The Runaways Animal Rescue
Our Mission
The Runaways Animal Rescue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to protecting, advocating for, and improving the lives of companion animals in need. We are committed to providing medical treatment, rehabilitation, and a safe, compassionate environment until every animal finds their perfect forever home.
Our Story
Founded in March 2020 at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, our organization was created to give vulnerable animals in Pasco County and the greater Tampa Bay area a second chance at life. What began as a grassroots, foster-based effort quickly grew into a full-service, 7,000-square-foot facility where we continue to expand our reach through medical care, community outreach, and humane education.
How We Help
We operate as a dedicated animal rescue and adoption center, supported by a passionate team of staff and over 100 volunteers. Our model includes rescuing animals from overcrowded shelters and emergency situations, providing comprehensive rehabilitation, and operating an on-site veterinary clinic to ensure our animals—and community cats through our TNVR program—receive the high-quality care they deserve.
Your Partner in Adoption
Adopting a rescue pet is a meaningful way to change a life, and our process is designed to make that experience simple, transparent, and joyful. We take the time to match each animal with a safe, loving home, ensuring that you and your new companion are set up for success from the very first day. When you adopt from us, you aren't just gaining a family member—you are helping us open up space to save another animal in need.
Join Our Mission
Are you ready to meet your new best friend? We invite you to browse our current list of adoptable dogs, cats, and small animals on our website or visit us during our Saturday open adoption hours. Together, we can build a more compassionate community one rescue at a time.
Trust Assessment
BronzeRated Aug 25, 2026
NonprofitVerifiedOperating 5+ years
FinancesOnline Review Highlights
- Compassionate staff
- Successful adoption experience
- Communication responsiveness
Vetted by
How we assessRecent Videos
10/11 - Kittens are SO GOOD for your mental health! 🐱🧠 In fact, studies show that the more kittens you own, the happier you are. 📈 𝘚𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘤𝘶𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘨𝘴, 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘱𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘦𝘵. 🐶😂 Sounds like pretty solid science to us! 🐾 Ready to test this theory yourself? Visit our site to meet our adoptable kittens and apply to adopt one… or three! 😻 https://www.runawaysanimalrescue.org/adopt-cat-pasco-county #RunawaysAnimalRescue #AdoptAKitten #RescueCats #AdoptDontShop #KittenTherapy
Watch on Instagram
10/8 - PIT BULL AWARENESS MONTH continues! ❤️🐾 This Saturday, come meet some of the pitties, staffies, and bully mixes currently waiting for their people. 🐶 They may share the blocky heads and big smiles we love, but each one is an individual with their own personality, needs, and perfect-home wish list. Browse their bios on our website before you come, then meet some of these sweethearts during Open Adoptions! 📅 Saturday | 12–4 PM 📍 8020 Washington St, Port Richey 🐾 No appointment necessary Some dogs are in foster care and may require a scheduled meet-and-greet. Come looking for the dog who fits your life, not just a label. 🏡❤️
Watch on Instagram
10/8 - October is Pit Bull Awareness Month, and we’re using it to introduce you to the dogs behind the label. Meet Hawthorne, Pepper, and Blue. ❤️ and their rescue friends Mustard, Sphynx and Chino. They may share a breed type or category, but their personalities, energy levels, quirks, and ideal homes are completely their own. That’s why we want people to meet the dog first. Look past the label. Learn who they are. Ask what they love. Find out what kind of home helps them thrive. One of them might be exactly who you’ve been looking for. 🐾 View our available dogs and apply at runawaysanimalrescue.org #PitBullAwarenessMonth #PitBullLove #AdoptLocal #AdoptDontShop #RunawaysAnimalRescue
Watch on Instagram
10/1 - How to keep a blockhead entertained…. Give him a piece of ice 🧊 😹 Chino is available for adoption! He’s 3.5 years old, and 80lbs of American Bully goodness. Neutered, Vaccinated, and Up-to-do on Prevention. Learn more at runawaysanimalrescue.org #adoptme #adoptdontshop #adoptdogs #ambully #dogsofinstagram
Watch on Instagram
10/1 - Chino can’t come to the phone right now… unless you’re calling to adopt him. 📞😂 Serious inquiries only. Chino has a very busy schedule of Nylabones, ball chasing & couch snuggles. 💙 CHINO 🌱💙 🐾 3 years old 🐾 76 lbs 🐾 American Bulldog 🐾 Neutered 🐾 Housetrained + crate trained 🐾 Affectionate + loves his people 🐾 Playful + active 🐾 Loves walks, car rides + Chuckit! balls 🐾 Emotional-support Nylabone enthusiast 😂 🐾 Excellent snoozer + couch snuggler 🐾 Cat-free home 🐾 Recovering beautifully from Demodex
Watch on Instagram
