About Us
About Virginia SART
The Virginia State Animal Response Team (VASART) was created through a private-public partnership to serve as a unifying network of organizations, businesses, federal and state government agencies, and individuals that supports the prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery for emergencies affecting animals. Because disaster response needs to happen at a local level, VASART will build Community Animal Response Teams (CARTs) across the state. Community coordinators will be selected to lead the development of community teams consisting of volunteers who will respond to emergencies at the local level. Join your community state animal response team or if one is not created yet, help us get a CART started in your community.
Our history
In 1999, Hurricane Floyd claimed the lives of millions of animals in North Carolina, and thousands more were separated from their owners. Many of these animals could have been saved by a coordinated response plan. From this tragedy, the State Animal Response Team (SART) concept was born. In 2006, Virginia adopted this concept to address its animal-related disaster response needs.
Our mission
To promote and support emergency animal preparedness and response in Virginia.
Our vision
Provide support to the Commonwealth of Virginia in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery for the benefit of animal and public health and safety.