PetSmart Charities® Emergency Relief Waggin’® Created by PetSmart Charities in 2006, the PetSmart Charities Emergency Relief Waggin’ program was developed to improve the process of delivering large quantities of donated pet supplies in the aftermath of a disaster. The program is designed to assist areas that are hard hit by disasters or large-scale emergencies by providing supplies to the agency at the scene that is leading the response effort for 350 or more companion animals. The goal is to provide a resource that is made available with ease and works directly under the existing Logistics response for the requesting agency. PetSmart Charities has positioned six 53-foot trailers around the United States at designated PetSmart distribution centers. The trailers are already loaded with donated animal supplies; if the response needs it and time permits, pet food will be added at the time a trailer is dispatched. Also included in the trailer is human responder equipment, which will be used to support the team and may be available for use by the lead agency. The trailers can be transported, upon request to and as authorized by PetSmart Charities, to any disaster site involving a minimum of 350 companion animals. Depending upon the size of the disaster, multiple trailers can be dispatched to a central site or to multiple staging sites for the same disaster, or sent to multiple areas for more than one disaster. Each trailer, which is left onsite as long as needed, is met by a volunteer team that is recruited, trained, deployed, and managed by Healing HEART Sanctuary (HHS) to set up the supply area and handle the disbursement of donated supplies to the requesting agency for use in the first few days of the response. Who Can Request: Any governmental agency, registered 501(c)(3) organization designated by the state or county as the lead responding agency, or tribal entity can request the supplies for situations that meet the criteria described below. The requesting agency could be the local Animal Care and Control Department, a Sheriff’s Department, EOC, or any other city, county, or state representative or non-governmental organization (NGO). When Is it Available: This program will be made available to the agency having legal authority or designated as such to respond to a large-scale natural disaster, man-made disaster (such as a human-lit fire), or an institutional disaster (such as hoarding case or puppy mill case) involving the rescue of a minimum of 350 companion animals. With the exception of fires, deployments will be post-incident in all cases. A completed Trailer Request Form is required in order to dispatch a trailer and team. Once a trailer dispatch has been approved, PetSmart Charities will send the Emergency Relief Waggin’, and HHS will deploy a Team Leader and volunteers as soon as transport logistics can be completed, often on the road within 12-18 hours. What Will Be Provided: PetSmart Charities may send one or more of the pre-loaded trailers with enough donated supplies for 350 or more companion animals. Pet-related supplies provided include wire crates, plastic carriers, bowls, leashes, collars, food, etc. Responder supplies include a 20’X20’ tent, 10’X10’ tent, fans, lights, generator, mobile air conditioning unit, heater, and other human responder-related items. A Team Leader from HHS will meet the trailer at the designated location and will have accountability for all items. Three qualified volunteers will deploy to unload each trailer and set up the human support items. If more than one trailer is sent to a single location, the appropriate number of volunteers will be sent at the discretion of HHS. Our goal is to provide the support needed in the first few days to quickly access supplies. Page 1 of 8 PetSmart Charities Emergency Relief Waggin’ Program Overview continued . . . The HHS Team Leader and all volunteers have received training on the equipment, are in the appropriate physical health to manage the equipment on the trailers, and are ICS-trained. As a reminder, the volunteer team is not a sheltering team nor do they provide SAR services; they bring the supplies to support your sheltering or response teams. In fact, for liability reasons the team does not handle or touch animals for any reason. However, many of the HHS volunteers are seasoned disaster responders with significant experience, either professionally or as volunteers, and all will operate within the ICS system. The team’s focus is to get in, help disperse supplies, and demobilize within 2-4 days. As needed, the Team Leader may stay longer. At the end of the incident and as arranged with the onsite Team Leader, only the durable items such as the human responder-related equipment as well as unused pet supplies (excluding food and litter) will need to be returned to the PetSmart Charities Emergency Relief Waggin’. Where Will A Trailer Be Dispatched: The program is available only in the continental United States. If more than one trailer is requested to respond to a single incident, PetSmart Charities will work with the requestors to ensure that requests are not duplicates and will prioritize the greatest need. PetSmart Charities recognizes that information may come in from the requesting agency after a trailer has been dispatched; and, as needed, reserves the right to redirect a trailer while en route