May rescue of the month
More than 20 years ago, Eleventh Hour Rescue began with one person deciding they could not walk away.
Founder Linda Shiller had recently started a new job when she began noticing the condition many animals in the New Jersey area. Day after day, she saw animals suffering, neglected, and overlooked. Eventually, watching from a distance no longer felt possible. What started with helping a single animal grew into a rescue that has now saved more than 50,000 lives.
The name Eleventh Hour Rescue reflects exactly the kind of work they do. Time and time again, they step in for animals who are out of options, often rescuing dogs and cats at the very last moment before euthanasia.
That mission still shapes everything they do today.
A mission built on second chances
Eleventh Hour Rescue’s mission statement is simple:
“Until the cages are empty.”
It is ambitious by design. For the team behind the rescue, the work is not just about finding homes for animals already in their care. It is also about addressing the larger issues that continue to fill shelters in the first place.
That includes promoting adoption and rescue awareness, supporting spay and neuter efforts, educating pet owners, and helping families access resources that make it easier to keep their pets.
Over the years, their rescue efforts have expanded far beyond New Jersey. While much of their community is based in Morris County, they regularly rescue animals from overcrowded shelters throughout the South, where overpopulation remains a major challenge. More recently, they have even begun rescuing animals internationally, including from Albania.
Never giving up
One of the things that sets Eleventh Hour Rescue apart is their commitment to being a true no-kill rescue.
They do not give up on animals simply because a case is difficult, expensive, or requires more time than expected. Whenever possible, they provide the medical care, rehabilitation, behavioral support, and patience needed to give each animal a real chance.
That commitment comes with emotional weight.
Every day, the rescue receives urgent requests asking them to step in before an animal runs out of time. One of the hardest parts of the work is knowing they cannot always say yes, even when they desperately want to. Responsible rescue means making sure the animals already in their care continue receiving the support they need.
Still, what keeps the team going are the moments on the other side of that work. Watching an animal who was once suffering leave with a loving family. Receiving updates from adopters months or years later. Seeing former rescue animals settle into safe, happy lives they may never have had otherwise.
Building a community around rescue
While rescue is at the heart of Eleventh Hour Rescue, community is what keeps it moving forward.
The organization is supported by several staff members and approximately 275 active volunteers, all working together to transport animals, run adoption events, foster pets, organize fundraisers, and support day-to-day operations.
They also place a strong emphasis on education and outreach, partnering with local schools and student-led organizations to teach younger generations about animal welfare, advocacy, and responsible pet ownership.
One program they are especially proud of is their Juniors Program, which encourages young people to get involved in rescue work early and understand the impact even one person can have. That idea feels especially meaningful for an organization that began with a single person choosing to help.
Rescue work beyond adoption
The work Eleventh Hour Rescue does extends far beyond adoption days.
They organize spay and neuter initiatives, provide food support for fosters and adopters facing financial hardship, and send supplies to rescue partners in the South when resources are limited. In some cases, they even help recently adopted pets receive medical care when families are struggling and the rescue is able to assist.
Like many rescues, one of their biggest ongoing challenges is fundraising.
While food and medical donations are always appreciated, there are countless behind-the-scenes expenses that make rescue possible, from transport and facility maintenance to emergency intake costs and daily operational needs. Those costs add up quickly, especially when the goal is to never turn away from the animals who need help most.
Local businesses making an impact
One of the things we love most about this month’s spotlight is how connected this rescue is to the local pet community.
Our May Business Spotlight, Maddie’s Dog Walking in New Jersey, has been a proud supporter of Eleventh Hour Rescue through fundraising efforts and involvement with their annual Puptoberfest event.
Partnerships like these show how much impact local pet businesses can have when they invest back into their communities. Whether it is helping raise funds, spreading awareness, or showing up at events, those connections help rescues reach more adopters, volunteers, and supporters.
For Eleventh Hour Rescue, visibility matters because every new connection creates the potential for another life saved.
Ways to get involved
Eleventh Hour Rescue hosts weekly adoption events every Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday at Roxbury Mall in New Jersey, giving the community regular opportunities to meet adoptable animals and learn more about the rescue. They also host their annual Puptoberfest celebration each October.
There are many ways to support their work, whether through fostering, volunteering, transport assistance, fundraising, outreach, or monthly donations. Even smaller recurring donations help create stability for long-term rescue efforts and allow the organization to continue saying yes when urgent cases arise.
And according to their cats, Fancy Feast Classic Pâté, as long as it is not seafood, is always appreciated too.
Why this work matters
At the center of Eleventh Hour Rescue is a belief that has guided the organization from the very beginning: one person choosing to help can create lasting change.
Over the past two decades, that belief has grown into a network of staff, volunteers, fosters, adopters, businesses, and supporters all working toward the same goal of giving animals the second chances they deserve.
We are proud to highlight Eleventh Hour Rescue as our May Shelter of the Month.
Are you a local pet business supporting a rescue in your community? We'd love to hear your story.