Florida State Animal Response Coalition

12/12/2024

This is amazing training, available FREE! See the post for additional information.

Time flies - our SART Sponsored Trainings for Spring 2025 are coming up soon! Register today to secure your seats! bit.ly/SART2025ATR

12/04/2024

The deadline for Floridians to apply for FEMA assistance after Hurricanes Milton and Helene has been extended to Jan. 7, 2025.

Homeowners and renters with losses from Hurricanes Milton and Helene may be eligible for FEMA financial assistance for displacement, basic home repairs, personal property losses and other uninsured or underinsured disaster-caused expenses.

Homeowners and renters are encouraged to apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by using the FEMA App. You may also apply by phone at 800-621-3362. Lines are open every day and help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service, captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service. For an accessible video on how to apply for assistance go to FEMA Accessible: Applying for Individual Assistance - YouTube.

If you had damage from Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, you will need to apply separately for both disasters and provide the dates of your damage for each.

12/03/2024

Team:

It has been my absolute honor to lead and manage the Florida State Animal Response Coalition (FLSARC). Starting in 2018 as a volunteer, working my way to instructor in 2022, then leading the program since January 2023.

I have been blessed to work with the best in this volunteer program and in the animal rescue field. Representing FLSARC for Hurricane Ian in 2022, along with Andy Bass, and with gracious support from Greater Good Charities, we led the donation distribution efforts for Florida SART. This was an amazing experience to see behind the scenes. Being asked to lead FLSARC in 2023 was an opportunity that I never expected but fully embraced.

Highlights of my time include:

· - Traveling throughout the state, meeting local and state emergency managers, Animal Control directors and county staff, educating them on the importance of taking care of people and their pets while providing support for local hoarding cases

- leading the response of a 27 dog hoarding case resulting in homes for every single animal from Hamilton County Animal Control and Cat Depot, with amazing support from The Humane Society of the United States , Florida Urgent Rescue, Inc. - FUR Humane Society of Sarasota County Nate's Honor Animal Rescue Center Humane Society of Tampa Bay, Florida Veterinary Medical Association, Slomba Shelter Solutions, HALO No-Kill Rescue Shelter and Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando

- purchasing, outfitting, and deploying our very first Disaster Response trailer thanks to the ASPCA, providing capability to assist Suwannee County Animal Shelter and American Red Cross with setting up temporary emergency sheltering for many residents.

- Logistics support for storing our Disaster Response equipment from Humane Society Naples , Ronnie Graves, and Florida Health Department Volusia County.

- providing volunteer response and daily shelter support with Team Rubicon in Ridgeland South Carolina for Jasper Animal Rescue Mission, working alongside very limited staff and volunteers in some very extreme conditions, watching them grow and become bigger and stronger than ever before

· - conducting training, including training new leadership and employees at Lake City Humane Society with phenomenal assistance from the Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida to help them get back on track and become bigger and better than ever.

· - reconnecting with many of the old FLSARC crew

FLSARC received much more exposure during the last couple of years, thanks to all of you. I could not be more proud of the efforts we’ve made together to respond to disasters and events we were asked to support. I cannot thank you enough for freely and willingly taking on these responsibilities.

At the end of September I made the decision to temporarily step away while I addressed some health issues. I have now made the very difficult decision to make this permanent effective December 31st ; I also am stepping down as a FAAWO Advisory member at that time. During this time the program has been left in the very capable hands of Andy Bass, Paula McPhaul, and Alexandra Mahjouri, who helped manage the deployment and Logistics chaos for our recent disasters. Lisa Sears, my first volunteer administrator, and Patty Powell who helped clean up our volunteer database, your efforts are truly appreciated. Many people throughout this time stepped up to the plate and helped with administration, planning, outreach and logistics. I am extremely grateful for some of the original sarc founders such as Consie Von Gontard, Bud Most, and many long time instructors before, as well as the new ones who joined us in the last couple of years. You all inspired me, and for that I am truly grateful.

I want to take this time to also thank Shelley Thayer, SPCA Florida Executive Director, the board of directors, and the entire SPCA Florida staff for their support in the amazing growth of SARC over the past couple of years. To the employees of Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services and leadership of the Florida Animal Protection and Advocacy Association - thank you for your support!

Some highlights of the growth, include receiving increased funding from the state Department of Agriculture, ASPCA, Volunteer Florida , Mr. Ken Slavin (Cat Depot), and the SPCA Florida Board, as well as many of the personal and private donations no matter what amount. This funding partially and significantly gave us the means to purchase our first disaster response trailer and help cover the expenses of many of our volunteers and instructors. We were also invited to participate in the state disaster exercise for the first time in seven years. Another exciting opportunity was being able to train in other states, such as Virginia.

