Tim Woodward: Animal Rescue Corps And Large-Scale Rescues

Photo From: animalrescuecorps.org

Animal Rescue Corps is an organization dedicated to the rescue of animals. Its executive director and co-founder, Tim Woodward, has been nominated for the 2025 CNN Hero of the Year.

About Woodward and the Organization

Tim Woodward has a feature on the Animal Rescue Corps website, reading, “Tim Woodward, Executive Director, is a key member of the team responsible for the genesis of Animal Rescue Corps in 2010. He was driven to help start the organization after learning how few resources exist for situations of large-scale animal suffering…Tim assumed leadership of the organization in 2018 and has strategic and operational responsibility for Animal Rescue Corps’ staff, programs, growth, and mission impact.”

National animal law advocacy, Animal Legal Defense Fund, recognized Woodward as one of America’s Top Ten Animal Defenders back in 2020. ARC’s mission statement is, “Animal Rescue Corps’ mission is to end animal suffering through direct and compassionate action and to inspire the highest ethical standards of humanity towards animals.”

Taking Action

The organization takes direct action in three ways:

1. Conduct large-scale emergency rescues of animals who fall victim to abuse and disaster
2. Offer interventions to move high-risk and at-need animals from low-adoption shelters into high-adoption regions and offer other critical assistance to in-need shelters and communities
3. Raise public awareness of animal suffering and offer training for animal shelters, professionals, civilians, and volunteers

The Facts

According to the Animal Humane Society, more than 250,000 animals are hoarded in residences across the United States every year and they are often left to suffer in horrific conditions. Hundreds of animals are sometimes crammed into small spaces, living in their own waste. Woodward was like not on my watch.

He said, “Most people are shocked when they hear stories about a woman down the street who had 100 cats or dogs in her house. They can’t even imagine the cruelty that’s associated with that.” Before ARC, Woodward had worked at a national animal welfare organization. He realized there were deep-rooted issues in the system, where organizations and law enforcement agencies lacked the resources to address large-scale cruelty cases. This is what led him to co-found Animal Rescue Corps.

Some of their cases involve puppy mills, hoarding, dogfighting rings, and backyard breeders. Woodward explains the difference in scale for animal rescue, “Your average shelter is used to taking animals one or two at a time. We, on the other hand, pull in large numbers of animals from a crisis situation.”

The Animal Rescue Corps in Action

First, ARC is alerted to a case, most of the time through local law enforcement. The organization mobilizes lickety-split and drives anywhere within the US. They then work with local authorities to secure legal access and begin removing the animals. In removing animals, Woodward and his team make sure that the animal removal is safe and organized.

Teams document each animal and then immediately provide veterinary care as needed. Woodward explained, “We bring a very tight, trained team to that scene, including a state-licensed forensic vet, vet techs, as well as an intake team that is experienced in evidence, documentation, and trained handlers.” They are also sure to collect evidence for local law enforcement to pursue animal cruelty charges. Once it is safe and the rescued animals are treated initially on scene, they are transported to the ARC’s facility in Tennessee.

Then the animals undergo full medical evaluations, including testing for diseases, worms, and parasites. In some cases, the recovery process can take weeks or even months until the animals are healthy. 

A lot of the animals need to be socialized so they can prepare to be adopted. The organization has a team of volunteers who take care of the animals and play with them to help socialize them. Woodward has commented on this process, “The change in the animals is always remarkable. They come out of situations where they have no trust. Watching that animal learn to trust, it’s why all of us are committed to the work.”

Then once the animals have clean bills of health and have been socialized, they are placed with shelters to prepare to find their forever homes. According to Woodward’s estimate, the Animal Rescue Corps has saved more than 10,000 animals.

Taking Leadership

Woodward was the Animal Rescue Corps’ Chief Operations Officer for eight years before he took leadership of the organization in 2018. Since its founding in 2010, the organization has made great strides in rescuing animals in need on a large scale.

Whether it’s puppy mills, dogfighting rings, or hoarding, ARC and especially Woodward are committed to doing everything in their power to change the lives of these abused and neglected animals. It is so great to see him and the organization being recognized for the work that they do. I hope Woodward wins CNN Hero of the Year for 2025!