Interested in Volunteering?
Do you have a passion for helping people and animals?
We’re looking for volunteers with all kinds of skills! Whether you love animals and have advanced experience and skills, enjoy working with technology and radios, love outreach and connecting with community members, or are comfortable with administration tasks - there’s a place for you at Sonoma CART! This is a rewarding way to help our community during times of need.
Sign up to become a volunteer today via Better Impact or send an email to info@sonomacart.org.
When a disaster happens and the County of Sonoma activates an emergency response, Sonoma County Agencies including Sonoma County Animal Services and Sonoma CART are automatically activated to respond.
Approved by the local jurisdiction in coordination with Sonoma County Animal Services, Sonoma CART is the only animal response team in Sonoma County authorized to partner with first responders to safely evacuate, shelter in place, and/or transport large and small animals during disasters or emergencies in affected areas.
Trainings and Requirements
Online trainings consist of courses including free FEMA Emergency Management Institute (EMI) Independent Study Program (ISP) certificates for ICS 100, 200, 700, and 800 and All Hazards and Fireline Safety.
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Specialized in-person exercises include animal handling and first aid, trailer hauling, companion animal and livestock sheltering, large and small animal shelter intake (Multi-species), Large Animal Technical Rescue (LATR), Animal Search and Rescue (ASAR), command center I & II, radio communications, Shelterly tabletop exercises, and more.
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Physical requirements for working during a disaster vary by role, but most positions share a core set of physical demands related to standing, walking, heat tolerance, kneeling, squatting and lifting.
To Become a Sonoma CART Volunteer
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Complete the Sonoma CART New Volunteer Training
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Create a Better Impact profile
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Complete the Volunteer Application
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Complete the Volunteer Agreement
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Complete the Liability Release Form
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Complete All Hazards Safety Awareness
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Complete Fire Line Safety + Fire Tent Deployment
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Complete the required FEMA courses:
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IS 100 Introduction to the Incident Command System
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IS 200 Basic Incident Command System for Initial Response
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IS 700 Introduction to the National Incident Management System
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IS 800 National Response Framework, An Introduction
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Upload the required documentation and training certificates to Better Impact and send us an email at info@sonomacart.org
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Volunteers wanted for the following teams:
Large or Small Animal Shelter/Intake The shelter/intake team helps establish and operate emergency sheltering for either large or small animals. Volunteers assist with intake, animal identification and tracking, feeding, health monitoring, biosecurity, exercise, animal family visits, and discharge. Shelter locations and set up are determined as part of the emergency response based on the needs of the incident.
Evacuation and Animal Search and Rescue The Evac and ASAR team supports the safe evacuation, transportation, and shelter in place of large and small animals in affected areas. Sonoma CART is approved by the local jurisdiction in coordination with animal services and is the only animal response team in Sonoma County allowed to partner with first responders to enter evacuation zones to safely and effectively evacuate and/or shelter in place large and small animals. Advanced training and strong animal handling skills are required for field response roles.
Communications The Comms team maintains communications between Sonoma CART leadership, Sonoma County Animal Services, field teams, shelters, dispatch, and other response partners. Trained radio operators help track field activity and keep information moving between response teams throughout an incident, ensuring the safety of field teams, shelter/intake teams, and animals.
Hotline The hotline team answers calls from members of the public providing accurate and timely information, entering information into Shelterly, to ensure proper tracking and transparency with Sonoma County Animal Services.
Volunteer Coordination Our volunteer coordination team supports Sonoma CART volunteers before and during an emergency. Responsibilities may include maintaining volunteer records, tracking training, answering volunteer questions, coordinating assignments, recruiting new volunteers, and scheduling volunteers during an activation.
Community Outreach Our community outreach team represents Sonoma CART at community events throughout Sonoma County. Working with the Public Information Officer and Community Outreach Manager, volunteers help provide animal disaster preparedness information, build community awareness, and strengthen relationships with local partners.