WASHINGTON STATE ANIMAL RESPONSE TEAM

WASART's goals, as expressed in its Vision Statement, are:
To provide animals in emergency situations and their owners solutions to resolve their situations
To provide animal owners a resource where none exists
To save human lives by responding to situations where animals are in danger so non-skilled owners and bystanders don't risk death and injury to themselves
To provide a group for people to give back and find community of supportive peers across all demographics
To be the premier animal disaster response organization throughout the Northwest
To be recognized as a model for other animal response organizations
To be recognized as the best trained, most highly respected animal response organization in the region

WASART's strategies to achieve its goals are:
To involve and recruit volunteers to take a more active role in the organizations activities
To listen to each volunteer and match them with their interests, goals, and skills
To keep in mind whom we serve as we make policy and guideline decisions
To promote from within
To reinforce positive interactions
To provide opportunities for people to feel comfortable learning new skills
To achieve technical expertise though extensive and rigorous training
To be respected by our stakeholders because of our commitment to our Core Values of Integrity,
Education, Professionalism, Teamwork and Volunteerism
To raise the necessary funds to support our activities through grants and donations
To promote our activities through accurate and effective reporting in social and news media

WASART has established capability for technical animal rescue in emergencies that is unique in the Northwest. Many members are experienced in rescuing and sheltering animals through deployments with WASART and national animal welfare organizations for disaster response and other emergencies throughout the U. S. and internationally. WASART has grown to about 150 members, 10% of whom are veterinary professionals. It maintains a corral panel trailer plus 4 utility trailers, 3 equipped for emergency sheltering and 1 for emergency rescue of large and small animals, 2 trucks for towing the trailers, and a box van equipped identically with the rescue trailer. All equipment is staged for timely response throughout its service area. In the event of a wide-scale disaster that overwhelms its resources, WASART has a Memorandum of Understanding with RedRover, a national organization specializing in emergency sheltering, to provide additional assets to augment its own resources.

WASART's growth from 2 founders in 2007 to over 150 members throughout Washington is indicative of the impact of its programs and activities. Our working relationships with emergency management agencies, law enforcement, Search and Rescue groups and animal control agencies are all indicative of adherence to our Core Values and the recognition by those partners that we are a valued asset to our communities' animal welfare needs. Establishment of Memoranda of Understanding with local and regional emergency management agencies and with national animal welfare organizations demonstrate that we are progressing toward our vision of becoming the premier animal disaster response organization throughout the Northwest.

We struggle to raise sufficient revenue to procure relatively expensive (four and five figures) rescue and training equipment which must be replaced as the structures expire or become damaged, but have made considerable progress through some grants and numerous contributions.