Trailer will aid St. Lawrence County pets in emergencies
The trailer, funded through a matching grant from the American Kennel Club Reunite program, represents a multi-year fundraising effort by local volunteers from the St. Lawrence County Animal Response team (CART).
CART volunteers, led by Betty Wolf, helped raise the matching funds needed and received support from the St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency, Farm Credit East, Northern Credit Union, the St. Lawrence Valley Dog Club, the town of Louisville, Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County and Poulin Grain.
Valued at approximately $22,000, the trailer contains essential emergency supplies including kennels, food and water bowls, cleaning tools, and portable sheltering equipment. It will enable local emergency managers to quickly establish temporary animal shelters during evacuations or natural disasters.
CART volunteers have been training, using trailers from other counties to set up animal shelters in emergencies.
Jessica Smith, of New York State Agriculture and Markets, told the folks touring the trailer at the Cooperative Extension last week that a trained team can have a shelter ready in about two hours.
While focused on animal safety, the trailer makes it easier to keep people safe.
"Research shows that people are less likely to evacuate if they can't ensure their pets' safety," County Legislator Rita Curran said. "This trailer helps address that critical need."
The trailer contains items that may not be immediately apparent. There is a printer, markers and tags to identify and keep track of animals, a shop vac and other small tools.
CART's mission is to respond to animals during disasters, minimize the loss of both human and animal lives, minimize the economic impact of disasters, prevent and mitigate the spread of disease, provide rescue and shelter for animals and reunite animals with their owners.
There are several roles for CART volunteers.
They educate the public, secure donations and resources, participate in emergency drills and exercises, and train in emergency response, including animal rescue, animal handling and animal sheltering.
Volunteers also rescue, transport and shelter animals. They schedule and manage volunteers, provide logistical support and maintain record-keeping.
They can also be called to reunite lost animals with owners and secure homes for unclaimed animals.
Currently stored at the county highway garage in Canton, the trailer will eventually be relocated to the county highway facility in Potsdam, where other emergency vehicles are also stored. The acquisition fills a significant gap in regional emergency preparedness, Curran said, providing a crucial resource for protecting animals during crisis situations.
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