I loved traveling throughout the state bringing pet friendly sheltering classes to the community. Mostly I loved having the great fortune to have worked, taught, and lead alongside all of you, the great volunteers.

I have no doubt this program will continue to succeed, but it is time for me to focus on my health and family. I will always treasure the experience and the crew of FL SARC and being a member of the SPCA Florida family -

Because the ENTIRE Family Matters

Steve Carriere, Manager

10/10/2024

URGENT: If are a FL SARC volunteer could you update your volunteer profile email (https://www.volgistics.com/vicnet/27451/login) to be sure your are receiving our availability requests?

Also, if you are not a current volunteer but want to help for this operation, you can take the online training course now from the SART website (https://flsart.org/petfriendly/index.jsp) and email completion certificate to [email protected] and we can add them to the database. We will accept that in lieu of Awareness training to respond for this operation only. Once we have their info we can let them know of future SARC training opportunities.

CURRENT OPERATIONS we are supporting:

PASCO County - Special needs shelter for people with pets. Monitoring and assisting owners with their pets.
WALTON County - Temporary Evacuation shelter for current shelter pets from the impacted zone - (this is at ALAQUA ANIMAL REFUGE) - Full scale sheltering. Intake, daily care, transport, etc.

And we are also resourcing pet food, supplies, crates and cages, with National Partners (ASPCA, HSUS and GREATER GOOD CHARITIES) to support shelters around the state in the aftermath of Hurricanes HELENE and MILTON.

This operation could go on for some weeks so ongoing Volunteer Support is critical. Please let us know if you can help. Thank you!

09/27/2024

OK folks....here's the post storm update. And it's not good.

30 reported dead. 3 million without power, over 700,000 in Florida alone. This is not what we ever want to hear or experience. We can only wonder why these 30 souls are no longer with us. Could they not go somewhere safe? Did they not have the means to leave? Did they have pets and chose to shelter in place rather than lose their pets? Was there not any sheltering available for both them AND their pets?

We won't ever know.

Moving forward, everyone associated with this disaster response is working hard in recovery mode, short term and long term. Donations are going to start pouring in if they haven't already. Donation and distribution sites will be set up and posted as soon as they are immediately available. People will need help with securing their homes, if there are any left, and beginning the rebuilding process. And our animal shelters, already full and to the point of bursting at seams, will be asked to do more because people WILL be surrendering their furry loved ones in the hopes their pets will have a better life than what they face.

Florida State Animal Response Coalition will still be doing what we do best - help those who need it, in any capacity that we can, and supporting local and statewide efforts with pet friendly sheltering, donation management, disaster supply distribution, and more.

Please help support our work. Without you, this work would suffer and so will families and pets who need us.

Your contributions are tax deductible and are extremely appreciated, especially in these challenging times. Because the ENTIRE Family Matters!

Steve Carriere, FL SARC Manager

https://secure.qgiv.com/for/fsar

09/27/2024

Hey everyone - we sure do hope everyone in the path of this storm is safe and can soon begin the recovery process.

During disasters, even before, we often get calls and emails from people on how they can help, who want to help, and where to go. Emergent volunteers are just as important as those who are already established in legitimate non profit and disaster response programs.

You can help Florida SARC by registering to become a disaster volunteer. Our Awareness and Operations Courses teach you how to safely and effectively set up, operate and maintain pet friendly sheltering. We also assist with cruelty and hoarding cases.

However, our responders come from ALL walks of life and experience, and we often utilize those skills in other facets of disaster response, including field rescue, disaster and damage assessments, food donation and distribution, and more. We accept all skill levels with all backgrounds. We can even point you in the direction for other critical skill needs such as vet tech and veterinary services with the Florida Veterinary Medical Association.

In this urgent time of need, we strongly recommend you take what we call "Just In Time" training at the State Agricultural Response Team website:

https://flsart.org/training/petshelter/

Once you complete this certificate, go to our website at
www.flsarc.org/volunteers where you can find information on how to create your Florida SARC profile. To be deployable, you need to have (at a minimum):

- Level 1 Awareness Course Certificate OR SART Online Pet Sheltering Certificate
- - FEMA ICS 100 (go to training.fema.gov and register for a student account if you don't have one, or log into your FEMA portal to download any certificates or transcripts)
Tetanus Vaccination (within 10 years)

Download the Code of Conduct, sign and upload with other information requested. Our volunteer administrator will verify and review all information and start your volunteer account. We STRONGLY recommend you allow text messaging notifications when creating your profile, at a minimum, for volunteer deployment support and other urgent communications.

Once your profile is approved, you will be able to update any information provided, including adding additional training documentation.

This page provides news, information, and resources to help our volunteer team of pet-passionate emergency responders.

