Overview

The Western Region Homeland Security Advisory Council (WRHSAC) undertook a unique disaster planning / preparedness, response and recovery initiative designed to enhance the capabilities to meet the needs pet owners and pets during and following emergencies and disasters. Entitled the Western Massachusetts Disaster Animal Response Team (DART) Initiative this project had several goals and objects.

First to assess the current capabilities of various animal and sheltering stakeholder organizations to respond to meet the needs of pets and their owners during and following emergencies and disasters which threaten the region.

Second to facilitate an animal sheltering exercise designed to validated operational concepts that were currently being utilized.

Third to work in with the region's animal and sheltering stakeholder organizations to develop relevant Pet Friendly Shelter plans and procedures.

This initiative was facilitated in the Western Massachusetts region comprised of the following four counties:

• Berkshire County
• Franklin County
• Hampden County
• Hampshire County

Western Massachusetts DART Initiative

Information regarding the initiative can be found below.

DART Core Competencies Training (Recommended)

Dog Day Disaster - A Pet Friendly Shelter Tabletop Exercise

On October 5 DART members as well as other animal and sheltering stakeholder organizations had an opportunity to work together as a unified team to open, manage and close a Pet Friendly Shelter.

Access the Dog Day Disaster Tabletop Exercise web site for additional information regarding this unique exercise.

Western Massachusetts Pet Friendly Shelter Planning and Response Materials

Pets Are Us - A Pet Friendly Shelter Drill

The Pets Are US - A Pet Friendly Shelter Drill was developed to provide DART members with an opportunity to utilize the Pet Shelter Operations Tool Kit and to assess their managment skills in opening, managing and closing  a Pet Friendly Shelter. 

A Pets Are Us Drill planning and facilitation PowerPoint Presentation has been prepared to serve as an overview of the actions that will need to be taken leading up to the drill and the process of safely facilitating the drill.

Volunteer Recruitment / Retention Resources

Pet Friendly Lodging

Animal Disaster Planning Resources / Best Practices

Animal Disaster Response Web Sites