It's More Than a Rescue Mission — It's a Lifeline!

Every month, dogs on the brink of euthanasia in overcrowded shelters get the ride of their lives — and their second chance — thanks to the Heroes Club and our amazing partner, The Underdog Railroad. Through our flagship mission, the Freedom Ride, we travel up to 1,500 miles in the Freedom Van, delivering pups to loving foster homes and rescue partners along the West Coast and into Canada. Each mile traveled, each happy tail wag, is fueled by dog lovers like you — proving that with love, teamwork, and hope, “unwanted” becomes “homebound.”

How It All Began

The Freedom Ride mission was inspired by a remarkable act of dedication one night on a rural highway in Montana. As fate would have it, our founder, Terry, and his wife found themselves following a van from a shelter in Northern California — a kill shelter — packed with dogs heading north. It was Cara from The Underdog Railroad.

 

They soon learned that Cara had rescued 34 dogs from overcrowded Central Valley shelters, some just hours away from euthanasia, and was personally delivering them to foster homes, forever families, and no-kill shelters along the route.

Even more incredible, this one person had been doing these lifesaving trips for years, saving over 4,000 dogs — often using the kill shelter’s own van to do it.

We knew we had to help. We partnered with her organization, The Underdog Railroad, and when we asked what she needed most, the answer was simple: a dedicated transport van and funding to keep the rides going.

 

So, in April 2024, we purchased the Freedom Van, a Ford Sprinter, and committed to financially supporting every Freedom Ride mission.

 

Today, these journeys cover up to 3,000 miles, taking dogs from certain death to loving arms — proof that compassion, teamwork, and action can turn “unwanted” into “homebound.”

And while it felt good to make a difference, we realized the problem was much bigger and we would need more help. 

How Our Charity Partner Network Makes Freedom Rides Possible

Freedom Rides are a massive team effort, made possible by the incredible network of charity partners working together every step of the way.

 

It all begins with The Underdog Railroad, our lead transport partner, who rescues dogs from overcrowded kill shelters across Northern California. Some dogs are also brought in from the Stockton Animal Shelter straight to Underdog Central (better known as Cara’s home), which serves as a temporary haven before the journey.

 

While they wait for their Freedom Ride, foster families — including our friends at Resilient Dog Rescue and a handful of dedicated local fosters — provide safe, loving homes.

Once the Freedom Van is packed with its precious passengers, the real journey begins. Along the route north, each stop is a carefully planned handoff to one of our trusted partners:

  • South Ogden Animal Services offers an overnight rest stop for pups en route to their final destinations.

  • Many dogs are welcomed by Fetching Mutts Transport Society, a world-class foster network that places them in new forever homes.

  • Some lucky pups are even adopted before the van leaves, meeting their families right at the station.

  • The final stop is the Tobacco Valley Animal Shelter in Eureka, Montana — marking the end of a 1,300-mile, one-way journey from “at risk” to “at home.”

Every Freedom Ride is living proof of what’s possible when passionate rescues, foster heroes, and animal lovers unite for one shared mission: to make the world a better place for dogs.

Title