START Animal Rescue

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START Animal Rescue START transports at-risk animals from high-kill shelters in CA to rescue partners in the Pacific NW. Since our founding in 2011, we have saved over 13,000 pets.
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Everyday thousands of helpless and defenseless animals both young and old are killed in Southern California shelters due to lack of homes and shelter overcrowding. Shelter Transportation Animal Rescue Team (START) is a 501©(3) non-profit organization formed in May 2011 by a group of active and concerned animal lovers—Steve Spiro, Suzanna Urszuly, and Rene Ruston—to address the horrifying issues of

animal overcrowding by providing two necessary and significant components: Transportation and Spay/Neuter. Shelter Transport Animal Rescue Team (START) , rescues animals from overcrowded high-kill Southern and Central California shelters. We transport monthly up to 125 animals via our customized vehicle to fully vetted organizations in Oregon & Washington, where they are readily adopted into good homes. We also provide spay/neuter and medical help to the underserved communities in Riverside, Colton, Palmdale, Lancaster and other areas in need. In addition to our Transport program and Spay/Neuter program to underserved communities, we have the "Beyond Borders" program that rescues dogs out of Mexico and Dog Meat Farms in South Korea, Grassroots program to assist small rescues with seed money to rescue animals from high kill shelters. START relies on generous donations to keep its transports and Spay/Neuter services running. For more information on how you can get involved and donate visit, http://startrescue.org/donate/ or contact Steve Spiro: [email protected]. A special thanks to the generous donations from donors like you, our reputation keeps on growing, making a real difference in the animal’s lives! For more information check out our website www.startrescue.org and follow us on Twitter
https://twitter.com/STARTRescueTeam

🌭Happy Howloween from BOBO! 🎃Still looking for his forever home. it’s been almost a year… 👻And he’s pretty perfect! ➡️Co...
01/11/2025

🌭Happy Howloween from BOBO!
🎃Still looking for his forever home. it’s been almost a year…
👻And he’s pretty perfect!
➡️Contact the amazing Suzy [email protected] to learn more 📍LA

❤️

It’s inconceivable that people would dump these dogs, but there they were, dumped, scared, and at risk at a shelter in P...
31/10/2025

It’s inconceivable that people would dump these dogs, but there they were, dumped, scared, and at risk at a shelter in Porterville, CA.
Each of these sweet souls luckily, also found rescue commitment from a high traffic, phenomenal rescue group in Portland OR, but the planned for, private transport fell through at the last minute due to an emergency!

So, when a rescue friend (an angel of a human!) at the Porterville shelter reached out asking if we could help… we said yes of course. 💚 It’s our mission in life to help honestly.

So now these pups are safe and sound in Portland! Some are even already in new loving homes. 💚From dumped to loved and in a home! 🏡

Stay tuned, we’ll be sharing their rescue video soon! 🚐🐾 ❤️❤️❤️

31/10/2025

💚You may recall COCO (now Bugsy) who was part of a large batch of confiscated dogs from a breeder-turned-hoarder house.
Last week we had the GREAT NEWS from our vet that over the last month his heart had improved, he had gained weight, and his labs were finally looking good…So Bugsy was approved for surgery!
Today he received a MUCH needed dental and he was neutered. His mouth was terribly infected, and they had to pull most of his teeth, but luckily he had ZERO heart troubles during his surgery! He will be right as rain soon and for now he will be spoiled! We are so grateful that he is alive and well!

💎Meet CALLIE!💎She’s up for adoption near Portland, ORThis sweet dog is the perfect mix of playful and chill. CALLIE is g...
25/10/2025

💎Meet CALLIE!💎She’s up for adoption near Portland, OR

This sweet dog is the perfect mix of playful and chill. CALLIE is gentle, loving, and happiest when she’s near her people. Whether she’s enjoying a walk, relaxing in the yard, or lying by your side while you work, she’s just happy to be part of the day.

CALLIE loves the company of other dogs!

