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.