The following is a draft list of some of the Animal Disaster Groups serving California. Regional, Statewide, and National Groups are all listed. Personal and private phone numbers are not listed, therefore it is highly recommended that you contact a group in your area and become familiar with them before an incident. That way you will have any additional contact information that you may need in the middle of the night. This list is in no way complete. California Animal Response Emergency System (CARES) is in charge of Mutual Aid for Animal Disaster Groups in California. Visit their website for additional information (CARES Website). Please contact the Webmaster with any updates, omissions or corrections to this list.
California Regional Animal Disaster Groups
Organization Name: Alta Roma Riding Club Emergency Response Team (ALTRC ERT)
Region: Rancho Cucamonga
Scope/Mission: Emphasis is on evacuation of horses.
Association/Sponsor: Rancho Cucamonga Fire Department
Coordinator/Contact Information: Bob Olari olari1@aol.com (909) 987 8677
Webpage: http://www.altalomaridingclub.com/altalomaridingclub/ERT.htm
Resources: 20-30 Volunteers with trailers
Insurance Information: Unknown
Additional Information: This group was very active during the 2003 Southern California fires.
Nonprofit Status: 501 (3) (c)
Organization Name: Santa Cruz County Equine Evacuation Unit
Region: Santa Cruz County
Scope/Mission: Emphasis is on evacuation of horses.
Association/Sponsor: County Office of Emergency Services
Coordinator/Contact Information: Lyn Hood lyhood@cabrillo.edu
831-475-3323, Steve Richmond muckerstwo@aol.com, 831-335-3542
Webpage: n/a
Resources: 150 Volunteers, broken into 8 area teams, with trailers
Insurance Information: Worker's Comp. through OES
Additional Information: Established in 1997, have done flood evacuations
in the Santa Cruz Mountains, on standby for fire evac. in other counties.
Nonprofit Status: No, Under OES
Organization Name: CVMA Disaster Response Group of Nevada County
Region: Nevada and Placer Counties
Scope/Mission: Assist in evacuation and sheltering of animals
Association/Sponsor: California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA)
Coordinator/Contact Information: Pat Elhers (530) 477-6506
Webpage: http://www.cvma.net
Resources: 200+ Volunteers Nevada/ 50+ Volunteers Placer
Insurance Information: CVMA and Disaster Service Workers
Additional Information: Mutual aid to Placer County.
Nonprofit Status: Unknown
Organization Name: North Valley Animal Disaster Group (NVADG)
Region: Butte County (Surrounding areas via Mutual Aid)
Scope/Mission: Working with emergency services to educate the public about disaster preparedness,
and assist in sheltering and evacuation of animals during a disaster.
Primary emphasis is on assisting local fire departments with evacuation and sheltering of animals during fires and floods.
Association/Sponsor: Sponsored by Butte County Animal Control. Also Butte County Emergency Services Office, as all Volunteers are Disaster Service Workers.
Coordinator/Contact Information: Hotline (530) 895-0000, PO Box 441, Chico CA 95927,
Coordinator: John Maretti (530) 345-0240 jmaretti@ci.chico.ca.us nvadginfo@yahoo.com
Webpage: http://www.animaldisaster.org
Resources: 100 Volunteers (30 with horse trailers), large storage trailer with temporary shelter equipment
Insurance Information: Worker's Compensation through Butte County Public Health. Also covered through Disaster Service Worker.
Board of Directors insurance.
Additional Information: This group has done an excellent job of training and coordinating with local emergency services.
All Volunteers on the Evacuation Team are required to have Pre-Exposure Rabies Vaccination. NVADG spearheaded the animal evacuation and sheltering efforts during
the month-long fire siege in Butte County in June and July 2008.
Nonprofit Status: 501 (3) (c) Federal and State
Organization Name: County Public Health Animal Care and Control
Region: San Bernardino
Scope/Mission: County Animal Control
Association/Sponsor: County Public Health
Coordinator/Contact Information: Captain Steve Fries (909) 891-3857
Webpage: n/a
Resources: They have about 20 people that have 8 hours of training. They ride with ACOs during a disaster.
