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Animal Emergency Response Program Established in Mississippi

Action plan developed for animal disaster preparedness and recovery efforts

RALEIGH, NC – (August 31, 2006) – SART (State Animal Response Teams) and PetSmart Charities announce the launch of the Mississippi State Animal Response Team (MART).  The training and certification process was fully-funded through a $40,000 development grant from PetSmart Charities and administered through SART. Mississippi is part of a $540,000 five-year commitment by SART and PetSmart Charities to fund and certify 25 state animal response teams for animal welfare disaster training and response by 2010.

Over 70 individuals attended a stakeholder Summit and training session conducted by North Carolina SART (NCSART) on June 13-14th in Tunica, Mississippi.  Participating stakeholders included the Mississippi Animal Health Board, MS Department of Agriculture, MSU College of Veterinary Medicine, MSU Cooperative Extension, USDA, MS Emergency Management, Animal Control, and various animal welfare groups.

Led by Dr. Jim Watson, Mississippi State Veterinarian and Dr. Brigid Echols, Mississippi Department of Health, the stakeholders discussed the need for departmental collaboration to ensure the state of Mississippi would be adequately prepared to withstand future animal disaster events.

The two-day training session resulted in the development of Mississippi’s disaster plan, resource document and database of potential volunteers. NCSART will assist over the next six months to help MART with development of the organization.  
"SART is dedicated to working with the state of Mississippi to help develop its own animal response, recovery and business continuity programs.  SART is grateful to PetSmart Charities for their partnership and ongoing support of our efforts in Mississippi and across the country,” said SART Executive Director, Dr. Leonard Bull.

After planning and training is complete in later 2006, Mississippi will join current SARTs in North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Maine, Illinois, Kansas, Colorado and developing SARTs in the states of Maryland. Louisiana, Texas, Kentucky, Michigan and Virginia.

ABOUT SART: Founded in 1999, State Animal Response Teams (SART) is a collaboration of interagency state organizations and private animal interests dedicated to the common goal of animal welfare during disasters. Preparation, planning, response, recovery and business continuity during animal emergencies are hallmarks of SART’s efforts.  The SART model utilizes the principles of the Incident Command System (ICS) to train participants to facilitate a safe, environmentally sound and efficient response to animal emergencies on the local, county, state and federal level. For more information, visit www.sartusa.org or call 1-888-989-SART.
 
ABOUT PetSmart Charities: PetSmart Charities, Inc. (PCI) is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that creates and supports programs that save the lives of homeless pets, raise awareness of companion animal welfare issues, and promote healthy relationships between people and pets. Since 1994, PCI has donated more than $42 million to animal welfare agencies and, through its in-store adoption programs, has helped save the lives of more than 2.6 million pets.  To learn more about how PCI is working to help find a lifelong, loving home for every pet, visit www.petsmartcharities.org or call 1-800-423-PETS.