PCHS alum helped form Animal Rescue Corps in 2010 to handle large-scale animal rescues, and changed the lives of more than 10,000 animals
By Randy Arrington
MARKSVILLE, Oct. 27 — When Tim Woodward arrived on the scene of Operation Caged Hell a couple of years ago, there were more than 700 animals on the scene that needed his attention. There were chickens and rabbits in cages in the yard, and they would find cats, “many dogs” and… around 600 rats and mice.
“I remember law enforcement saying, ‘You’re not going to worry about the rats and mice are you?’ and we said, ‘Absolutely we are’,” Woodward told PVN. “There were 600 rats and mice kept in horrific conditions, tanks filled with feces, smashed against the side smothered in their own excrement. But we identified and labeled each mouse and rat, along with cats, many dogs, rabbits, chickens…I think there were over 700 animals in all.”
They would soon learn why there were so many rats and mice.
When law enforcement entered the home, they found a small child in the living room, with his toys by his side…inside a cage…and surrounded by aquariums filled with snakes.
“It is heartbreaking,” Woodward said of the things he’s seen since forming Animal Rescue Corps (ARC) in 2010.
The 1985 graduate of Page County High School was living in San Francisco when his love for animals took a huge step — he found Giza. His bond with the Pharaoh hound and Ridgeback mix would elevate his appreciation and understanding of animals.
“They have a whole range of emotions,” he said.
As he worked with In Defense of Animals and focused on animal rights issues in California, Woodward witnessed a broad view approach to addressing the issue, while he yearned for more direct action. He began meeting more and more with people involved directly with animal rescue work.
“I saw where lots and lots of companion animals were suffering, and law enforcement didn’t have the resources…such as personnel or housing for the animals, staff, funding or capacity to care for the animals,” he said. “Those animals are yours, you take custody until you can find something to do with them.”
So in 2010, a small group of like-minded people launched a “large-scale emergency rescue” organization that gets called in (often by law enforcement) when situations involving companion animals are particularly bad, or particularly large. An annual budget of just over $1 million supports 12 to 15 big calls each year, along with raising public awareness and conducting training sessions for shelters, citizens and volunteers.
Now, after touching the lives of more than 10,000 animals and countless humans over the past 15 years, Stanley native and current Marksville resident Tim Woodward has been named a CNN Hero. He is also nominated as a finalist for the 2025 CNN Hero of the Year. (See link below for the video interview.)
“The biggest thing of all is it’s bringing more eyes and awareness to the work we and many other organizations are doing…just getting exposure, and this brings attention and ultimately changes minds and hearts,” Woodward said.
And it also brings some much-needed funding. The initial award for being named a CNN Hero brought with it, a $10,000 cash award. If Woodward earns the title of 2025 CNN Hero of the Year, the national non-profit Animal Rescue Corps could receive $100,000.
“This prize will directly fund rescues, medical care, rehabilitation, and rehoming,” according to the ARC website.
To see the CNN INTERVIEW with Tim…
Animal Rescue Corps is headquartered in Washington, D.C. However, it’s flagship rescue center is a half-hour northeast of Nashville, Tenn. in a town called Gallatin. It’s a pretty good drive to get within sight of Roundhead Mountain back in the Page Valley, back to where he can remember sneaking outside at night to let his dog off a chain and into the house. The common practice at the time of outdoor chaining fueled Woodward’s early urge to fight for animals.
And while he finds it both physically exhausting and mentally taxing at times, he never lacks for motivation for going to work each day.
“Every case is its own motivation and it’s own reward,” Woodward said. “Every arrival is its own reward. Seeing the difference you make in the moment. They say, ‘You can’t save every animal in the world, but every time you do save one, it’s their whole world.’ When we’re lucky, we see the joy of the family they end up with. Every single one is an inspiration and a reward.”
