Animal Services Calls for Volunteers to Help with Pet Pick-ups
From Special Needs Citizens During Evacuations

A love of animals and enthusiasm for helping others are qualities adult volunteers need to assist special needs citizens who must evacuate their homes during an emergency such as a hurricane. Pinellas County Animal Services in Largo is welcoming applications to volunteer with transportation teams that take pets to other locations during a declared emergency.

Volunteers serve as auxiliary Disaster Animal Response Team (DART) members to help transport pets of special needs citizens to safe, predetermined locations. Those interested in volunteering should call Greg Andrews, operations manager at Pinellas County Animal Services, at (727) 582-2623. Helpers need to fill out Pinellas County volunteer applications and must complete training facilitated by the Bay Area DART Team.
Learn more about DART

This service helps special needs citizens who might otherwise decide not to evacuate because of their pets. With this service, these citizens feel more comfortable about leaving their homes, knowing their animals are safe. Of course, service animals may go to shelters, but other pets need to be cared for by making prior arrangements, such as signing up to go to a pet-friendly shelter or a host home.

If special needs citizens are already registered with their local fire department and have a pet which they need help evacuating, they should call Pinellas County Animal Services at (727) 582-2600 to register pets for pick-up. Pinellas County Animal Services is located at 12450 Ulmerton Road in Largo.

Learn more about taking care of pets during emergencies

Information about the program for special needs citizens and/or pet-friendly shelters, or call (727) 464-3800 or visit. Citizens may also contact their nearest fire department or home health care provider.