to the incident. If additional trailers are needed, they could be sent from the next closest distribution center. How Can I Request A Trailer: If your agency would like to request emergency assistance and qualifies as outlined above, call PetSmart Charities at (800) 423-PETS, ext. 2840. If you cannot reach PetSmart Charities within an hour, please contact Laurel Ley, the HHS representative responsible for training and managing the volunteers and supply disbursement during deployment of the trailer(s), (904) 571-6135. If you do not already have the Trailer Request Form, one will either be sent to you or filled out for you over the phone. However, all requested information on the Trailer Request Form must be completed in order for a deployment to be considered and approved; at all times, a signature is required. What Happens After A Trailer Has Been Approved: Upon approval of a request, the lead agency will be notified by PetSmart Charities and provided the name and contact information of the responding Team Leader and volunteers as well as an estimated arrival time. For ease of deployment, PetSmart Charities and Healing HEART Sanctuary have a simple photo identification card that identifies the person as being part of the PetSmart Charities’ Emergency Relief Waggin’ program. The trailers each have the Emergency Relief Waggin’ logo displayed on each side. If incident-specific credentials will be needed, PetSmart Charities and HHS will need to be advised of the specifics to ensure that both the trailer and the HHS volunteers will be granted access to the affected area. During a response, the contact person for the dispatched trailer will be the HHS Team Leader. If it is determined that additional trailers or supplies are needed, a request can be made to the Team Leader or PCI. If possible, HHS would prefer that the lead agency allocate a space next to the 53-foot trailer where the HHS volunteer facilities can be set up. This will allow HHS to initiate its own safety and security measures as well as more easily facilitate disbursement of the supplies round-the-clock. Included on the trailer are both a 20’x20’ and 10’x10’ stake tent which requires a location on dry ground that is firm, preferably dirt or grass, or asphalt or concrete. Written permission is required from the land owner prior to setting up the tent(s). HHS volunteers will keep track of their hours on time sheets to share with the requesting agency. As coordinated with the Team Leader, advance notice of stand-down would be appreciated so that PCI can make arrangements to have the trailer picked up and returned to its home base for restocking. Page 2 of 8 PetSmart Charities® Emergency Relief Waggin’® Frequently Asked Questions What exactly is the program? This program provides donated pet supplies to support the lead agency involved with an animal- related response involving 350 companion animals or more. Human responder equipment is also available to support the response. Who is Healing HEART Sanctuary (HHS) and why is this group involved? HHS is a 501(c)(3) corporation. PetSmart Charities has contracted with HHS to recruit, train and manage Team Leaders and volunteers for unloading and reloading the supplies and to oversee the disbursement of supplies from the PetSmart Charities (PCI) Emergency Relief Waggin’ (ERW) trailers. Will PetSmart Charities or Healing HEART Sanctuary help us in rescuing and sheltering animals? No. The mission of both organizations is to get the supplies out of the trailer and distributed in a timely manner per the direction of the responding animal welfare agency in authority having jurisdiction at the rescue site. As coordinated by the HHS Team Leader, the volunteers usually demobilize within the first 2-4 days. The Team Leader may stay longer. What are the HHS volunteers trained to do? The program volunteers supplement your team and assist directly in the disbursement of our supplies and any related activities. Healing HEART Sanctuary has conducted extensive safety training sessions with their volunteers on how to use the manual pallet jack, operate a hydraulic lift gate, start up a compressor, operate other human responder equipment in the trailer and set up the 20’ x 20’ tent, if required. Also, all HHS volunteers have taken ICS100 and executed the Healing HEART Sanctuary’s Standards of Conduct agreement. Is there any charge for this program or the supplies? No. All supplies used and costs associated with this program are donated by PetSmart Charities. How can we use the supplies? The pet supplies are to be used at the sole discretion of your agency. During the response, you may find any number of uses for the other equipment in the trailer to support a response shelter. The HHS trained Team Leaders will help you determine how best to utilize this resource. Our agency is the county’s Emergency Coordination Office; can we request the trailer? Or, can only “animal groups” request a trailer? ANY governmental or tribal agency which is the agency with legal authority for the animal response can request a trailer. Additionally, any organization designated as the lead agency can request a trailer. If a request from an animal welfare organization is received, PetSmart Charities will confirm directly with the appropriate government or tribal agency that the group is the designated lead agency. Page 