Volunteers
Our volunteers are the cornerstone of our organization. Since 2011, over 4,000 Floridians have completed at least one of our two Emergency Animal Sheltering courses. We have over 950 volunteers throughout the state. This page is designed as a resource for our team.
For administrative assistance, contact our volunteer administrator, Paula, at volunteer@flsarc.org
Deploying With Us (UPDATED OCT 2023)
We work with Florida state and county Divisions of Emergency Management. Our team deploys under the state’s ESF (Emergency Support Function) -17 responsible for Animal Protection and Agricultural Response. Training is required before individuals can become a volunteer and deploy with FLSARC. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old to deploy to a disaster in Florida. See all requirements at the bottom of this page or click the button to download or print a pdf copy.
Code of Conduct (Updated January 2024)
Our team must abide by a strict code of conduct and policies when representing or volunteering with FLSARC.
CREATE a Volunteer Profile
If you have met the minimum requirements to become a FLSARC volunteer, Click the following link to be directed away from our website to our volunteer database. There, you will complete information to set up a profile. It may take up to 20 minutes to complete the profile application.
UPDATE a Volunteer Profile
Use this link to update an existing volunteer profile in the Volunteer Information Center (VIC.)
Add HOURS & View Schedule
The VIC (Volunteer Information Center) is the place to record volunteer hours, obtain your schedule, or record volunteer mileage.
DEPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS
Individuals must be 18 years old or older to participate in FLSARC classes, deployments, and drills
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COURSES
Level 1 Awareness: FL-003 OR SART Online Pet Friendly Sheltering FL-017
Level 2 Operations: FL-607
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For Awareness - LEVEL 1 Deployment: For Operations - LEAD or MANAGEMENT ROLES Level 2
** Awareness Level Small Animal Emergency Sheltering Course or SART Online Pet ** Level 1 Deployable
** Friendly Sheltering Course - CERTIFICATE ** Operations Level (Level 2) Small Animal Emergency Sheltering Course
** Current and Complete Volunteer Profile ** 10 hours working with dogs and 10 hours working with cats in a shelter, similar
** FEMA free online course - IS-100 Introduction to Incident Command System - CERTIFICATE environment, or in a veterinary practice.
** Current Tetanus Vaccination recorded and documented ** Completion of three additional FREE online FEMA Courses - UPDATED
Note: Our database is NOT HIIPA compliant. Provide only dates unless you authorize FL 1) FEMA free online course - IS-200 ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incident
SARC to store your vaccination documentation. 2) FEMA free online course - IS-700 National Incident Management System (NIMS) - An Introduction
3) FEMA free online course - IS-800.D: National Response Framework, An Introduction
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VACCINATIONS
All volunteers are encouraged to have the following vaccinations when entering a disaster area.
Some partner organizations MAY require some or all of them:
Tetanus Vaccination within the past 5 years. 10 years is acceptable - SARC MANDATORY
Hepatitis A & B, Pre-Exposure Rabies, Covid, etc. - VOLUNTARY
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSES
Fear Free Shelters - Reduce stress in shelter pets with Fear Free. All shelter, rescue, and animal
welfare employees and volunteers can register for FREE.
ASPCApro list of Disaster Response Training
NOTE: Current experience and education may be acceptable in lieu of some requirements. FLSARC often deploys team members nationally with partner organizations to practice skills and enhance our abilities. These organizations may have additional requirements to deploy with them. Additional requirements will be communicated when requesting assistance.
Hurricanes, wildfires, floods, & tornadoes. Florida gets its share of natural disasters. Add other disasters like chemical spills, outbreaks, and explosions. Florida emergencies vary in size and scope. If families are affected, pets are affected and we deploy. These regions are often referenced during large natural disasters.
Know Your Region** Updated 1 July 2023.
For more information go to: https://www.floridadisaster.org/dem/directors-office/regions/