Insurance Information: Disaster Service Worker
Additional Information: Coordinated NGOs during the Southern California Fires. (NORCO, Alto Loma Riding Club, HSUS, AHA)
Nonprofit Status: no
Organization Name: Emergency Animal Rescue (EAR)
Region: San Diego
Scope/Mission: We provide emergency assistance and evacuations for animals both domestic and wildlilfe that are in life threatening situations. We are not an adoption or rehabilitation facility.
Association/Sponsor:
Coordinator/Contact Information: Doug Lake, Jan Pincton ear@rescueteam.com
(760) 789-5775 P: (760) 735-0448
Webpage: http://www.emergencyanimalrescue.org
Resources: 50+ Volunteers
Insurance Information: Liability insurance only
Additional Information: MOU with United Animal Nations, and we have also worked two national disasters with Code 3 Associates along with I.F.A.W.
Nonprofit Status: 501 (3) (c)
Organization Name: San Diego Animal Rescue Reserves (ARS)
Region: San Diego County
Scope/Mission: Evacuation and sheltering of large animals (horses)
Association/Sponsor: San Diego Humane Society (Not to be confused with San Diego Animal Services)
Coordinator/Contact Information: ARS Coordinator: Lt. Paul Brizuela (619) 299-7012
Volunteer Coordinator: Suzette Hunter
Humane Society Director: Mark Goldstein, Assistant Director: Renee Harris
Webpage: n/a
Resources: 30 Volunteers, most with horse trailers
Insurance Information: Unknown
Additional Information: This group was very active during the September 2003 fires.
Nonprofit Status: Unknown
Organization Name: County of San Diego Department of Animal Services
Region: San Diego, California
Scope/Mission: Evacuation and sheltering of animals.
Association: County Government
Coordinator/Contact Information: Lt. Dan Desousa Dan.Desousa@sdcounty.ca.gov 619 767 2624
twenty-four hour dispatch (non-public) 619 531 6051
Department Director: Dawn Danielson 619 767 2766
Web Page: n/a
Resources: 35 Animal Control Officers, two horse trailers, 3 animal shelters
Insurance information: self insured
Additional information: This department was the lead agency during the devastating fires in October 2003.
Nonprofit Status: no
Organization Name: Yuba Sutter Domestic Animal Disaster Assistance
Region: Yuba and Sutter County
Scope/Mission: Evacuation and sheltering of animals, ongoing community
awareness of importance of preplanning with pets for disasters; support for
inclusion of animal component in counties' emergency response plans
Association/Sponsor:
Coordinator/Contact Information: Ginny Paschke (530) 674-1190, volunteer@ysdada.org
Webpage: http://www.ysdada.org
Resources: 30 Volunteers
Insurance Information:
Additional Information: This is the area that was devastated during the 1997 floods and prompted the forming of CARES.
Nonprofit Status: 501 (3) (c)
Organization Name: South County Large Animal Rescue
Region: El Dorado County
Scope/Mission: Primarily to assist in disaster evacuation of animals facilitated by working with emergency services and local Fire Safe Council. To educate the public about disaster preparedness & evacuation protocols.
Association/Sponsor:
Coordinator/Contact Information: South County Large Animal Rescue, PO box 445 Somerset, Ca 95684.
E-Mail is SouthcountyLAR@yahoo.com
Telephone: (530)626-6757 Ryn Woll or (530)409-1203 Aimee Burkhart
Webpage: http://www.sclar.org
Resources: 40+ Registered Disaster Service Workers; over 50 members; Approximately 20 with horse trailers and facilities.
