START Animal Rescue

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

05/22/2026

It’s often the shy dogs who suffer the most❤️‍🩹, and that’s why we help rescue so many just like this little one here who we picked up a few days ago. If you want to help a dog make it out of a shelter, please consider covering the cost of seat for an animal, or a few, or even a whole vehicle full.
💚SPONSOR A SEAT💚—> link in bio

05/17/2026

🚐We helped a lot of puppies make it out of shelters this week, including this adorable girl who we picked up and brought to , one of our amazing rescue partners in the Pacific Northwest 🏔️ She’s going to be such an amazing dog and make one special family very happy!

05/16/2026

This wiggle-butt was as enthusiastic as they come to have escaped the very scary shelter and our amazing rescue-assistant Sierra, was thoroughly delighted to join the welcome-committee 💚😆🐾

05/11/2026

Please welcome COWGIRL to the START crew! She’s up for adoption in Portland already and is a wonderful girl but needs a calmer home without children because she likes to herd (nip at) little running feet! She’s a timid little gem and came from a rescue group who ran into some permitting issues and needed to secure spots for 33 dogs in 10 days while they addresses the problem.
We took in a few of their dogs including Miss Cowgirl here.

🚨 URGENT - PAID FOSTER NEEDED🚨PUMA needs a foster home ASAP. Without placement, she will need to go into boarding.🐾We ar...
05/07/2026

🚨 URGENT - PAID FOSTER NEEDED
🚨PUMA needs a foster home ASAP. Without placement, she will need to go into boarding.
🐾We are looking for the right environment where she can feel safe and settle with an experienced individual

🏡 Ideal Home:
Calm, low-traffic household (not a lot of people coming and going)
Secure backyard
No other pets (no dogs or cats)
Adults or experienced handlers preferred

🐾 About PUMA:
PUMA is a 10-year-old girl who has experienced a lot of change and is looking for stability. She bonds closely with her people and does best with a small, consistent circle.

She enjoys:
Walks
Relaxing in the yard and watching birds
Spending time with her people

She is:
Housebroken
Crate trained
In good health (recent dental completed)
Physically active and enjoys exercise
⚠️ Important Notes:
PUMA is protective of her home and people. She does best in a structured environment and will need to be crated or separated when visitors are present. With her people, she is loyal and affectionate.

💚 Support Provided:
Foster stipend 300 per month
Food and supplies
All medical care covered

if you can help puma, please reach out to [email protected] she is currently in the Los Angeles area.
❤️

05/03/2026

💚🐾Meet one of our newest rescued dogs, TOBY.
TOBY has a heart of gold, but his little body has really been through a lot. So when we got the opportunity to take him in after his owner died, we were happy to do so. He’s going to need a serious dental, and will likely need to be on pain meds for the rest of his life as a result of some prior injuries, and lack of care.
Sso far he’s been treated for a terrible ear infection, some skin infection issues, an a**l gland issue, and had x-rays of his formally broken bones to see if there was anything we could do. We are working on a game plan for him and already have him on a much better diet, probiotics, pain meds, antibiotics, and he is slowly starting to improve day by day! We can’t wait to see him become his best self.
Thank you to Foster Danielle who is his angel and who made his rescue possible, and to her beautiful spouse pictured here! It takes a village and when everybody is on board, it makes a huge and positive difference! if you’d like to donate and help Sweet Toby, you can do so at ➡️startrescue.org. Then ➡️Hit the big donate button and ✍️just write Toby in the note. Thank you! 💚🐾

BUFFY has officially been ADOPTED! …And in additional amazing news, she was adopted by the same family who adopted NACHO...
05/02/2026

BUFFY has officially been ADOPTED! …And in additional amazing news, she was adopted by the same family who adopted NACHO (Lil Rikki) - on the far left. Now they get to be BFFs FURever 💚💚 Happy long and happy lives to them both. We love seeing “feral” dogs find their way into wonderful homes where patience is the key to being tamed. Their adopters are Angels! ❤️

🚨Rescue-Mission happening now. Pick a dog below and become part of their rescue story.---> Donate at: bit.ly/SponsorApri...
04/29/2026

🚨Rescue-Mission happening now. Pick a dog below and become part of their rescue story.---> Donate at: bit.ly/SponsorApril29

Right now, these dogs are waiting in shelters where time is not on their side. Some have been overlooked because they’re shy. Some need a little extra care. Some are simply too big to be chosen quickly. But every one of them is still hoping.
Our transport is their way out.

With a small “Sponsor a Seat” donation, you’re not just helping with gas or logistics—you’re giving a dog the chance to leave fear behind and step into something better.

When you sponsor a dog, we’ll send you their photo with our thank you note via email!

Choose a dog.

Be the reason they get out.

Help them find their way to a FURever home.

Click the link to sponsor a seat and be part of their journey.

🐾💚

🚨 LOS ANGELES —> THIS IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOWThe Los Angeles City Council is actively reviewing the city’s budget for the...
04/27/2026

🚨 LOS ANGELES —> THIS IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW

The Los Angeles City Council is actively reviewing the city’s budget for the upcoming year — and decisions are being made over the next few weeks.

This is when funding priorities are shaped, including what goes to Los Angeles Animal Services.

Every year, we see the same outcome:
💔Overcrowded shelters
💔More abandoned animals
💔 More suffering that could have been prevented

There is a proven solution:
👉 Community-based spay & neuter

📞 HERE’S HOW TO HELP (2 minutes):
1. Find your council member:
👉 https://neighborhoodinfo.lacity.gov
2. Call their office
3. Say:

“Hi, my name is [your name], I live in [your ZIP code].
I’m asking for increased funding for community spay and neuter programs. Thank you.”

📲 Then ask one friend in LA to do the same.

This is the window where public input actually matters 🅱️efore the budget is finalized.

Real change starts with pressure from the community. 🐾

Address

Oregon City, OR
97045

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