JACKSON, Wyo. — With wildfire season on its way, PAWS is asking the community for help on its Disaster Animal Response Team (DART).

PAWS will be hosting the American Humane Society in May for a training event to prepare people to step in and assist with pets in an emergency situation or natural disaster. “When disaster strikes, and evacuations are ordered, many families face an impossible choice: leave their pets behind or risk their own safety,” reads the event announcement.

The DART training will take place on Saturday, May 16, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The morning session will be held at the Emergency Operation Center on Adams Canyon Drive, and the afternoon practical training will be in a different location that will be shared at a later date. The training is free, and lunch and refreshments will be provided for all attendees. Volunteers will learn how to set up and operate a temporary emergency animal shelter.

According to PAWS, after Hurricane Katrina, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) began requiring communities to have a plan in place to protect pets during disasters. Without a plan, towns can risk losing access to FEMA funding.

Contact Stephanie Sokol to learn more or to sign up.

Monica is a Staff Reporter who studied journalism at Syracuse University and has been in the valley since 2015. She loves writing about the local food and bev scene, especially craft beer. When she’s not on the clock, you can find her paddle boarding, sewing, or whipping up a new recipe at home.