3 of 8 We’re a rescue group, can we request a trailer? Trailers will be deployed to the agency with legal authority or the organization which has been designated as the lead agency by the agency having legal authority. If your rescue group is either of these two types of groups, a trailer may be deployed providing the incident is for 350 companion animals or more, and is primarily post-incident. PetSmart Charities will confirm directly with the appropriate government or tribal agency that your animal rescue group has been designated as the lead agency. How many trailers are there and where are they located? There are six (6) fully stocked Emergency Relief Waggin’ trailers. These trailers are strategically placed throughout the U.S. at PetSmart distribution centers in Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, and Texas. We are within a 12-18 hour driving distance of most of the country. What’s the longest amount of time it could take to get a trailer? Generally, a trailer will be dispatched from the closest distribution center to the disaster site. Once a trailer dispatch has been approved, we aim to have it depart from its home distribution center within 24 hours. Its departure time will depend on: 1) driver arrangements; 2) HHS volunteer arrangements; and 3) any field conditions that might cause a delay. If time allows, pallets of dry cat and dog food can be added to the trailer prior to departure. What if we need more than one trailer? If the scope of your response is initially known to be 700+ companion animals, more than one trailer can be dispatched to address the need. What if another group requests a trailer as well? A trailer or trailers will only be dispatched to the agency in charge of the response in a specific location. If we receive multiple requests from different groups for the same location, trailer(s) will only be dispatched for use by the lead agency. Additional lead agency requests for a trailer for the same incident but in a different location (for handling a different 350 companion animals or more) will be considered as well. Can we use the generator? Any of the human responder equipment on the trailer can be used as coordinated with the PetSmart Charities Emergency Relief Waggin’ program HHS Team Leader who is on site. This includes the generator, tents, air conditioner, lights, heater, etc. Can we keep the generator, air conditioner, and other supplies? No. At the end of response, all of the human responder equipment will need to be returned to the trailer so that it can be used for future deployments. Except for pet food and kitty litter, unopened pet supplies will also be returned for future incidents. Can we get a list of the items in the PetSmart Charities Emergency Relief Waggin’? Yes, you may email BAFought@PetSmartCharities.org or call Barbara Fought, Manager of Emergency Grants, (800) 423-PETS, ext. 2840 and request to have it sent via facsimile or email. Page 4 of 8 Does the volunteer team have to stay with the trailer? As long as any of the supplies are left in the trailer or any of the human responder equipment is being used by the lead agency, the HHS Team Leader will stay with the trailer. We’re anticipating a possible hurricane; will a trailer be deployed for evacuation purposes? No. With the exception of fires, the program is designed to provide supplies as part of the post- incident response. However, you can advise us if you are anticipating a need and we will be on alert in advance of a hurricane so that we can start planning. In that way, if you find you need a trailer and meet the program qualifications, we can be poised to deploy a trailer and its support team. How long will the trailer as well as the HHS Team Leader and volunteers stay? The trailer, which will be dropped onsite, will stay as long as needed while supplies are still being used during the course of the incident response. The HHS volunteer team’s goal is to provide additional support during the first 2-4 days of a response to ensure that supplies are off-loaded and set up on an expedited basis. The Team Leader is available to stay longer as needed or may return to coordinate the return of the human responder equipment. Why wouldn’t a trailer be deployed? If your agency is not the lead agency or the incident is anticipated to affect less than 350 companion animals, a PetSmart Charities Emergency Relief Waggin’ trailer will not be deployed. However, there are other options for your needs. If you are the lead agency in charge of a response of less than 350 companion animals, you can request a donation of pet supplies by contacting the Manager of Emergency Grants at (800) 423-PETS, ext. 2840. What are the requirements for our agency to request a trailer? Your agency will need to provide the following: • All of the information on the trailer request form will need to be provided: ICS verification if you are not a government agency, staging contact and location, credentialing requirements. • Information needed to get the trailer to the staging area as well as input needed on road conditions for semi-trucks into the immediate area. • A secure location to drop the 53-foot trailer and ideally a location to set up a small base camp for the HHS Team Leader and volunteers who may need to stay with the trailer. • If food and facilities are available, the HHS Team Leader and