According to '' The Gettysburg Times '' , the " American Humane Association began offering animal relief in August , 1916 , by accepting an invitation of the War Department to help animals used by the U.S. Army during WWI . The invitation resulted in the development of the American Red Star Animal Relief Program known today as Red Star Rescue Relief . Since its inception , the American Humane Association 's Red Star Animal Emergency Services has responded to national and international disasters , rescuing thousands of animals . " Disasters where the group has rescued animals include the 2011 Joplin tornado , Hurricane Katrina , the 2010 Haiti earthquake , Hurricane Sandy , the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami , and the September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
American Humane