09/27/2024

Helene is now on land and still wreaking havoc. The eye is now over Valdosta, GA. Big Bend counties are without power. Storm surge is still running rampant and causing massive damage. Winds are at hurricane force still 100 miles or so from the eye.

Florida SARC stands at the ready with our Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services SART partners to help those in harm's way. The damage truly won't be known until first light gives us and others the oppirtunity to see where it is safe to head into and begin assessments.

Please ...please...PLEASE...exercise patience and understanding as resources ramp up to go in and begin relief efforts.

09/27/2024

If you do not need to be on the road, stay off the road!

⚠️BRIDGE UPDATE⚠️

As storm conditions strengthen, motorists should be mindful of potential bridge closures in their area. If winds reach a sustained speed of 40 mph, FHP/local law enforcement will close bridges for safety.

Visit FL511.com to seek an alternative route if closures occur.

09/27/2024

Charlotte County wasn't even in the eye of the storm and look how dangerous this storm Surge and flooding is to the south!

09/26/2024

!!! URGENT !!!
Hurricane Helene is Here - Help Florida family pets in Need!

As Hurricane Helene impacts our state, countless animals and pets are facing life-threatening situations. You can make a difference! 🐾💔

Donate to the Florida State Animal Response (FLSARC.org) and help provide shelter, food, and medical care to the animals affected by this devastating storm. Every contribution, no matter how small, can save a life.
Because the ENTIRE Family Matters!

Scan the QR code below with your mobile device, or go to https:// secure.qgiv.com/for/fsar

09/26/2024

***UPDATE - our trailer made it to Clay County, we are staged and ready to go! *** Thank you, Tasha Hyder !!

Our trailer is deploying! This is what we've waited for! Although, quite frankly, I personally hope we don't ever have to use a single bit of equipment out of this trailer, and wish this hurricane would go away like a bad dream. Unfortunately I think Helene has other plans.

Nonetheless. Thanks to the ASPCA this truly helps our response capabilities!

Our trailer is just now leaving Tampa and it is quite windy along i-75. Everybody please stay safe.

09/26/2024

Send a message to learn more

09/26/2024

Tonight, 34 animals in Suwannee County are under safe temporary sheltering. Dozens more through the efforts of our Florida State agricultural response team partners, SPCA florida, and many shelters throughout the state deserve a well Round of Applause for trying to help as many animals as they could leave Harms way. All this despite the already catastrophic crisis they face with overcrowding, communities not having spay neuter programs, and people not being responsible pet owners, even before a hurricane decides to screw things up.

Thanks to the hard work of the Suwannee County Animal Control, the American Red cross, and school staff, there are approximately 75 to 100 people safely sheltered with their pets.

I cannot stress enough the importance of planning and preparation for these events, no matter how fast they crop up or how long we have until storms have a more definitive track.

But the work will not be done. This storm is going to be catastrophic and more people will be arriving with their pets in many shelters throughout the state. Even worse, the local animal shelters that are already full and exploding under pressure with no space, are going to be asked to do even more. We are struggling to survive in a large ocean of animal rescue problems created by politics, irresponsible pet owners, animal hoarders and breeders, unaffordable veterinarian services (including spay/neuter), and the only tools we have are a teaspoon to empty it.

Politics and egos still get in the way of doing the right thing at times. And yet we still find community struggling to provide some of those basic necessities, forcing people to make the excruciating decision to leave their pets behind. We are almost 20 years since Hurricane Katrina. While there has been significant progress, they're still needs to be a lot more made.

To those communities and counties who can't justify the expense of a few thousand dollars worth of crates and equipment, or a little investment in affordable pet care, your cost is far less than the benefit you CAN provide to your community by that simple act of preparation and making animal care affordable. No person or family should ever be turned away from sheltering or not be able to get animal health care because they simply don't have the means to shelter their animal or pay for what they need.

It hurts that we can't do more right now, and all we can do is hope for the best while dealing with the worst to come. Everyone, please stay safe and we will help to the best of our ability.

09/25/2024

🌀Helene
3 shelters need dogs moved, waiting for an update on cats:

Madison County (still has about 20 dogs to place)
Suwannee County (at least 12 dogs to place)
Hamilton County (8 dogs to place)

As of now through our partners at Orange County we been notified that since there is a very short time to transport animals out of state, some shelters need to move animals immediately.
There will be a need great need post storm also, and to place those animals that have been displaced.
We are all breed, therefor you can apply to take any type of domestic animals.

If you are already a disaster relief partner with us, please let us know if you can take any animals.

If you are not a disaster relief partner with us but you would like to become one and help the animals please fill out the screening application that pertains to you ASAP which is below.

