Vermont Regional Operating Teams
VDART supports a network of regional teams throughout Vermont. We also partner with other DART teams that aren’t formally affiliated with us, but share our mission of providing this life-saving resource to local communities state-wide.
Our regional DART team members perform many services for their local communities:
- Work with their local emergency management directors to ensure that animal response plans are intertwined with human response plans before disaster strikes.
- Organize and help run emergency pet shelters to provide animal care and treatment during the disaster and its recovery period.
- Spread the word about the importance of household disaster planning for animals by tabling and speaking at local events.
Find a Team Near YOU! (*Indicates VDART Team)
*VDART Northwest
Linda Gage, Chair
*VDART Northeast
Lisa Lemieux, Chair
Guardian Angels DART (GADART) – Serves Franklin and Orleans Counties
VDART Southwest
Danica Stein
*VDART Southeast
Joanne Bourbeau, Chair
VDART Teams Map
This map demonstrates how our service areas are divided within the state. Each region is led by a team leader who organizes meetings, trainings and publicity events with volunteers throughout the year.
Note that Guardian Angels DART (in green) is an independent team. While there’s no legal affiliation between VDART and this team, we work closely together to ensure that we have coverage for the entire state.
VDART Team
VDART – Northwest
Chittenden, Lamoille and Grand Isle Counties
Linda Gage, Team Leader
Linda began her professional animal career in 2005, deploying to Hurricane Katrina and then helping to create one of New Jersey’s first animal response teams in Hunterdon County. Since then, she’s helped manage responses involving a deteriorated sanctuary, puppy mill bust, and hoarding situations. Linda worked for Best Friends Animal Society for 15 years as the northeast regional representative. Her role enabled her to work with shelters, rescues and other national organizations. Recently retired, Linda is spending her time learning about wildlife rehabilitation, animal communication and volunteering on several animal response teams – Best Friends Animal Society, Humane World for Animals and VDART-Northwest. She is also a board member of VDART and VT-CAN!, a low cost spay neuter resource in VT. Linda lives in Hinesburg with her husband and 5 fabulous felines.
VDART - Northeast
Washington, Caledonia and Essex Counties
Lisa Lemieux, Team Leader
After a 36-year career in education, Lisa chose to spend her time in retirement volunteering. Currently, she volunteers with the American Red Cross, deploying to disasters as a Disaster Mental Health worker and leading the Central VT Disaster Action Team. She also finds great satisfaction being on the Board of Directors for Central VT Habitat for Humanity and building affordable houses for those that need a hand up, not a hand out. Her love of animals is the driving force behind the rest of her volunteerism. She volunteers at the Central VT Humane Society, is a member of Humane World for Animals’ Animal Rescue Team and travels to Puerto Rico with Helping Paws Across Boarders, a group that provides free spay/neuter services. Lisa also currently serves as the team leader for VDART-Northeast and lives in Barre Town with her wife, Jan and rescue pup Karma.
VDART - Southwest
Bennington, Rutland and Addison Counties
Danica Stein, Team Leader
Danica has many years of experience caring for animals. She has volunteered with her local shelter as well as national animal rescue organizations. Danica was a founding board member of VDART and served as a member of the Animal Rescue Team for Humane World for Animals (formerly known as the Humane Society of the United States) and worked with animals rescued from hoarding, cruelty, and the Asian dog meat trade. She formerly headed the Rutland Area Disaster Animal Rescue Team and is a trained firefighter. Her own furry family members include a huge dog, an old cat, and three happy rabbits.
VDART - Southeast
Windham, Windsor and Orange Counties
Joanne Bourbeau, Team Leader
Joanne is the board chair and one of the founding members of the statewide Vermont Disaster Animal Response Team (VDART). She has been living and working in Vermont since 1995 as the Northeastern Regional Director for Humane World for Animals (formerly known as the Humane Society of the United States). She has served on multiple state and national animal response teams, organizing and running emergency shelters and pet rescue efforts after hurricanes, tornadoes and large-scale animal cruelty cases. She was a founder and past chair of the NH Disaster Animal Response Team and has advised local and state emergency managers on this topic throughout New England. Joanne shares her home in southern Vermont with her husband and son and their dog Sparrow and cat Buttons.