Some of our most meaningful rescues happen when we least expect them, and Trooper and Ember are the perfect example. While driving after letting a friend’s dog out, our foster coordinator spotted a tiny kitten dart into the road. Pulling over to make sure the kitten was safe led to something much bigger. Behind an abandoned building, two kittens were hiding: Trooper and Ember. It was immediately clear that Trooper was in critical condition. He was emaciated, anemic, severely

Carl & Gabe You may have seen our recent posts about the dogs and puppies waiting in a rural shelter. We are committed to saving them—but as a foster-based rescue, we can only say "yes" when we have foster homes available. Right now, these amazing dogs are hoping someone will open their home and give them the chance they deserve: Beatriz, Amora & Kayda 🐾 Carl, Gabe, Beatriz, Amora & Kayda are 4–5-month-old Lab mix puppies weighing 20–25 pounds. They're playful, curious, and

Lemon, a first grader with a huge heart, organized her very own lemonade stand to help dogs in need. Instead of keeping the money she earned, Lemon used all of the proceeds to purchase dog food, which she then donated to RARE Rescue! Her generosity will help feed the dogs in our care and reminds us that even the smallest acts of kindness can have a big impact. Thank you, Lemon, for your compassion, hard work, and dedication to helping rescue dogs. You are an incredible exampl

Looking for an easy and delicious way to support animals in need? Mark your calendars for Friday, July 31, 2026! Join us at Panera Bread (2534 Powell Ave, Nashville, TN) between 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM for a special giveback event benefiting the Rural Animal Rescue Effort (RARE). Whether you’re craving a fresh salad, a cozy bread bowl, or a warm sandwich, 30% of all eligible sales during the event will go directly toward funding medical care, supplies, and support for our rescue

NOW through July 14, every sip makes a difference! For every featured RARE cocktail sold at Rosemary & Beauty Queen, $1 is donated directly back to RARE!! Enjoy a great drink while helping us provide food, medical care, and supplies for our foster animals—and take one step closer to making our dream of a dedicated RARE adoption center a reality. Grab your friends, stop by Rosemary & Beauty Queen, and raise a glass to second chances! Cheers to sipping for a cause!

June was a puppy-filled month for RARE! We had an incredible time at Puppies & Yoga with Apple & Oak Nashville and Puppies & Pilates at the Kimpton Hotel alongside JETSET Pilates and Nashville Girls Club. Not to mention a mix and mingle dating event with ATKA. These events give our foster dogs invaluable opportunities to socialize, build confidence, and meet potential adopters—all while introducing more people to RARE's mission. We also popped up at the Wicked Night Market at

You may have seen this sweet litter on our Instagram! These puppies were called in from Lexington, Tennessee, and while we've already secured 4 amazing foster homes, we still need 8 more before we can bring the rest of these babies to safety. These pups are sweet and simply looking for a safe place to land. They come in all shapes and sizes—some are tiny (under 10 lbs), while others are already 15+ lbs. Though they're understandably unsure right now, we know that with love, p

Did you know RARE is participating in the Pedigree Foundation's Foster 50 Challenge this summer?! By growing our foster program, we have the opportunity to receive funding that would make a significant impact on the future of RARE and help bring us one step closer to our dream of creating a dedicated adoption center for rural animals in need. Every new foster home creates space for another life to be saved. Whether you can foster for a weekend, a few weeks, or longer, your ho

The time has come for Amaya's puppies to begin the next chapter of their journey, and we're actively seeking 6 more forever homes!! These sweet pups have been raised by an incredible mama and are already showing the affectionate, social, and playful personalities that make them so special. By adopting, you'll help them and they'll thank you in their forever homes. Dahlia Mae, Lily Mae and Rose Mae, are also looking for their forever homes. Read All Their Stories Here

RARE is proud to be participating in the Foster 50 Challenge, a nationwide initiative focused on helping animal welfare organizations grow and strengthen their foster programs. Through this challenge, we have the opportunity to grow our foster network and receive potential funding from the PEDIGREE Foundation for our dream adoption center. How can you help? Foster, Daycation, Staycation, and help us post on social media tagging @rarerescue @pedigreefoundation and #Foster50cha

Anyone remember one of our longtimer dogs, Marshall? He's been absolutely thriving in a foster home, but it's coming to an end on April 24th, and he’s in need of his next place to land. Marshall is a happy, affectionate boy with the perfect mix of playful energy and cuddle time. He’s crate and house trained, and has been doing so well settling into foster life (snuggling up while his foster works and going on walks around the neighborhood). If you or anyone you know may be in

These are the moments that make it all worth it—seeing our animals find their forever homes!! This month, we're celebrating official adoptions for: Tiny Tim Taissa Tally Piney Thank you to everyone who played a part in getting these pups home—our fosters, adopters, and supporters who share their stories and help them get seen.

Big news— a new rural intake, Amaya is getting ready to welcome her puppies any day now in her foster home. With a litter on the way, we're gathering supplies to make sure both mama and babies have everything they need from day one. If you've been looking for a way to directly support, this is a big one. 👉 Shop Amaya's Baby Shower Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2DUBXXGX4HCVL?ref_=wl_share Every item makes a direct impact—we truly couldn't do this without you

Looking for a low-commitment way to get involved? Our Doggy Daycation program lets you take a RARE dog out for a few hours—whether it's a walk, a coffee run, a hike, or just some time out of the house. It's one of the easiest (and most fun) ways to help our dogs get exposure, practice real-world skills, and create content that helps them get adopted. 👉 Sign up for a Doggy Daycation here: https://www.rarerescue.org/doggy-daycation

We had such a great time at our recent Giveback Night at Von Elrod's Beer Hall & Kitchen! Not only is their space incredibly welcoming (and dog-friendly!), but their team went above and beyond to support our mission. A portion of the evening's proceeds was donated back to RARE, helping us continue to provide care, resources, and second chances for animals across Tennessee. Not to mention, the guests were amazing, and resulted in a handful of adoption applications returned aft

Hey all, this is a real simple way to request files from adopters, fosters, volunteer or donors (or anyone else for that matter 🤣).

As we continue growing, here are a few areas where we could truly use support: • Foster families — even short-term fosters help us say “yes” to more lives. • Veterinary volunteer support — a Nashville-area vet tech open to volunteering part-time or as needed. • Animal-experienced handlers — to assist with foster transitions and safe introductions. • Corporate partnerships — does your company offer sponsorships, volunteer days, workplace giving, or opportunities to host adopta

You may have seen us frequently posting about Fiona, a pittie mix who had spent months in shelter care and was nearing a point where her time was running out. We posted. We reposted. And finally — a foster stepped up to take her in for two weeks. That “yes” didn’t just give her a change of scenery. It removed her from immediate risk and gave her a real chance at a future. Thank you to every single person who shared her story and helped us rally support. This is what happens w

If you’ve been following along, you may recognize some familiar names — Crowley, Clark, Bo, and Taissa. These sweet long-timers have been patiently waiting, and we are cautiously optimistic to share that as of February, they are all either settled into foster homes or beginning adoption trials. It’s too soon to celebrate just yet, but it’s movement — and for long-stay animals, movement matters. Join us in sending good thoughts, prayers, and hopeful energy their way as we hel

Annual Puppy Bowl | Big Impact Our Annual Puppy Bowl was more than just a fun day out — it was a life-changing one. Because our community showed up, we celebrated 4 adoptions, captured new content and profile photos for every attending animal, connected with new volunteers, and expanded our reach through shares and exposure across social media. And the momentum hasn’t stopped — 3 additional dogs are now in adoption trials as a direct result of the event. This is exactly what