Application for regular households:
Disaster relief foster parents must commit to fostering for at least 2 years.
In the first year we will make every effort possible to reunite the animal lost - found with his or her owner in the first year.
If owner is not found after a year then the animals will be put for adoption.
https://hurricanepetsrescue.org/volunteer/disaster-relief-foster-parent-application/

If you are shelter, humane society, or rescue group. the application is just to check you out and to make sure the animals go to good places.
And that adoption and return policies align with ours.
We also want to make sure that you are no kill facility.
This does not mean that you are a foster for us -with us, once the animals go to you is yours. :)
Here is the app for shelters, humane societies and rescue groups.:
https://hurricanepetsrescue.org/disaster-relief-shelter-rescue-parnership-application/

Hope that you sign up, because this storm is a monster and animals are going to need you. :)

Hurricane Pets Rescue Inc. is a national all breed disaster relief nonprofit with headquarters in Miami Beach Florida Since 2005





Below is part of the e-mail we received from Orange County shelter:

Thank you for helping the animals if you are in the path of the storm stay safe, out thoughts and prayers are with you and you animals.
********
Hi Florida friends,
Right now, we need your help!
As you know, pre-storm transport is not a viable option anymore.
There are a handful of shelters in the path of the storm that are desperate for help because their dogs are in outdoor kennels and they’re in low-lying areas that are still soaked from the last storm.

Planning for Post-Storm
Since we are unable to move pets out-of-state, we are hoping that shelters in Florida that are not in the impacted area would consider doing an emergency foster program to help shelters who may sustain damage from the storm.

The emergency foster outreach was successful in Louisiana after Hurricane Francine last week and we are hoping we’ll have the same result in Florida.

Please let us know if you are willing to participate in an emergency foster push to support the shelters that need it the most.

The 3 primary shelters that need dogs moved out immediately (because they’re in outdoor kennels):
Madison County (still has about 20 dogs to place)
Suwannee County (at least 12 dogs to place)
Hamilton County (8 dogs to place)

Rescues or other shelters are ideal. If they can move their animals out to fosters to move these animals in for protection, that would be the preferred movement. It’s too much to try and connect dogs with individual people while we’re preparing resources for post-storm damages, etc.

09/25/2024

To all of our Florida SARC volunteer responders:

Time is running short for volunteer responder response pre-storm. This storm is now expected to turn into a category 4 at landfall. We have four mission requests for pet friendly Sheltering support in suwanee, union, leon, and Madison county.

We understand your family and your safety take the highest priority. If you are available to deploy immediately and arrive by tomorrow morning to any of these affected areas, please respond to my emails for these mission requests.

Please include the following emails in your response

Planning at flsarc.org
Volunteer at flsarc.org
[email protected]

We're also gathering responses and availability for post-storm deployment. Food distribution sites are tentatively being planned in Escambia County and dothan, alabama. More information will be provided.

To all of those who are in harm's way, we pray that any damage and losses are very minimal. Please take all available shelter and evacuate. This storm is nothing to fool around with.

If you are evacuating to a pet friendly shelter, please ensure you have all available necessities for you, your family, and your pets. Some shelters are requiring vaccination records. Do everything you can now to leave before it is too late.

09/25/2024

Hurricane Helene is now forecasted to be a Category 3, potentially Category 4 at landfall. THIS STORM IS DANGEROUS!!! Wind damage and storm surge is expected to be very high.

Overview/Recent Changes: As of 11:00 AM EDT, Hurricane Helene is located about 85 miles north-northeast of Cozumel, Mexico and about 500 miles south-southwest of Tampa, Florida and
moving north-northwestward at 10 mph. A turn toward the north and north-northeast with an increase in forward speed is expected later today through Thursday, bringing the center of Helene
across the eastern Gulf of Mexico and to the Florida Big Bend coast by Thursday evening. After landfall, Helene is expected to slow down and turn toward the northwest over the southeastern
U.S. Friday and Saturday. Data from NOAA and Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter Aircraft indicate that maximum sustained winds have increased to near 80 mph with higher gusts. Additional
strengthening is forecast, and Helene is expected to be a major hurricane when it reaches the Florida Big Bend coast Thursday evening. Weakening is expected after landfall, but Helene’s fast
forward speed will allow for strong, damaging winds, especially in gusts, to pe*****te well inland across the southeastern U.S., including over the higher terrain of the southern Appalachians. A
Tropical Storm Warning has been extended along the Florida Gulf Coast to the Okaloosa/Walton County Line. A Storm Surge Watch has been issued from Mexico Beach to Indian Pass.

More information:
www.nhc.noaa.gov

Please support FL SARC in our lifesaving efforts. Donations can be made directly at:

https://secure.qgiv.com/for/fsar/
Paypal: [email protected] (please indicate donation is for FL SARC)