Through the more than 10,000 animals he’s saved, Woodward has lived the non-profit’s mission “to end animal suffering through direct and compassionate action and to inspire the highest ethical standards of humanity towards animals.”
ARC often works with law enforcement, and not every call is a capture or taking; sometimes they work with owners to get surrenders of high at-risk animals. Dogs and cats are the most predominant by far, but ARC’s six-member staff has also handled cases with squirrel monkeys, ferrets, guinea pigs, regular pigs, and lemurs.
“They are such beautiful and intriguing animals,” Woodward said of the lemurs. “These types of animals go into sanctuaries because the average citizen doesn’t know how to care for an exotic animal.”
ARC was nominated for the CNN Hero honor by a supporter and former publicist in Nashville in 2024. It would be April before Woodward heard back from a CNN producer asking if he would concede to “extensive vetting.” Then after going through background checks, including interviews with staff in the organization, CNN sent a producer to Gallatin in June.
“We’re kind of figuring this out as we go,” Woodward said of the CNN recognition. “They’ve been doing this about 15 or 20 years, but there have been a lot of changes over the last few years…everything is a little different. What I believe will happen is that there will be a voting process…soon, maybe the end of October through November, with results and a tribute show in December.”
CNN Heroes does allow the public to vote for the finalist whose story, impact, and accomplishments best exemplify a CNN Hero. Voting is now open and continues until Sunday, Nov. 30, at 11:59 p.m. (PT). Votes must be submitted with a verifiable email. Limit of 10 votes per day, with an opportunity to earn extra votes daily by sharing via Facebook or X. (See link below for more voting information.)
For most of the first year that ARC existed, Woodward toiled away at his passion with no paycheck. Now, he is being considered for a nationwide honor.
“The need was always calling,” he said, “and 15 years later we are busier than ever and feel we are a little more sustainable.”
Animal Rescue Corps ~ STAFF
- Tim Woodward, Executive Director – oversee all operations
- Amy Haverstick, Director of Operations – assists law enforcement and investigations
- Kim Rezac, Director of Animal Welfare – care of animals while in custody
- Michael Cunningham, Director of Administration – shelter director and public information
- Sarah Lux, Director of Development – fundraising and marketing
- Veterinarian is contracted to work a couple of days a week.
They all suffer “compassion fatigue” from time to time — when bad calls or horrible sights haunt them for a while after the job is done.
“Confronting those situations over and over again can be debilitating,” Woodward said. “You have to find support, keep a personal balance in your life, and make sure members of your team are doing that as well.”
“It is heartbreaking,” he continues. “It’s hard to see animals treated that way…you see people who have no care for animals…and when you go into some conditions that people are living in, it just blows your mind…three or four people living in filth and trash and feces…sometimes for days we are left just imagining how people live in that environment, and I don’t have an answer for that.
“I really don’t.”
But he’s seen the transformation. He’s seen life come back into their eyes, and lives changed forever — both animals and humans.
“Some don’t even trust or want to be around humans, and to see them come around is amazing,” Woodward said. “I don’t know how to deal with people, but animals I seem to understand more…I think animals have more resilience and are more forgiving.”
How You Can Make a Difference
- Vote for Tim Woodward today: cnn.com/world/heroes/vote
- Share with friends, family, and colleagues — every vote helps expand their reach.
- Spread the word on social media using hashtags #CNNHeroes #VoteForTim #AnimalRescueCorps.
To donate to this national non-profit, tax-deductible, 501(c)(3) organization
impacting the lives of hundreds of animals each year,
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For more information about voting
in the CNN Hero of the Year contest,
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Beautifully written. VOTE FOR TIM!
Click the link and help Tim become the 2025 CNN Hero of the Year and earn $100,000 for his worthwhile non-profit organization that has saved more than 10,000 animals since 2010. The winner will be announced at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6 when CNN airs its All-Star Tribute to the Top 5 Heroes of 2025. Tim is now among the Top 5 finalists in the competition.