News
Emergency services personnel receive training to help pets caught in disasters
March 03, 2009, 10:30PM MT
By Amanda Ladyha
Minnesota based BART organization provides the training and tools necessary to save companion animals
Minnesota based BART organization provides the training and tools necessary to save companion animals
Story by Amanda Ladyha, Network News Reporter
Realizing that now more than ever pets are considered members of the family, and knowing that pet owners will often risk their own lives to save their pets, emergency services personnel are learning how to properly handle animals, provide first aid and CPR for household pets.
The Personnel are also learning how to safely and effectively work with horses and other livestock that they might encounter in emergency situations.
Basic Animal Rescue Training (BART) was created in 2004 by veterinarian Dr. Janet Olson. The program is named after a 13-year-old German Shorthair named Bart who was owned by a fellow firefighter. Bart, who was caught in a house fire, was rescued from the house, but could not be resuscitated.
The firefighters were heartbroken that they did not have the skills and knowledge to help one of their own. They saw the need for training so other families would not have to suffer the loss of their pets.
Since its creation in 2004, BART has trained over 3000 emergency personnel across the state, as well as provided over 100 medical kits for the emergency vehicles.
Basic Animal Rescue Training is a state-sponsored FEMA/Department of Homeland Security approved course that fulfills the requirement of the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act enacted by congress in 2006. As a state-sponsored FEMA approved course, federal funding can be used to cover the cost of BART training. Training is done by volunteer veterinary professionals.
Want to help provide training for more personnel? Basic Animal Rescue Training is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is supported by community donations and grants. All donations are tax deductible.
To Make a donation, send a check payable to BART or go online to the website.
Checks can be mailed to:
Basic Animal Rescue Training
P.O. Box 130967
St. Paul, MN 55113-0009
Phone: (612) 282-2608
You can email the organization: info@basicanimalrescuetraining.org
Click here to visit their website for more information:
You can also visit their webstore for additional ways to support BART.
The photo of Bart is used with permission from the organization