10/1 - Rambling Ralph is officially RETIRED from rambling. ❤️ At 8 years old, Ralph has had enough of life on the streets. When he came to us, his paw pads had injuries that appeared to be burns from walking on hot pavement. With medication, rest, and plenty of indoor TLC, his paws are already doing so much better. Now he’s discovered that indoor life comes with some pretty great perks: wet food, treats, attention, and humans available for petting. 😂 Ralph is a big, handsome sweetheart who loves attention and will happily greet you at the door to see what you’re doing. He gets along with other cats, is litter box trained, and somehow this big former tomcat has the cutest little high-pitched meow. 🥹 His street days are behind him. Now we need to help him leave shelter life behind, too. 🏡 Rambling Ralph | 8 years old | Male DSH 🐱 Gets along with cats 🚽 Litter box trained ❤️ Professional attention seeker 🍽️ Highly motivated by treats and wet food Ralph is done rambling. Help us find him somewhere worth staying forever. 🏡💛 Share for reach, or Apply online to Adopt or Foster: runawaysanimalrescue.org
Watch on Instagram
10/1 - 🌙🐾 Goodnight from our rescue dogs. The kennels are quiet, the lights are low, and these pups are catching up on some much-needed sleep. But while they’re snoozing, you can help them get one step closer to home. 💤🏡 Scroll through our website tonight. Read their bios. Look through their photos. And when someone catches your eye, share them. Send their profile to a friend, family member, coworker, neighbor, anyone who just might be their perfect match. You never know whose share will reach the person they’ve been waiting for → RunawaysAnimalRescue.org 🐶 Apply to adopt 🏡 Apply to foster 🐾 Sign up to volunteer Goodnight, pups. Maybe tomorrow someone will wake up and choose you. ❤️ #animalrescue #animalshelter #rescuedog #adoptme #rescuedogsofinstagram
Watch on Instagram
9/26 - It’s International Rabbit Day, but these six are still waiting for the one thing they really want: a forever home. 🐰 Lance + Armstrong have been waiting since July 24, 2024. That’s 794 days. More than TWO YEARS. 💔 And Bunyonce + Hoprah Winfrey and Hops Solo + Bun Affleck have been waiting since July 19, 2025. That’s 434 days and counting. Three bonded pairs. Six wonderful rabbits. Each pair already has a best friend. Now they just need their family. 🥹🐇 This International Rabbit Day, help us get them in front of the right people. Share this reel, tag your rabbit-loving friends, and visit runawaysanimalrescue.org to learn more and apply to adopt. ❤️
Watch on Instagram
9/25 - Sometimes a basket of kittens gets dumped… and then Momma is found too. 🥹🐾 What started as an unexpected intake turned into a little family safely reunited at the rescue. 🤍 Now Mom and her babies can settle in together while they get the care they need in a foster home. Unexpected intakes like this come with unexpected expenses. If you’d like to help support their food, supplies, and veterinary care, please consider donating: RunawaysAnimalRescue.org Can’t donate? Share their story and help this little family get some love. 🐱💕 This is Tarragon and her three littles: Clover, Nutmeg, & Thyme
Watch on Instagram
9/25 - Chino is looking for his person. 💙 Someone who likes to get outside for a walk. Someone who’ll throw a ball around the yard, take him along for a car ride, and then make room beside them when it’s time to relax. Because Chino is a little bit of everything. He’s playful and active when it’s time to have fun, but he’s also a BIG snoozer who loves settling in and relaxing with his people. He’s affectionate without being too clingy, has great house manners, and is excellent in his crate when needed. Walks. ✔️ Ball in the yard. ✔️ Car rides. ✔️ Nylabones. ✔️ Couch snuggles. ✔️ Serious naps. ✔️✔️ He doesn’t need someone who’s constantly on the go or someone who never leaves the couch. He’d love a little bit of both. Chino is ready for a person who wants a companion to actually do life with!! If you can already picture him walking beside you, riding shotgun, and snoozing at home after, maybe you’re exactly who Chino has been waiting for. 🏡🐾 Apply to adopt Chino.💙Available through @runawaysanimalrescue
Watch on Instagram
9/23 - It’s lunchtime… who’s hungry for some very cute adoptable dogs?! 🍤🥐😂 Sometimes they are a shrimp. Sometimes they are a croissant. Sometimes they are a little rotisserie chicken! But all the time, they are adoptable. 🐶❤️ See a snack you’d like to bring home? Head to runawaysanimalrescue.org to meet our available dogs, read their profiles and submit an adoption application. And please share the menu so these pups can be seen! 🐾
Watch on Instagram
9/22 - Chino went to the office today. 💼🐾 His schedule was absolutely grueling: Pup cup ☕️ Nap 💤 Cookies 🍪 Nap 💤 Accept compliments from coworkers Nap again. Productivity? Questionable. Office morale? At an all-time high. 😂 Chino would like everyone to know he’s currently accepting applications for a permanent work-from-home position with excellent snacks and benefits. 💙 Apply to adopt this hardworking boy! Available through @runawaysanimalrescue
Watch on Instagram
9/20 - 𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐁𝐈𝐆 𝐃𝐎𝐆 𝐏𝐄𝐎𝐏𝐋𝐄?! 📣 The big jowl lovers. The gentle giant type. The people who see 76–88 pounds of bully breed beefcake and think, “𝘠𝘦𝘱. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨.” 😂❤️ 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐝 + 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐨. 🐾 MUSTARD 2 years old | American Bulldog / Large Mixed Breed Neutered male | 88 lbs 🐾 CHINO THE CHIA PET 3.5 years old | American Bulldog Neutered male | 76 lbs Big heads. Big jowls. A whole lotta dog to love. If you’re a bully breed person, Mustard or Chino might just be your next family member. ❤️ Meet them: read their full profiles + apply → runawaysanimalrescue.org #adoptme #adoptdontshop #bigdog #rescuedog
Watch on InstagramVisit Us At
Filters