volunteers would like to be included in the list of approved users. • Advance notice of stand-down would be appreciated so that PCI can make arrangements to have the trailer picked up and returned to its home base for restocking. • After incident, we ask that you fill out our online requesting agency feedback form so that we can continue to refine our program. If you have any other questions we have not addressed in our materials, please contact the Manager of Emergency Grants or the designated PetSmart Charities Program Manager on duty at (800) 423-PETS, ext. 2840. Page 5 of 8 Trailer Request Form TO: PetSmart Charities, Manager of Emergency Grants, BAFought@PetSmartCharities.org, facsimile to (623) 580-6561 or call (800) 423-PETS, ext. 2840, cell (602) 320-2719. Initial Contact Date: ____ / ______/ ______ (dd/mm/yy) Alert Deployment Request Requesting Agency: First name: __________________________ MI: _____ Last: __________________________ Agency: _______________________________ Fed. ID# _____________________________ Agency role: Staff: ______________________, ICS role: ______________________________ Work Phone: ______ / ________ - ____________ Cell: ______ / ________ -____________ Email address: ___________________________________________________________________ Signature: ___________________________________________________________________ Incident Details: Earthquake Flood Fire Hurricane Hoarding Puppy Mill Other: __________ Closest Location city: ____________________________ State: _________airport(s): _________________ Area affected: Local Regional State Multi-state Unknown Animals, est. qty: _______ Dogs _______ Cats Other: __________________________ Agency in charge of pet victims: ____________________________________________________ Agency contact person: Contact phone: ______ / ________ - ____________ Cell: ______ / ________ - ____________ Requested number of trailers: 1 2 3 4 5 6 No number Credentialing contact: __________________________ Phone: ______ / ________ -__________ Credentials required: ERW credentials okay Incident-specific needed Other: __________ Delivery Details: Note: The trailer height is a standard 13’ 6”. Physical address: __________________________________________________________________ City: ________________________________ County: ________________ State: ____________ GPS: ___________ degrees ___________ minutes by___________ degrees ___________ minutes Any known delivery issues: Yes No Not known Please detail: Street signs down Low bridge Narrow bridge Narrow road Washed-out roads Low-hanging power lines Other: _____________________________________________ Delivery contact: _____________________________ Phone: ______ / ________ - ____________ Page 6 of 8 PetSmart Charities® Emergency Relief Waggin'® Supply List* General Animal Items Dog Items 144 Airline water/food travel kits Add-on Dog food, dry (pallet) 96 Bowls, stainless steel, 2 qt. 50 Muzzles, various sizes 1500 Cage cards, w/plastic sleeves 24 Puppy emergency kits 12 Disinfectant cleaner, 1 qt. 80 Puppy housebreaking pads (100/pkg) 4 First aid kits, pet 12 Tie-outs, 18" Easy Turn 2 Stake 30 Kennel cabs, plastic/small 24 Tie-outs, 20' 56 Kennel cabs, plastic/large 24 Tie outs, 30' 54 Kennel cabs, plastic/x-large 20 Tie-outs, 40' 48 Nursing kits, 2 oz. 120 Nylon collars, various sizes Cat Items 120 Nylon leads, 6' length 72 Wire crates, 36" length Add-on Cat food, dry (pallet) 60 Wire crates, 48" length 176 Litter boxes, disposable (3/pack) 25 Litter, clay (20# bag) 30 Whisker City cat carriers 320 Cloth liners for covering cats 24 Kitten powder milk replacement Human Responder Equipment 1 Air conditioner, portable 1 Jumper cables 3 Batteries, 1.5 volt and D (12/pack) 2 Ladders, 2-foot aluminum 1 Battery charger 4 Lights, standing (1,000 watt) 2 Bungie organizer kits 2 Locks, Master brand combination 10 Cable ties (100/pack) 1 Pallet jack, manual 6 Caution/safety tape rolls (yellow) 1 Plastic roll 2 Chains, 1/4" -20" long 1 Refrigerator, mini 12 Duct tape rolls, red 2 Rubber mallets 6 Extension cords, 50' 24 Safety cones, 36" high 3 Fans, stand up 1 Scissors 1 Funnel, spout 2 Sledge hammers, 36" double-faced 2 Gas cans 1 Spotlight, portable 1 Generator, gas 5.5 KW 1 Stake puller 6 Gloves, leather 7 Tarps, polyethylene 2 Hammers, wood claw 1 Tent, 20' X 20' enclosed 2 Hand trucks (600 lb.) 1 Tool set, 38 piece, Master brand 1 Heater, ceramic electric 6 Utility knives *Please note that this list is an estimate of product on the trailers. Each trailer may have different items and different quantities. The trailers are pre-loaded for fastest deployment and are not customizable. Page 7 of 8 PetSmart Charities Emergency Relief Waggin’ Supply List* page two continued ….. Human Support Items Human Safety and Clean-Up Items 4 Chairs, folding 1 Blankets, first aid/fire 3 Cots, folding 1 Eyewash 2 Hats, hardhat white 3 Gloves, latex (100/pack) 1 Respirator face masks (20/pack) 1 Hand sanitizer ( 24/pack) 1 Table, folding, 30" x 60" 6 Paper towels (12/case) 1 Tent, 10' X 10' enclosed 6 Safety glasses 1 Toilet paper (40/case) 1 Trash can liner (250/box) 2 Trash cans, 32 gallon Napkins *Please note that this list is an estimate of product on the trailers. Each trailer may have different items and different quantities. The trailers are pre-loaded for fastest deployment and are not customizable. Page 8 of 8