What is UVDART? T he Upper Valley Disaster Animal Response Team (UVDART) is one of sev-
eral Disaster Animal Response Teams throughout the United States which provide temporary assistance to animals in need of services during natural or man-made disasters. UVDART, Chartered by the Vermont Disaster Animal Response Team (VDART), is a volunteerbased, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which provides services to more than
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50 towns in the Upper Valley region of Vermont and New Hampshire. UVDART provides a response team that is trained, credentialed and consistent when we are activated. UVDART provides 4 levels of disaster response including: providing trained personnel to assist with staffing an animal shelter of a small American Red Cross (ARC), pet-friendly human shelter; setting up an independent, small animal shelter with its own team and equipment; responding to moderate to large scale disaster events including floods, hurricanes, ice storms, etc. by setting up a shelter for a large number of companion animals; and providing assistance to other VDART teams. Additionally, UVDART can also send trained and credentialed volunteers to assist the Humane Society of the United States or other response organizations at major national level disasters. UVDART meets monthly at the Mt. Ascutney Hospital or virtually on the 4th Tuesday of the month from 7-8pm. Volunteers have opportunities to complete Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) courses, Pet First Aid training, Basic Shelter Training, and Tabletop exercises which may be completed alongside the American Red Cross. UVDART also maintains a Compan-
ion Animal Mobile Equipment Trailer (CAMET) which contains all the necessary equipment and resources needed to stand up an animal shelter. Here is a personal account from our wonderful longtime volunteers, Susan Marchand-LeBrun: “UVDART was called to respond to an event when floodwaters forced the evacuation of an apartment building. When we arrived at the shelter, the Red Cross had already done the intake on 3 dogs and their owners; one had already found housing with a relative and checked out. Because there were only the 2 dogs remaining, we were able to house the owners with their pets. Throughout the day, we took care of the dogs allowing the owners the freedom to meet with Red Cross workers to secure housing until the apartment building was renovated and deemed safe for occupancy. Fortunately, because this was a smaller scale event, they found pet-friendly accommodations at an area motel by the end of the day.”
UVDART is comprised of animal lovers who are willing to undergo training in preparation for helping in the case of a disaster. Would you like to join our team? If so, please reach out to Liz Gage, UVDART secretary, at creaturecompanion@gmail.com or go to VDART’s webpage: vermontdart.org/volunteer. Winter 2022