Insurance Information: Liability and DSW as applies
Additional Information: Our goal is to have each member become a Registered Disaster Service Worker. We are very community oriented and actively promote our organization through community involvement
Nonprofit Status: 501(c)(3)
Organization Name: American Humane, Red Star Emergency Services
Region: National
Scope/Mission: Coordination, evacuation and sheltering of animals
Association/Sponsor: Animal Planet/Michelin Tires
Coordinator/Contact Information: Debrah Schnackenberg
California Contact: John Maretti (530) 345-0240
Webpage: http://www.americanhumane.org
Resources: 30 Volunteers, truck and horse trailer
Insurance Information: Liability Insurance
Additional Information: Been around since 1919.
Nonprofit Status: 501 (3) (c)
Organization Name: Code 3 Associates
Region: National, based in Colorado
Scope/Mission: Code 3 Assoc. is dedicated to both professional disaster
response for animal needs and to training individuals involved in animal
related law enforcement and emergency response. We work in partnership with
all qualified organizations involved in disaster relief to help animal
welfare and public safety professionals increase public awareness and
preparedness for disasters.
Association/Sponsor: Unknown
Coordinator/Contact Information: wcraig@Code3Associates.org
303-772-7724 303-485-6210 fax Warren Craig (Logistics & Supply Chief)
PO Box 1128, Erie, CO 80516 Chris C: (240) 687-6010
Webpage: http://www.Code3Associates.org
Resources:
Insurance Information: Unknown
Additional Information:
Nonprofit Status: Unknown
Organization Name: Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)
Region: National
Scope/Mission:
Association/Sponsor: n/a
Coordinator/Contact Information: Eric Sakach (916) 344-1710
5301 Madison Ave, Suite 202, Sacramento, CA 95841
Webpage: http://www.hsus.org
Resources: 30 National Team Members
Insurance Information: Liability
Additional Information: This is the largest national animal group.
Nonprofit Status: 501 (3) (c)
Organization Name: USDA-NAHERC (National Animal Health Emergency response Corps.)
Region: National/International
Scope/Mission: Disaster Response & Disease Outbreaks. ESF # 8-11
Association/Sponsor: USDA
Coordinator/Contact Information:
Thomas Cunningham (301) 734-4933
USDA-APHIS-Veterinary Services
Emergency Management & Diagnostics
Preparedness and Incident Coordination Division
Nat'l Center for Animal Health Emergency Management
Office - 301.734.4933
Fax - 301.734.7817
(W) Cell - 240.252.8088
(P) Cell - 443.253.0141
Webpage: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ep/naherc/
Resources: 600 Accredited National Team Members
Insurance Information: Liability
Additional Information: This is the largest national animal Emergency Management Response Organization.
Nonprofit Status: Unknown
Organization Name: United Animal Nations, Emergency Animal Rescue Services (UAN EARS)
Region: National
Scope/Mission:
Association/Sponsor: n/a
Coordinator/Contact Information:
Webpage: http://www.uan.org/
Resources: Numerous Volunteers
Insurance Information: Liability Insurance
Additional Information:
Nonprofit Status: 501 (3) (c)
Organization Name: Colorado State Animal Response Team (SART)
Region: Colorado
Scope/Mission:
Association/Sponsor: Colorado Veterinary Medical Foundation
Coordinator/Contact Information: Dr. Kevin Dennison, DVM (303) 318-0447
Webpage: n/a
Resources:
Insurance Information:
Additional Information: This is the second state to organize a SART/CART system.
Nonprofit Status: Unknown
Organization Name: North Carolina State Animal Response Team (SART)
Region: North Carolina
Scope/Mission:
Association/Sponsor:
Coordinator/Contact Information: Dr. Mc Ginn, DVM (919) 622-6041
(888) 989-SART
Webpage: http://www.ncsart.org
Resources:
Insurance Information:
Additional Information: This is the first state to develop the SART/CART principles after Hurricane Floyd. During Hurricane Isabel, they were able to test the system. This is the model for the nation.
Nonprofit Status: Unknown