Cal CARTs Training Summit Held to Enhance Animal Response Coordination

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 22, 2025

Cal CARTs Training Summit Held to Enhance Animal Response Coordination 

Summit Focuses on Standardized Training, Cross-Agency Collaboration, and Lessons from Recent Deployments

Davis, CA— Over two dozen counties across California were represented at this year’s Cal CARTs Summit, where animal response stakeholders came together to strengthen disaster preparedness and develop standardized training for Community Animal Response Teams (CARTs). The summit, held at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine Alumni Center, marked the fifth statewide gathering since Cal CARTs was established in 2019.

This past week, animal response stakeholders from across California came together to share lessons learned and develop standardized training for Community Animal Response Teams (CARTs). The original Cal CARTs summit, established in 2020, after the deadly Camp Fire, highlighted the urgent need for animal specific mutual aid. Cal CARTs serves as an umbrella organization for CARTs that have integrated trained volunteers into their community emergency action plans. These volunteers undergo background checks, complete a rigorous animal care and handling training program, and are Fireline trained for field deployment.

The summit was hosted by the CVET team at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine Alumni Center. Leaders from Cal OES, the CDFA, Cal CARTs and Cal Animals as well as representatives from national organizations —including American Humane, The ASPCA, Greater Good Charities, and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) provided updates and insights. 

Responders from recent Los Angeles wildfires and Hurricane Helene shared valuable lessons learned from their deployments. Drawing on these experiences, they, along with summit participants, identified key preparedness and response gaps and outlined action items ahead of the 2025 disaster season.

On the second day of the summit, the CVET team trained CART volunteers to triage animals in disaster scenarios and effectively communicate those assessments with leaders and attending veterinarians. Volunteers also learned about grant opportunities to support CART operations, and received hands-on training with Shelterly and CALTopo applications, which are used during responses to track animals and volunteers in the field.

One clear gap that remains for animal response, is the lack of funding and enforcement for the PETs Act, which was established after Hurricane Katrina to ensure pets are included in emergency planning. Without this support, the animal component of response remains largely excluded from county emergency action plans and is often left to non-profit organizations to manage. The newly proposed Found Act, initiated after the LA fires, seeks to address this issue. Once human safety and security are established within the warm zones, allowing trained volunteers to assist the animal component of response significantly improves outcomes for pet owners, first responders, and the affected animals.

A successful model that has worked well in Northern California over the past several years pairs CART volunteers with Animal Control Officers for field deployments. This approach not only provides the security and safety emergency managers seek after a disaster but also ensures animals are handled by individuals with species-specific knowledge and training. Involving a veterinary team from the outset supports shelter biosecurity efforts—such as disease prevention and containment—and ensures injured animals receive timely care. This collaborative approach is a key component of a comprehensive animal response plan.

California is uniquely positioned to establish an animal response template that is scalable and effectively integrated with first responders who must prioritize human safety. The 2025 Cal CARTs summit deepened participant expertise through hands-on training, shared field insights, and meaningful cross-agency collaboration. It also increased engaged, focused conversations around next steps to close the animal response gap, ensuring animal care is better aligned with first responder priorities.

Media Contact:

Dr. Claudia Sonder, DVM

President, Napa CART, President, Cal CARTs

Email: Claudia@CalCarts.org

Website: www.calcarts.org