Why NARSO Was Created
Animal rescue organizations do extraordinary work every day, often with limited resources and enormous responsibility. Yet rescue organizations have historically had to navigate a wide range of professional guidance, legal requirements, industry recommendations, and operational resources without a single comprehensive framework for responsible rescue.
NARSO was created to help bridge that gap.
What We’re Building
The National Animal Rescue Standards Organization is developing a practical, evidence-informed framework that brings together the many responsibilities involved in operating a responsible rescue organization, from animal health, welfare, foster care, and adoption to governance, financial stewardship, volunteer management, transparency, data practices, and organizational ethics.
By pairing clear standards with education, practical resources, and voluntary certification, NARSO aims to give rescue organizations both a roadmap for strengthening their work and a meaningful way to demonstrate their commitment to responsible rescue.
Our Mission
NARSO exists to advance responsible companion-animal rescue through evidence-informed standards, education, practical resources, and voluntary certification that promote humane, ethical, transparent, and sustainable rescue practices.
What Makes NARSO Different
NARSO takes a whole-organization approach to responsible animal rescue. While animal health and welfare remain at the heart of the standards, NARSO also addresses the operational practices that allow rescue organizations to succeed, including governance, financial stewardship, foster and adoption programs, volunteer management, recordkeeping, transparency, and ethics. By connecting evidence-informed standards with practical tools, education, and voluntary certification, NARSO is designed not only to define responsible rescue, but to give organizations the resources and support to put those practices into action.
How Standards Are Developed
NARSO standards are being developed using established animal-welfare research and professional guidance, real-world rescue experience, and review from subject-matter experts in areas including veterinary medicine, animal welfare, law, finance, organizational governance, behavior, human resources, technology, and privacy.
Founding Directors
Christa Amari
Founder & Executive Director
Lydia Swanson
Feline Rescue Director
Jackie Armour
Canine Rescue Director
TBD
Small Animal Rescue Director
TBD
Veterinary Director
Rebecca Malloy
At-Large Director
Jennifer Popovich
Legal & Ethics Director
John Semanchik III
CPA & Finance Director
John Semanchik IV
Technology Director