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Our Mission to Save Lives
Founded in 1998, Rescue the Animals, SPCA covers over 20 West Texas counties. We dedicate every day to rescuing homeless pets, promoting spay and neuter programs, and fighting animal abuse and neglect.
As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, we rely 100% on private donations to fuel our mission. Every donation is tax deductible and directly supports life-saving medical care and transport for animals with nowhere else to turn.
Important Notice!
Rescue the Animals isn't open for local adoptions, but we do occasionally have animals that are not promised to a Rescue Partner. If we have available animals, we post on Facebook (@RescueTheAnimals). Please browse the Area Shelters page links to find adoptable pets.
Our Rehabilitation & Transportation Center in Abilene
Our physical facility is the largest one we know of in the nation that ONLY houses animals for rehabilitation or those awaiting transportation. We often have over 100 animals in our kennels.
Animals receive a workup including basic tests and vaccinations. Major medical work is a huge part of our budget. Surgeries like amputations, eye removals, repairing broken or shattered bones is performed by veterinarians. Plus we treat parvo, heartworms, and other major illnesses.
How are we different?
Unlike most rescues, we operate on a national scale through our Pets On The Go National Network, connecting with rescue partners across 41 states and Canada.
Think of us like a central transit hub: just as major couriers route packages through a central city to reach destinations nationwide, we move animals through our Abilene Rehabilitation & Transportation Center. By bringing vulnerable pets to Abilene for medical care and connecting them to partner rescues across the continent, we give West Texas animals access to a massive national network of adopters.
Where do our animals come from?
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West Texas Rescues. We take in animals seized from cases of abuse, severe neglect, and hoarding.
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At-Risk Euthanasia Lists. We partner with shelters across Texas to pull pets off urgent 24-hour time limits.
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Low-Demand Rural Shelters. We bring in as many animals as possible from small municipal shelters where adoptions are rare.
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Special-Needs & Elderly Pets. We actively rescue the old, sick, and injured animals who need extra medical care and love.
Where do our animals go?
Because many animals are selected by our partner rescues before they even arrive in Abilene, nearly 90% have pre-approved adoptive families waiting for them when they leave our facility. When our transport vehicles arrive in states like Wisconsin, Illinois, or Florida, forever families are often standing by ready to welcome their new best friends.
Our Impact on the Abilene Community
Because our center focuses heavily on national routing, we do not host high-volume local adoptions. This is intentional: it leaves over 1,500 local homes open each year to adopt directly from Abilene animal shelters (e.g., All Kind Animal Initiative), giving local shelter pets the best possible chance at adoption.
