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Rural Animal Rescue Effort

RARE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Middle Tennessee dedicated to rescuing at-risk animals from underserved rural communities, placing them in foster and adoptive homes throughout the greater Nashville area, and reducing overpopulation through education and spay/neuter assistance.

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Total Lives Saved

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Total Adoptions

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Total RARE FIX Spay/Neuter

ways to get involved

There are so many things that you can do to support RARE, many from the comfort of your home. Contact us to learn how you can help!

ADOPT

Find your new best friend today. Browse our available rescues and give a loving animal their forever home.

ADOPT A PET

FOSTER

Open your heart and home. Provide a safe, temporary space for an at-risk pet while they wait for adoption.

FOSTER

VOLUNTEER

Give your time to save lives. Join our team to help with events, transport, or daily rescue care operations.

BE A VOLUNTEER

EVENTS

Connect with our community. Join us at upcoming local gatherings, fundraisers, and adoption mobile drives.

UPCOMING EVENTS

ways to adopt

RARE's mission is primarily focused on rural communities in northwest and middle Tennessee without animal shelters or with small municipal animal control facilities that euthanize for space and/or time. Our primary foster and adopter base is in the Greater Nashville area of Middle Tennessee. 

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DOgs

Dogs and puppies, rescued by RARE and ready for adoption.

Dogs
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Cats

Cats and kittens, rescued by RARE and ready for adoption.

Cats
Image by Janan
small animals

Rabbits and Guinea Pigs, rescued by RARE and ready for adoption.

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how to adopt

Details about adopting a dog, cat, or other animals from RARE.

how to adopt
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RARE

RancH

Join us in our fundraising campaign to build RARE Ranch - Adoption and Community Center.

donate to our capital campaign

FROM OUR COMMUNITY

Read firsthand experiences from the people who have fostered, adopted, volunteered, supported, and partnered with RARE.

Bettina Reed

RARE has connected me with two of my very best friends - Maggie & Bonnie (formerly Estellita & Joni). In 2023, I was searching for a pup companion for my senior pup, Roosevelt. I came across RARE and told Trisha I was looking for a dog that would match Roosevelt’s chill energy and would be good with kids. We did a meet and greet with Maggie and it was an instant yes. Maggie, her mom and siblings came all the way from Texas! Maggie is my best companion and the sweetest friend to all of my kids. Since then, I’ve had the chance to foster some amazing pups and kittens which has been such an enriching experience for my kids. This past year, we fostered Bonnie (previously Joni) from the Rock n roll litter. Bonnie is the best mix of spunky and affectionate- her and my husband instantly clicked, and so she too joined the crew 💜
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Kat Prins

I didn’t find RARE so much as RARE found me, I was volunteering at a county shelter and there was a dog who had landed on the euthanasia list. I offered to foster if the shelter could find a rescue willing to take him in and lo and behold, RARE and Trisha were there. Since then I’ve fostered 7 animals and adopted 2, and become a member of the volunteer team. I couldn’t be more grateful for everything RARE has given me and their willingness to step up when others look away.
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Dottie Beasley

I first found RARE in 2018 when we were looking for a rescue pup to add to our family. After searching online for weeks I saw our dog Chewie and fell in love! He had been rescued from a hoarding situation and they believe he spent most of his life chained to a tree. I contacted Trisha and could tell right away how caring she was and wanted to make sure Chewie (then Teddy Bear) found the right home. She brought him over for a trial and the rest is history! Chewie brought so much joy into our life for the years he was with us until he passed in 2022. A few years later I was so happy to reconnect with RARE and become a volunteer and foster. Now part of the RARE family for life!
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RARE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Middle Tennessee dedicated to rescuing at-risk animals from underserved rural communities, placing them in foster and adoptive homes throughout the greater Nashville area, and reducing overpopulation through education and spay/neuter assistance
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