcement officials to be used as evidence in custody hearings and criminal charges.

In order to best meet the specific needs of individual animals, Animal Rescue Corps partners with a wide variety of reputable shelter and rescue organizations, from some of the most progressive and well-funded shelters in the country to small breed-specific foster-based rescues to shelters that are uniquely equipped with resources to address specific medical or behavioral needs, to everything in between. 

Any rescue, shelter, or sanctuary with which Animal Rescue Corps places animals must:

  • Complete an application and partner agreement
  • Provide proof of their 501(c)(3) status
  • Provide verifiable references, including veterinarians
  • Meet or exceed certain standards of care and staffing
  • Agree to provide for the social and physical care of any animal they receive, including any medical or rehabilitation needs 
  • Agree to notify Animal Rescue Corps if for any reason they are ultimately unable to place an animal or provide the needed care, allowing Animal Rescue Corps the opportunity to transfer that animal to another organization with the appropriate resources to find a successful outcome for that animal

If your group is interested in becoming a placement partner, please contact placement@animalrescuecorps.org.

Animal Rescue Corps does not adopt animals out directly to individuals. Animal Rescue Corps places animals with carefully selected placement partners who are willing and able to care for the animals and find them permanent homes.

NOTE: In searching for your perfect companion, Animal Rescue Corps encourages you to consider the animals available for adoption at your local shelter or rescue.  

Absolutely. When Animal Rescue Corps is assisting with the legal seizure of animals from situations of suspected animal cruelty, ARC always works at the request of and as a designated agent of Law Enforcement.

Other times Animal Rescue Corps will work directly in cooperation with and at the request of an individual who can legally surrender the animals in question and agrees to surrender 100% of the animals. This may be the “owner” of the animals, or it can be a family member or landlord in cases of death or abandonment.

Animal Rescue Corps keeps all abuse and neglect reports confidential. Animal Rescue Corps’ policy is not to publicly disclose any information without proper legal permission, particularly if the rescue involves any criminal or potentially criminal elements. On a related note, Animal Rescue Corps strongly recommends that informants refrain from speaking to their friends, communities, or the media about a situation of suspected cruelty so that a solid case may be built. Contacting the appropriate entities (such as law enforcement, local animal control, and Animal Rescue Corps) that can effectively address the situation should be the first step if you suspect animal suffering.

There are many ways to help animals in need. ARC is a nonprofit funded solely by the generosity of compassionate donors, and we rely extensively on volunteer help. We are consistently ranked as one of the best animal charities nationwide. Here are some of the most popular ways to help animals with ARC:

Animal Rescue Corps needs volunteers for all aspects of the organization –animal care, administration, outreach, design, events, etc. To sign up or learn more, please visit our volunteer page.

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