diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 54a6911..800354d 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -6,3 +6,4 @@ BACKEND_URL=http://localhost:5000
 VITE_API_BASE_URL=http://localhost:5000/api
 NODE_ENV=development
 ADMIN_EMAILS=corey@blaishome.online
+RESCUE_STATUS_NOTIFICATION_EMAIL=appadmin@flockpal.app
diff --git a/backend/src/app.ts b/backend/src/app.ts
index 9b81c56..c7cbb00 100644
--- a/backend/src/app.ts
+++ b/backend/src/app.ts
@@ -219,6 +219,7 @@ const smtpUser = process.env.SMTP_USER?.trim() ?? '';
 const smtpPass = process.env.SMTP_PASS?.trim() ?? '';
 const smtpFromEmail = process.env.SMTP_FROM_EMAIL?.trim() ?? '';
 const smtpFromName = process.env.SMTP_FROM_NAME?.trim() || 'FlockPal';
+const rescueStatusNotificationEmail = process.env.RESCUE_STATUS_NOTIFICATION_EMAIL?.trim() || 'appadmin@flockpal.app';
 const adminEmails = new Set(
   (process.env.ADMIN_EMAILS ?? '')
     .split(',')
@@ -487,6 +488,64 @@ const sendMagicLink = async ({
   };
 };
 
+const escapeHtml = (value: string) =>
+  value
+    .replace(/&/g, '&')
+    .replace(/</g, '&lt;')
+    .replace(/>/g, '&gt;')
+    .replace(/"/g, '&quot;')
+    .replace(/'/g, '&#39;');
+
+const sendRescueStatusNotification = async ({
+  workspace,
+  ownerEmail,
+  event,
+}: {
+  workspace: WorkspaceRow;
+  ownerEmail: string | null;
+  event: 'created' | 'converted' | 'status_changed';
+}) => {
+  const statusLabel = workspace.rescue_verification_status.replace(/_/g, ' ');
+  const eventLabel = event === 'created' ? 'created' : event === 'converted' ? 'converted to rescue' : 'status updated';
+  const subject = `FlockPal rescue status: ${workspace.name} ${eventLabel}`;
+  const escapedWorkspaceName = escapeHtml(workspace.name);
+  const escapedStatusLabel = escapeHtml(statusLabel);
+  const escapedOwnerEmail = escapeHtml(ownerEmail ?? 'unknown');
+  const escapedBillingEmail = escapeHtml(workspace.billing_email ?? 'not set');
+  const lines = [
+    `Rescue flock: ${workspace.name}`,
+    `Event: ${eventLabel}`,
+    `Verification status: ${statusLabel}`,
+    `Owner email: ${ownerEmail ?? 'unknown'}`,
+    `Billing email: ${workspace.billing_email ?? 'not set'}`,
+    `Flock ID: ${workspace.id}`,
+  ];
+
+  if (!mailTransport) {
+    console.log(`Rescue status notification for ${rescueStatusNotificationEmail}:\n${lines.join('\n')}`);
+    return { delivered: false };
+  }
+
+  await mailTransport.sendMail({
+    from: smtpFromName ? `"${smtpFromName}" <${smtpFromEmail}>` : smtpFromEmail,
+    to: rescueStatusNotificationEmail,
+    subject,
+    text: lines.join('\n'),
+    html: `
+      <p>A rescue flock was ${eventLabel}.</p>
+      <ul>
+        <li><strong>Rescue flock:</strong> ${escapedWorkspaceName}</li>
+        <li><strong>Verification status:</strong> ${escapedStatusLabel}</li>
+        <li><strong>Owner email:</strong> ${escapedOwnerEmail}</li>
+        <li><strong>Billing email:</strong> ${escapedBillingEmail}</li>
+        <li><strong>Flock ID:</strong> ${workspace.id}</li>
+      </ul>
+    `,
+  });
+
+  return { delivered: true };
+};
+
 const issueMagicLinkInvite = async ({
   email,
   name,
@@ -1006,6 +1065,12 @@ app.patch('/api/admin/rescue-workspaces/:workspaceId', requireAuth, requireSessi
       return;
     }
 
+    await sendRescueStatusNotification({
+      workspace,
+      ownerEmail: null,
+      event: 'status_changed',
+    });
+
     res.json({ workspace: normalizeWorkspace(workspace) });
   } catch (error) {
     next(error);
@@ -1098,6 +1163,14 @@ app.post('/api/workspaces', requireAuth, requireSessionAuth, async (req: Request
       owner: req.auth!.user,
     });
 
+    if (workspace?.workspace_type === 'rescue') {
+      await sendRescueStatusNotification({
+        workspace,
+        ownerEmail: req.auth!.user.email,
+        event: 'created',
+      });
+    }
+
     res.status(201).json({ workspace: normalizeWorkspace(workspace!) });
   } catch (error) {
     next(error);
@@ -1126,6 +1199,14 @@ app.put('/api/workspace', requireAuth, requireWriteAccess, requireWorkspaceRole(
       billingPlan,
     });
 
+    if (workspace?.workspace_type === 'rescue' && req.auth!.workspace.workspace_type !== 'rescue') {
+      await sendRescueStatusNotification({
+        workspace,
+        ownerEmail: req.auth!.user.email,
+        event: 'converted',
+      });
+    }
+
     res.json({ workspace: normalizeWorkspace(workspace!) });
   } catch (error) {
     next(error);
diff --git a/docker-compose.prod.yml b/docker-compose.prod.yml
index 0c88dd5..93357b0 100644
--- a/docker-compose.prod.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.prod.yml
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ services:
       FRONTEND_URL: ${FRONTEND_URL:?set FRONTEND_URL for production}
       BACKEND_URL: ${BACKEND_URL:?set BACKEND_URL for production}
       ADMIN_EMAILS: ${ADMIN_EMAILS:-}
+      RESCUE_STATUS_NOTIFICATION_EMAIL: ${RESCUE_STATUS_NOTIFICATION_EMAIL:-appadmin@flockpal.app}
       GOOGLE_CLIENT_ID: ${GOOGLE_CLIENT_ID:-}
       GOOGLE_CLIENT_SECRET: ${GOOGLE_CLIENT_SECRET:-}
       MICROSOFT_CLIENT_ID: ${MICROSOFT_CLIENT_ID:-}
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index afda506..5ddc573 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ services:
       FRONTEND_URL: ${FRONTEND_URL:-http://localhost:3000}
       BACKEND_URL: ${BACKEND_URL:-http://localhost:5000}
       ADMIN_EMAILS: ${ADMIN_EMAILS:-}
+      RESCUE_STATUS_NOTIFICATION_EMAIL: ${RESCUE_STATUS_NOTIFICATION_EMAIL:-appadmin@flockpal.app}
       GOOGLE_CLIENT_ID: ${GOOGLE_CLIENT_ID:-}
       GOOGLE_CLIENT_SECRET: ${GOOGLE_CLIENT_SECRET:-}
       MICROSOFT_CLIENT_ID: ${MICROSOFT_CLIENT_ID:-}