09.14.06
CONTACT
Tara Kreider
SART
919-341-4417
Animal Emergency Response Program Established in Maryland
Action plan developed for animal disaster preparedness and recovery efforts
RALEIGH, NC – (September 14, 2006) –
SART (State Animal Response Teams) and PetSmart Charities are proud to announce the launch of the Maryland State Animal Response Team (MD SART). The training and certification process was partially-funded through a $20,000 development grant from PetSmart Charities and administered through SART.
A stakeholder conference and training session was attended by 115 individuals and conducted by North Carolina SART (NCSART) on August 16-17 in Linthicum Heights, Maryland.
Participating stakeholders included representatives from many different agencies and organizations which included but were not limited to representatives from the Federal and State of Maryland Departments of Agriculture, Maryland Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Maryland Veterinary Medical Association, County Animal Control Agencies represented by Professional Animal Workers Society, the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension Service, Center for Agrosecurity and Emergency Management at the University of Maryland College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams, Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Essex Community College Veterinary Technicians Program, and various non-profit humane organizations.
Coordinated by Dr. Jacob Casper, Coordinator of Disaster Services for the Maryland Department of Agriculture, the stakeholders successfully completed a two-day training session and a review of Maryland’s existing animal disaster plan. The participants then began development of a resource typing document, database of potential volunteers and supplies for the new organization.
An Executive Committee Board of Directors for the incorporated 501c3 SART was formed and with the assistance of NCSART, development of the new organization was completed. “Participation of Maryland’s SART volunteers will greatly enhance the capability of the Maryland Department of Agriculture to respond to any animal issue during a disaster”, said Dr. Guy Hohenhaus, Maryland State Veterinarian.
“Thanks to training and support provided by NCSART and PetSmart Charities, along with the Center for Agrosecurity and Emergency Management, animal emergency responders in the State of Maryland now will be better prepared to organize a coordinated planned response effort to better protect Maryland’s animal population,” added Dr. Casper.
After completion of planning and training, Maryland will join current SARTs in North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Maine, Illinois, Kansas, Colorado and Mississippi. Louisiana, Texas, Kentucky, Michigan and Virginia are in the process of developing SARTs.
ABOUT SART: Founded in 1999, State Animal Response Teams (SART) is a collaboration of interagency state organizations and private animal interests dedicated to the common goal of animal welfare during disasters. Preparation, planning, response, recovery and business continuity during animal emergencies are hallmarks of SART’s efforts. The SART model utilizes the principles of the Incident Command System (ICS) to train participants to facilitate a safe, environmentally sound and efficient response to animal emergencies on the local, county, state and federal level. For more information, visit www.sartusa.org or call 1-888-989-SART.
ABOUT PetSmart Charities: Since 1994, PetSmart Charities, Inc. (PCI) has helped save the lives of more than 2.5 million homeless pets, and with support from PetSmart, Inc. (NASDAQ: PETM), has granted more than $51 million to animal welfare programs. PCI works to improve the quality of lives for companion animals by creating and supporting programs that save the lives of homeless pets, facilitating adoptions through in-store programs, raising awareness of companion animal welfare issues, and promoting healthy relationships between people and pets. To learn more about how PCI is working to help find a lifelong, loving home for every pet, visit www.PetSmartcharities.org or call 1-800-423-PETS.
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