Are you with a shelter, veterinary office or other rescue service provider needing to verify Certification Status of a rescue organization?
View our"Member Finder" page which is updated regularly.

Excellence in Animal Rescue
Each year millions of animals are euthanized in shelters due to lack of space, lack of finances and lack of access to other organizations to turn to for help. Most of these animals are adoptable. There are nearly 20,000 rescue organizations in the USA, yet until now, there has been NO association to help standardize the animal rescue industry, provide listings and outreach to shelters.

The Animal Rescue Association of America assists our members by reaching out to everyone involved in the animal rescue industry.  We offer services to shelters and veterinarians by providing information about members and assurances that Certified Rescue Organizations operate in accordance with the Animal Rescue Code of Ethics.
In addition, the Association provides other helpful services including microchip information, mediation services, and lost pet advice.

However, please note, the Association is NOT an animal rescue organization – we are a “member association”.   Click here to find out more about the animal rescue industry.  If you have found a lost animal or wish to report an animal abuse situation, please contact your local animal control.  If you have lost your pet, we offer advice on quickest ways to be reunited.

The Story Behind the
Animal Rescue Association of America

There is no group that works harder than animal rescuers...all on a volunteer basis, yet there is no national forum to help them and honor them.  The animal rescue industry is one of the few left with NO national association...until now.  The Animal Rescue Association of America was founded to:

• Help new rescue organizations in their start-up phase to ensure they have best practices in place, and to offer assistance to existing rescues
• Bring together animal rescue organizations (members) to support each other through networking
• Set standards, best practices, and systems (with member input)
• Offer a certification program for rescue organizations (the first in history for our industry)
• Offer animal shelters confidence in working with our C.R.O.’s (Certified Rescue Organizations)
• Honor and recognize rescue organizations and volunteers for their passion and hard work, and for making a difference in the lives they save
• Educate the public regarding the benefits of spaying/neutering their companion animals
• And ultimately, to help our member rescues increase animal adoptions and decrease animal euthanasia