About Us

Established in early 2006, the National Animal Rescue and Sheltering Coalition 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 the 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.

The National Animal Rescue & Sheltering Coalition includes eight members:

• American Humane Association (AHA)
• American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)
• Best Friends Animal Society
• Code 3 Associates
• International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)
• National Animal Control Association (NACA)
• Society of Animal Welfare Administrators (SAWA)
• United Animal Nations/Emergency Animal Rescue Services (UAN/EARS)

Coalition representatives have been meeting regularly to identify, prioritize and find collaborative solutions to the major human-animal disaster issues currently being discussed at the federal, state and local levels. The following list contains some of the animal related issues we have addressed:

• Standardization of core competencies training for disaster responder trainings
• Credentialing of professional responders (the “Q” Card)
• Volunteer management and training
• Typing of animal rescue, transport and sheltering resources
• Assisting state and local entities in disaster planning under the PETS Act
• Creation and acceptance of a Code of Conduct for all NARSC members
• Professional development towards a Type 3 Animal Incident Management Team

NARSC has established regular communication channels and working relationships with the major federal departments and agencies that have roles in emergency response and animal issues, building a strong record of working effectively and cooperatively with other disaster Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) as well as with local, state and federal entities.

Recognizing the fact that animal issues are human issues, we look forward to working with government and NGO agencies to ensure that ALL members of families – whether human or animal – are included in disaster preparations, response, and recovery.