Meet KS SART Volunteers in action.
All posts by Robyn Keiter
2019 May Flood Responses
May 2019 was a busy time for the Kansas State Animal Response Team. From May 20 through June 11 the team was involved in multiple deployments, opened several temporary pet shelters and staged equipment across the eastern half of the state in various locations for the potential need to support additional flooding. This amazing 100% volunteer team worked hard and helped people and pets during these difficult weeks. Here are a a few statistics to provide an overview of the time and effort put forth:
- 46 Volunteers
- 600+ Hrs of Service Time
2019 KS SART Workshop Update
Great crew in Salina June 8-9, 2019 as NEW volunteers and long-time volunteers got together to train as the newly reorganized state team – the Kansas State Animal Response Team! Thank you to all for your dedication to serving people and pets during disasters. Not a volunteer yet? Watch for announcements for the NEW volunteer training workshop – Train Today Respond Tomorrow scheduled for early 2020. Watch for announcements for an advanced workshop for volunteers who have already completed the standard training requirements – Enhanced Capabilities Sustain Animal Response planned later in 2020.
2019 Enhance Capabilities Sustain Animal Response
Registration is OPEN for the NEW Capabilities and Sustainability Animal Response Workshop which is designed specifically for trained Kansas State Animal Response Team volunteers! CLICK HERE to get registered NOW – Space is Limited!
2019 Train Today Respond Tomorrow
Registration is OPEN for the 2019 Animal Disaster Response workshop, designed for anyone (18 or older) ready to become a Kansas State Animal Response Team volunteer. CLICK HERE to get registered NOW – Space is Limited!
Emergency shelters set up in Troy during flood evacuation
Families Reuniting With Their Pets
Sunday, March 24 was a great day for families, pets and Kansas State Animal Response Team volunteers at the emergency animal shelter in Troy, KS. The ultimate reward for a response volunteer is to witness the reunion of a family with their pets after a disaster and that is what Sunday was all about, watching pets and families enthusiastically reconnecting. Families were told they could could return to their homes at 9am and shortly after 8am families began arriving to pick up their four-legged family members. By 1pm the shelter was empty. By 4pm volunteers had completed clean up and demobilization. It was as time to reflects and bid fairwell to the communities of Troy, Elwood and Wathena fairwell. The Kansas State Animal Response Team was honored to serve!
Emergency Pet Sheltering in Troy, KS
Elwood Disaster Response
The Kansas State Animal Response Team was requested by Doniphan County Emergency Management and Kansas Emergency Management to respond to support the residents of Elwood and nearby Wathena in north east Kansas. The Kansas State Animal Response Team sent volunteers and equipment trailers to temporary shelter pets at the Doniphan county fairgrounds. The deployment began Saturday, March 16 and completed Sunday, March 24. The team cared for and housed 114 pets which included 68 dogs, 39 cats, 6 birds and 1 guinea pig.
Pets With A Plan Can Save Lives
The Kansas State Animal Response Team encourages people with pets to get prepared for
Spring: to grow; to arise from; to be resilient; and in Kansas also defined as storm season. What you should know about pets, disasters and the Kansas State Animal Response Team (KS SART)!
Growing animal response, the previous Kansas Animal Response Team and regional animal response teams; KC Metro, North East, South Central, South East, and South West have come together as a single, cohesive state team. “The old saying, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts”applies here. Bringing these amazing teams together as one is promising, exciting and necessary to sustain animal response for Kansas” said Ingrid Garrison, DVM, MPH and president of the reorganized Kansas State Animal Response Team.
Arising from disaster experience, the federal Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act (PETS) was passed in 2006. This is important to you and your pets because it requires emergency management at the local and state level to address needs for you, your pets and service animals during a major disaster or emergency. The Kansas State Animal Response Team works with emergency management to advocate for pets through the disaster planning process and responds to assist pets during major disasters.
When seasonal storms produce a major disaster, the Kansas State Animal Response Team responds to provide pets comfort and safety in a pet emergency shelter, while their families seek the same in a human emergency shelter. The pet emergency shelter is staffed and operated by trained KS SART volunteers. The availability of a temporary pet shelter during a disaster increases the likelihood that pet owners will evacuate to safety when requested or required.
Spring into action, make a plan for yourself and your pet. Encourage friends, family and neighbors to do the same. Find help planning for your pet at My Pet Project: PETS Evacuate Too! Pets with a plan can save lives!
The Kansas State Animal Response Team is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. This team accomplishes it’s work through dedicated volunteers, support from other disaster management and response organizations, grants, corporate sponsorships and donations from caring individuals. To make a difference for pets in disasters go to www.kssart.org.