Upcoming Events

Click here for details and a complete list of events.

Got the right stuff? Like to work with stuff?

    The Central Massachusetts Disaster Animal Response Team, Inc. (CMDART, Inc) is looking for volunteers  to assist with the "Logistics" function of our team. Logistics is the ordering, organizing, and sometimes the transport of equipment before, after and during an emergency event. We are primarily looking for people who can order, organize, inventory and keep our equipment ready for service.. Equipment includes everything from animal crates to blankets, generators, tents, medical response equipment and the like. Individuals with towing gear on their vehicles are also needed (2"ball). You do not have a tow vehicle nor do you have to respond to an incident to help with logistics. If you choose to be available for incidents as well,  you need to be comfortable with organized chaos, complete team paperwork and be flexible. We would like individuals who can attend some public education events where donations are often offered.   

    While we don't live in hurricane alley, there is just another disaster around the corner. CMDART assists the American Red Cross, Dept of Public Health and local emergency services when an incident involves animals. Central Mass has a number of fires, floods, hazardous material incidents, and storms that can affect many.

    Please contact JoAnn Griffin at  508-476-3677 or  president@cmdart.org  if you know of someone who might be interested in helping us with this function. For more information about the team,  go to www.cmdart.org. We are a tax deductible, private, non-profit organization. We are also available to offer lectures on personal preparedness for pets in emergencies and/or to help your organization know how you can aid the team.

OPERATION Lowell Humane Society

BING BANG BOOM

goes off without a hitch

July 4, 2008

Liz Shaw, Interim Director Lowell Humane Society

With the assistance of the Central Massachusetts Disaster Animal Response Team (CMDART) , the City of Lowell Department of Public Works, City of Lowell Animal Control Officers and the National Parks Service, the evacuation of the Lowell Humane Society Animal Shelter during the fireworks on the 4^th of July was a complete success.

The City fireworks are shot off from a University of Massachusetts- Lowell field that abuts the Lowell Humane Society property. In the past, animals have spent a terrifying night while the loud noises crash above their heads. This year, the Lowell Humane Society decided to evacuate the animals to a quiet location in order to reduce the stress on them. They called on  CMDART to assist. For the DART team it was an opportunity to have a practice drill on evacuation procedures of an animal shelter. For the City of Lowell it was an opportunity to observe an evacuation that will inform their own plans on how to handle animals in disaster situations. 

Thirty-three cats and two dogs, an unusually low number of animals for the shelter, made the trek across town to the National Parks Service Maintenance Facility. They traveled in 2 trailers and a van. Upon arrival, the CMDART team was able to practice their emergency shelter procedures and the cats and dogs settled in for the evening. 

When the fireworks were over, the CMDART team and Lowell staff loaded up the animals and returned to the shelter. Everyone was safely back in their temporary homes by 11 pm.  

The careful handling of the animals by the CMDART volunteers and the quiet space provided by the National Parks Service made what could have been a horribly scary evening into an odd adventure for the cats and dogs. They will be available again for adoption on Sunday July 6^th, after taking a day to settle back into their shelter home.

Many thanks go to Ed Patenaude, of the City of Lowell Department of Public Works, for spearheading the City cooperation and involvement. Thanks also to the National Park Service and Ranger Tim Socha, who spent an unusual 4^th of July watching over the animals. Thanks to Rob Pickard, Animal Control Officer who pitched in to help. And finally many, many thanks go to the CMDART team who gave up a family holiday and drove as far as 60 miles one way, to help our animals have a peaceful 4^th of July.

(click image to see enlarged)

Click here to see a great short slide show!(bingbangboom.wmv)

CMDART Volunteers Graduate

Congratulations to Dr's Emily Christiansen and Nadia Stegemen who graduated from Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University on Sunday, May 18, 2008. Nadia and Emily have served locally and nationally. including serving on the CMDART Board of Directors and as members of the SMART Veterinary Team. We are very grateful for their service to our regional team.

Reflections of a Veterinary Medical Student: Embracing Your Inner Disaster Junkie, by Nadia Stegeman DVM, MPH

It all started in the spring of 2005 when a good friend of mine (another DVM/MPH student) procured the brilliant idea of attending an animal disaster relief course the weekend before a series of final exams in our first year of veterinary school.  We had both independently been politely rejected by our local VMAT team so finding a group that would welcome us was a new and exciting prospect.  Being a lover of procrastination and game for adventure, I heeded the call of the sirens and signed up. Click here to read more...

SPOTLIGHT ON MEMBERS

Jungle Encounters, our own Debi Willoughby who has graciously given some of her educational fees to CMDART and continues to help us coordinate events.
 

Michelle Borelli at Gemini Dog Training, Littleton for taking time from running her day care and boarding facility,  to help promote the new Leominster team. Michelle is also helping to polish our email lists. Michelle and Debi both deserve some special recognition as volunteers who have been with us since the beginning.

Special thanks to Becky Kalagher and Judy Overdorf for sharing their leadership skills as women who have and do participate in many other community organizations. 

 
Thanks to Gregg Gibbs and Isabelle Lubenec for being two members who seek to grow and learn and have dedicated themselves to advancing disaster services locally and statewide. 

Thanks to our webmaster for her creativity and her awesome consistency keeping the website up to date. This is an active team, so this is quite the challenge!! 

Price Chopper for being a recent sponsor of one of our trainings.

Vendors & Retailers Needed

We are looking for food vendors or small retailers who are interested in signing up as a potential source for emergency pet food for CMDART. Please contact  Virginia Shugrue if you can help!

Pet-friendly hotels in the area (PDF)