Animal Rescue in Times of Disaster
2020 has been a chaotic year with wildfires burning out of control across the state, leaving the valley blanketed in smoke for weeks. Other years we are hit with floods. During these disasters people often are forced to flee their homes with little or no time to bring pets and livestock.
Fortunately the state of California and volunteer rescue organizations are prepared to help rescue and shelter animals.
This is the first in a series of stories about animal rescue efforts. In this first story you will learn about what resources are available in your area (please check the links) as well as how animal rescue operations cooperate with the state and each other.
Following stories will touch on how to volunteer, a closer look at the organizations that are there to help rescue and shelter animals, and some heart-wrenching as well as humorous stories about what rescuers have experienced.
CREDITS
Michael Cockrell, Producer
Cyndy Green, Camera/Editor
- Amador County Animal Response Team
- American Red Cross, Heart of the Valley Chapter
- Calaveras County, Office of Emergency Services
- California Department of Food and Agriculture
- California Office of Emergency Services
- Clements Rural Fire Protection District
- Contra Costa County Animal Services Department
- East Contra Costa Fire Protection District
- Hold Your Horses Livestock Emergency Evacuation Response Team
- Mike Tecklenburg
- RedRover
- Sonoma Community Animal Response Team
- Sonoma County, Office of Emergency Services
- UC Davis School Veterinary Medicine
- Yolo County, Office of Emergency Services
LINKS
- Amador County Animal Response Team
- American Red Cross, Heart of the Valley Chapter
- Calaveras County, Office of Emergency Services
- California Animal Response Emergency System (CARES)
- California OES Animal Response Emergency System & during COVID-19
- Contra Costa County Animal Services
- East Contra Costa Fire Protection District
- Hold Your Horses Livestock Emergency Evacuation Response Team
- UC Davis, Veterinary Emergency Response Team (VERT)
Michael Cockrell’s public service career has included law enforcement, water conservation enforcement, and emergency management. After 35-years at San Joaquin County’s Office of Emergency Services (OES), he retired as Director in December 2017. His OES experience between 1982-2017 included a wide range of emergencies and disasters such as floods, earthquake recovery, mass-casualty incidents, train derailments, hazardous materials releases, droughts, extreme heat and cold events. His education includes Associate and Bachelor degrees in Social Science, concentrating in Administration of Justice, and, a Master’s Degree in Public Administration. He has also completed many continued-education courses on administration and emergency management.
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