DART

Disaster Animal Response Teams

Disaster Animal Response Teams (DARTs) are local volunteer teams that provide emergency services and support for animals during disasters or emergencies when local emergency assistance is needed and requested.  Animals affected by disaster may include a wide variety of animals, including pets, livestock, strays, and even wildlife.  DARTs typically serve local or regional communities where members live and/or work, but DARTs may also be asked to respond to disasters outside of their usual jurisdiction.  DARTs provide information, training, support, supplies, and personnel to help prepare for, respond to, and recover from disaster situations.

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The skills and capabilities of DARTs vary based on the needs of the community and the skill sets of the volunteers.  For example, a rural community may require a number of DART volunteers with significant livestock experience, while a DART supporting an urban area may primarily support household pets and perhaps stray or lost animals.  Some DARTs may include skilled volunteers qualified to perform specific animal rescue activities, provide veterinary care, and/or assist with stress management for pet owners and/or volunteers.  DARTs may also be asked to assist animal control and other organizations with hoarding situations, or wildlife impacted by environmental emergencies such as oil spills.

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In Massachusetts, DARTs exist in only a few towns or counties.  Keep in mind that DARTs may cover a region, rather than a single town.  Central Massachusetts DART (CMDART)  is still in operation as of July 2025. There are other DART teams in Western MA that have been absorbed by their regional Medical Reserve Corps of Massachusetts (MRC). MRC  is in the process of  trying to form DARTs within their regional teams.  Please join your local MRC if  you are interested in volunteering and helping with pet care during emergency and disaster situations.  Medical Reserve Corps of Massachusetts. 

If there is currently no DART or active MRC serving your community and you are interested in forming a DART on your own you can find information in the SMART How to Start a DART manual.  The SMART Pet Sheltering Manual (In process of updating) will help your DART volunteers assemble the supplies necessary to help support animals in your community in case of emergency. The manual is in the process of updating 

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SMART also helps coordinate DARTs across the Commonwealth – so if you do start a DART in your community, make sure to let us know!  We host meetings for DART teams across Massachusetts, so you can get to know your colleagues and share lessons learned.  Please contact us for more information or check out other state pet emergency plans on the RESOURCES page.

 

DART PAGE additional resources

 

FEMA TRAINING

 

Volunteer

  • Sign up for Massachusetts residents interested in joining their regional MRC and assisting with a volunteer DART team: MA Responds