She’s affectionate and adores attention—so much so that she sometimes tries to climb right into your lap during cuddle time! She’s truly a big lapdog at heart.

There’s nothing complicated about CALLIE—she’s easygoing, loyal, and ready to be someone’s perfect companion. If you’re looking for a dog who balances fun playtime with calm, loving companionship, CALLIE could be the one.

📍 Location: Portland, OR
💚 Adoption Fee: $300
💉 Spayed & Vaccinated

📩 To learn more or set up a meeting:
Email [email protected]
or apply at startrescue.org/adopt

Last week, we got the SOS about friendly house cats and kittens being dumped at a park in Bakersfield. A compassionate l...
21/10/2025

Last week, we got the SOS about friendly house cats and kittens being dumped at a park in Bakersfield. A compassionate local resident has been doing her best to feed and fix them, but with kittens having kittens, it was quickly becoming overwhelming — and only going to get worse.

So — we teamed up with her and our friends at the nonprofit Simi Valley Clinic to see what we could get done!

This past Monday, the first 20 cats were safely packed into an SUV and driven to the clinic, where START provided spay/neuter surgeries and vaccinations. Many have already gone into loving foster homes and will soon be transported to forever homes in Canada! 🇨🇦

We even stopped along the way to bottle-feed tiny babies who are still too young for surgery — because every life counts.

🚨 Our goal is to continue this mission until every cat the Good Samaritan is helping is FIXed, and this park is no longer a dumping ground.

🐾 Want to help?
• Sponsor a FIX through a spay-and-neuter donation 💚
• Foster a cat or kitten
• Donate toward supplies and transport

Together, we can turn this heartbreak into hope.

💚 Thank you for following and for always standing with us.

Donations:
➡️ STARTrescue.org
➡️ STARTrescue.org/spay-neuter-program

🐱

How many photos of your dog sleeping do you have on your phone right now? 🐾💚IRIS(Adopted)💚🐾
19/10/2025

How many photos of your dog sleeping do you have on your phone right now?
🐾💚IRIS(Adopted)💚🐾

We are smiling because …💚 BIG NEWS💚 We earned the annual GreatNonprofits Top-Rated Badge again this year! This recogniti...
16/10/2025

We are smiling because …
💚 BIG NEWS💚 We earned the annual GreatNonprofits Top-Rated Badge again this year!
This recognition comes straight from your reviews—adopters, fosters, volunteers, donors, and partner rescues who believe in moving animals from risk to safety. Thank you for fueling lifesaving transports, FIX days, and START Foster Big Dog Sweethearts every single week. Together, we save lives! 🎉🐾💚

❤️

12/10/2025

💚 Merch That Saves Lives 🐶
Tons of options, great styles, soft-quality fabrics, and fun designs — every purchase helps fund our rescue missions!

➡️ STARTrescue.org/merch
🚛 Please allow up to 2 weeks for delivery.

09/10/2025

💚 It’s DAF Day! 💚
Do you have a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF)?
💚If so, those funds are already set aside for charity — and today is the perfect day to put them to work saving lives.

💚Your DAF grant to START Rescue helps us transport dogs out of overcrowded shelters, provide spay/neuter in underserved communities, and give second chances to animals who need them most.

👉 Recommend a grant today and make an immediate difference: bit.ly/STARTDAF
💚🐾

Today the world says goodbye to Jane Goodall, a woman who forever changed the way we see animals. Her groundbreaking wor...
02/10/2025

Today the world says goodbye to Jane Goodall, a woman who forever changed the way we see animals. Her groundbreaking work with chimpanzees and her lifelong dedication to conservation showed us that kindness and respect can bridge the gap between species.

At START Rescue, we have each admired her dedication and commitment over the years in our own ways, and we are deeply grateful for the path she paved and the inspiration she gave to all who fight for animals. Her legacy will continue to guide so many 💚 We send her, and her family and all who loved her kindness and love from the bottom of our hearts.

*PHOTOGRAPH BY HUGO VAN LAWICK/NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CREATIVE

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