Local animal shelters on standby to help rescues impacted by Hurricane Ian
The Washington State Animal Response Team (WASART) assists along with intense animal rescue operations in western Washington, and the organization says its members are upon alert to assist with disaster relief in Florida.
ENUMCLAW, Wash. – Animal rescue organizations in Puget Sound are getting ready to help emergency shelters affected by Storm Ian , if needed.
The particular Washington Condition Animal Reaction Team (WASART) assists with intense pet rescue procedures in western Washington, as well as the organization states its users are on aware of help with catastrophe relief inside Florida.
The Enumclaw-based non-profit says its out-of-state deployments stopped because of the pandemic, but now, between two and 100 of the members are ready in order to help once a national organization calls them.
“We believe that by taking care of the animals of the folks that have been displaced, it allows them the opportunity to get their lives sorted out knowing their beloved pets are taken care of in a safe and caring environment, ” said Gretchen McCallum, co-founder associated with WASART.
McCallum says its trained responders are typically deployed for a week and could be doing anything from cleaning, transportation and other general animal care.
Volunteers who choose deployment would not get paid, would have to take time off through work plus use their own vacation time to help these animals.
“We possess the capacity and training and compassion and the particular action in order to make these types of animals’ lives better and this is why we do what we do, ” said McCallum.