Help Animals in Crisis this Giving Tuesday
The Vermont Disaster Animal Response Team (VDART) was formed in 2007 to improve the state’s response to natural and man-made disasters impacting animals. Since then, hurricanes and tropical storms like Irene in 2011, and most recently Henri in 2021, have directly threatened Vermont, and demonstrated the importance of planning for pets in order to keep ALL members of the family safe. The human/animal bond is never stronger than it is during times of crisis, and VDART volunteers stand ready to assist their communities with animal needs that might arise in the face of life-threatening emergencies.
The covid-19 pandemic has also significantly challenged food-insecure pet families in Vermont, and VDART has been on the front lines of this fight, providing pet food directly to local food pantries across the state for the past 20 months.
VDART receives no federal or state funding to serve this important role as a safety net to pets and pet owners in Vermont, and relies solely on grants and YOUR generous donations to keep our equipment operational and our teams trained and ready to deploy at a moment’s notice. VDART now boasts five regional teams covering the Northeast Kingdom, Chittenden and Grand Isle Counties, Central Vermont, the Upper Valley, and Windham County. And we work cooperatively with independent DARTs in Franklin County and Rutland County.
This Giving Tuesday, you can help us make a real difference for animals (and the people who love them) in YOUR community, by making a donation to VDART’s Anne Ackley Memorial Animal Support Fund. Click donate to make your donation today!
Thank you for your support!
Joanne Bourbeau, VDART Board Chair