While volunteering at the local animal shelter, prior to COVID closing the facility to volunteers, the founder of CART observed the overpopulation of rescued cats and dogs in a state that does not have enough demand to absorb the available supply. Subsequently, while running a small foster-based rescue, she stumbled upon a transport relationship, which resulted in 90 cats being sent to Minnesota in an 8-month period. All the cats were adopted, most within 2 weeks!
Central Arkansas Rescue Transport (CART) was created in 2022 to help local rescues and shelters send adoptable cats on transport, making room to save more felines. An informal coalition was created in 2023, to expand the source of cats plus dogs for the growing number of CART destination partners. By the beginning of 2024, this coalition had expanded from 5 to 7 members, adding our 8th member in mid-2024.
In 2024, our name was changed to the Coalition of Animal Rescue Transporters to reflect our updated business strategy. In early 2025, our 9th Coalition member joined.
