RedRover Responders

Helping animals in crisis is at the heart of all that RedRover does. In 1987, United Animal Nations was formed (now RedRover) to help animals in need globally on issues such as pet overpopulation, elephant poaching, horse slaughter, whaling, and more. We have since narrowed our geographic focus to the United States and Canada, and our programs now center on helping companion animals in need. One of those programs, RedRover Responders, helps temporarily shelter and care for animals evacuated from natural disasters and large-scale cruelty and neglect.

Over the years, the organization has deployed staff and RedRover Responders volunteers nearly 300 times since 1987. Every deployment improves the lives of people and animals in the community. Although every deployment is memorable and impactful in its own right, one of the deployments that stands out among many in our community is our deployment to support those affected by Hurricane Katrina.

As the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina approaches, we are reminded about how far emergency pet preparedness has evolved in the past 2 decades. We deployed a team of 400 trained volunteers and 15 veterinarians to the sites of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita, which also occurred in 2005, to give hands-on assistance on the ground. This team came from 40 states and Canada and cared for 2100 animals across 6 locations in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas.

Hurricane Katrina was one of the deadliest hurricanes in United States history and forever changed emergency response—pets could no longer be ignored in disaster planning. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, RedRover and several other organizations founded the National Animal Rescue & Sheltering Coalition (NARSC). RedRover remains an active member of NARSC to this day.

RedRover Responders volunteers receive on-the-ground training to care for and shelter large numbers of animals who had been rescued or displaced. The volunteers provide the workforce that enables communities to address their animal needs swiftly and efficiently.

• Other notable deployments include:
• Hurricanes Harvey and Irma (2017)
• Hurricanes Ian and Ida (2022)
• Camp and Carr Fires (2018)
• Caldor Fire (2021)
• Envigo laboratory beagle surrender (2022)
• Northridge earthquake (1994)

What volunteers do

Our specially trained RedRover Responders volunteers provide a range of hands-on care and support for animals in crisis. Beyond providing temporary shelter and care for displaced animals, they also assist in communities with an overpopulation of homeless animals and support pets of domestic violence survivors by building pet housing at domestic violence shelters and animal shelters. The duties that volunteers may perform while on deployment include:

• Assisting with veterinary examinations and care
• Feeding animals and cleaning cages
• Trapping community cats to be spayed or neutered and vaccinated prior to release
• Walking, grooming, and socializing animals
• Assisting with pet wellness event registration, checkout, recovery, sterilization of instruments
• Reuniting animals with owners
• Building safe enclosures for family dogs living outdoors
• Installing pet-friendly flooring, fencing, and other construction and pet enrichment needs at shelters
• Organizing supply donations

Image courtesy of RedRover

Volunteer training

The online volunteer training course is self-paced and can be completed in just a few hours. It offers the expert information and training that RedRover is known for in preparing volunteers for future deployments. Once a volunteer has successfully completed our training program, they are added to our volunteer roster and will be notified via email or text when there is an opportunity to deploy with the RedRover Responders in their state or region.

Volunteer qualifications are as follows:

• Age of 18 years or older
• An email address that one checks regularly and access to the Internet
• Current tetanus immunization
• Completion of Federal Emergency Management Agency course IS-100.C (an introduction to the Incident Command System)
• Completion of the volunteer training online
• Ability to withstand the physical demands of deployments, including the capability to lift at least 40 lb and stand, kneel, or bend for long hours in varying temperatures and conditions
• Agreement to the RedRover Responders Volunteer Code of Conduct

How to get involved

Joining our RedRover Responders team is a chance to connect to communities in need, foster collaboration with fellow animal lovers, refine skills, boost overall well-being and purpose, and more. Register for the free online RedRover Responders volunteer training at redrover.org/responders/join-responders.

As we enter hurricane season, RedRover Director of Field Services Beth Gammie will share how the organization supports pets, people, and communities during natural disasters and answer all your disaster preparedness questions.

Sheri Madsen is director of public relations and partnership for RedRover. If you’d like to learn more about our program and what a deployment may look like, please contact Madsen at smadsen@redrover.org.