Darbster Rescue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2009 with a focused and urgent mission: to reduce pet overpopulation and thereby reduce the number of adoptable dogs and cats euthanized in the Southeastern United States.
Darbster Rescue was created by Ellen Quinlan and her husband, Alan Gould, at the same time that they opened their waterfront restaurant, “Darbster”, 100% of whose profits are dedicated to Darbster Rescue.
From 2009 to 2014, the organization concentrated its efforts on prevention, working tirelessly to curb the cycle of unwanted litters entering an already overwhelmed shelter system.
By 2014, it was clear that prevention alone was not enough. Out of that realization, Darbster Kitty was born.
Beginning in 2014, Darbster expanded beyond prevention to include direct lifesaving, transporting homeless, unwanted, neglected, abandoned and abused dogs and cats from high-intake regions in the southeastern U.S. to no-kill New Hampshire, where demand for adoptable pets exceeded supply. This model has become the cornerstone of Darbster Rescue’s impact.
Darbster Rescue now operates three adoption facilities in New Hampshire. In 2014, Darbster Kitty was opened in Manchester, New Hampshire to facilitate the rescue, transport and adoption of cats and kittens. Darbster Doggy, located in Chichester, New Hampshire, opened in late 2018. At the end of 2023, we opened an Adoption Campus at the Mall of New Hampshire in Manchester.
Darbster Kitty and Darbster Doggy facilities offer boarding services with the profits going to help support further rescue efforts.
A tremendous help to this effort has been our partnerships with other rescue organizations in both the southeast and in New England. A list of our rescue partner is included at the end of this article.
From 2015 to the end of 2025, we transported and helped save the lives of over 25,000 homeless pets!
We have increased our transports each year, from 231 kitties in 2015 to an average of 3,000 annually 10 years later, offering cats and kittens, dogs and puppies a second chance at a life every pet deserves.
Darbster Rescue has sustained and grown its spay/neuter efforts which were central from the start to our mission. Steadfast funders in Palm Beach and Miami-Dade Counties augmented our services there with the addition of a mobile spay/neuter clinic in 2023. Then in December 2025 a generous benefactor contributed a major gift to expand these essential surgeries for Broward County.
There is still much to be done to end the unnecessary euthanasia of adoptable pets. Please join us in being part of this crucially important movement.
Rescue Partners in the South
AHA Animal Rescue, Inc. (FL)
Anderson County PAWS (SC)
Animal Rescue Force of South Florida, Inc. (FL)
Friends of the Animal Shelter (SC)
Bahamas Humane Society (BS)
Barker Rescue Project (SC)
Bella’s Promise Pet Rescue (FL)
Big Dog Ranch Rescue (FL)
Broward County Animal Care (FL)
Clewiston Animal Control (FL)
Dr. Sloane Robins/SAFE Pets (FL)
Furry Friends Humane (FL)
Humane Society of Highlands County (FL)
Magic City K9 (FL)
MARC – Marion Animal Resource Connection (TN)
Miami-Dade County Animal Services (FL)
Morgan County Animal Services (GA)
Nala’s New Life Rescue (FL)
Okeechobee County Animal Control Services (FL)
Palm Beach County Animal Care & Control (FL)
Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League (FL)
Polk County Bully Project (FL)
Redland Dog Sanctuary (FL)
Saving Sage Animal Rescue Foundation, Inc. (FL)
Seminole County Animal Services (FL)
SoBe Cats (FL)
South Florida Mutt Rescue (FL)
Tupelo Lee Humane Society (MS)
UFAR Animals Rescue (FL)
Vieques Humane Society and Animal Rescue (PR)
West Palm Beach Animal Clinic (FL)
X-Port Paws (FL)
Adoption Partners in the North
Animal Rescue of New England (NH)
As Sweet as a Peach Rescue (MA)
Cape Ann Animal Aid (MA)
Derry Humane Society (NH)
Darbster Doggy (NH)
Darbster Kitty (NH)
Darbster Rescue at the Mall (NH)
Ellen Gifford Cat Shelter (MA)
Happy Tails Pet Rescue (NH)
Humane Society for Greater Nashua (NH)
MidCoast Humane (ME)
Motley Mutts Rescue (NH)
Naomi Covino Brown Dog Rescue (NH)
New Hampshire Humane Society (NH)
Petco: Manchester, Hooksett, Salem & Concord (NH)
PetSmart: Nashua & Concord (NH)
Pope Memorial of Cocheco Valey (NH)
Salem Animal Rescue League (NH)
Standish Humane Society (MA)
The Humane Society & Shelter SouthCoast (MA)
Tipsy Tabby Cat Café (NH)
