Established in early 2006, the National Animal Rescue and Sheltering Coalition (NARSC) is an outgrowth of the unprecedented disaster season of 2005, when major storms - most notably Hurricane Katrina - impacted more people and their companion animals than any other time in the history of the United States. In the aftermath of that storm season, the major national animal protection organizations in the U.S. met to discuss ways in which animal disaster response resources could best be used collaboratively and effectively in future events.

In the years since Katrina, these organizations have continued to work on major issues that came to the forefront during this crisis, developing a working coalition to facilitate responses to large-scale incidents and addressing the ongoing concerns. This coalition of national animal protection organizations represents more than 15 million animal care and control professionals, volunteers, and pet owners. Participants in the Coalition include the most experienced, qualified animal rescue and sheltering management professionals in the country. Member agencies have cooperatively responded nationally and internationally to wildfires, floods, ice storms, tornadoes, hurricanes and other natural disasters; as well as man-made animal disasters including puppy mills and hoarding situations.