ACART HISTORY
In 2009, concerned residents met with Amador County Animal Control and the Amador Fire Safe Council to express their willingness to volunteer for the evacuation and sheltering of animals during natural disasters. The result was ACART. Its members are certified as Disaster Service Workers, qualifying the team to staff and conduct animal shelter activities in support of county residents during emergencies such as fires, floods and earthquakes.
Although ACART operates under the direction of the county Office of Emergency Services and the county Animal Contro Director, it is not funded by the county's budget and remains a completely volunteer organization dependent on small grants and the generosity of concerned citizens.
ACART members hone their animal-handling skills through monthly training sessions and regular participation in county-organized disaster drills. Its team also participates in joint exercises with neighboring counties, and performs educational outreach to prepare the public for emergency evacuations.
In July 2014, the weekend of the Amador County Fair, ACART established and operated its first live disaster shelter in response to the Sand FIre, which involved evacuations in Amador and El Dorado counties. SInce then, ACART volunteers have aided Amador and Calaveras county residents displace dby the 14-day Butte Fire event (sheltering 450 animals) and in July 2018 sheltered animals from the Irish Fire. Also in 2018, ACART supported victims of the Camp Fire by collecting and delivering animal feed and supplies to victims.
ACART meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month. Check our website, www.amadoranimalresponse.org for current information.