About Us

Disaster can strike at any time. When Hurricane Irene ravaged Vermont in 2011, thousands of citizens, along with their animals, were displaced from their homes. If a similar tragedy were to occur in the future, it is critical that our state be able to respond quickly and effectively.

The Vermont Disaster Animal Response Team (VDART) was established to strengthen and support the state’s capacity to respond to animal needs in the event of a disaster. We provide vital resources and advice to pet owners, animal-related businesses and non-profits, local communities, and state agencies in this area. Our goal is to provide uniformity and excellence in response to animal needs by training and exercising our volunteers in best practices, supporting the development of regional DART teams throughout the state, and providing local emergency managers with guidance on including the community’s pet population in local response plans.

Website: http://www.VermontDART.org