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Our Instructors
Assistant Instructors
Kristi Halkovis • Michele Newton • Paula McPhaul • Desiree Bauman-Smith
Heath Ford • Carol Summerville • Kat Cooper
Consie Von Gontard
As one of the original founders and board members of FLSARC, Consie has vast international experience helping animals during emergencies. As the Training Director, she developed our small animal emergency courses which were the first to be certified by the Department of Homeland Security and the Florida Division of Emergency Management. Consie turned over FL SARC to SPCA Florida in 2021, but is still assisting periodically with instructing and providing outstanding guidance to the current FL SARC management team. We thank her immensely for being there for us.
Andy Bass
Andy has vast experience helping animals, with nearly 30 years in animal rescue, 17 years in Emergency Animal Response, and 10 years with FLSARC. He has been involved in more than 50 operations, including Hurricane Michael, and more recently Hurricane Ian in 2022. He has helped thousands of animals and the people that love them. His most gratifying part of disaster response is working with the “Earth Angels” who share his passion for helping animals and their families. Andy is always there for the team, is an amazing, passionate instructor, and also serves on the newly created FL SARC Advisory Committee.
Kathy Drew
Kathy is one of our original members and has been a part of FLSARC since 2011. She has worked in the animal welfare field for over 17 years where she held many titles including Animal Control Officer. Kathy has deployed to numerous natural disasters including Katrina and Wilma. She is the founder of The Pit Bull Crew, Inc. Kathy is an excellent leader and popular instructor, and is now currently assisting as a member of the newly created FL SARC Advisory Committee.
Pamela Moreman
Pam has a passion for all animals. She has been volunteering, fostering, and working with animal welfare organizations for over 13 years. A member of FLSARC since 2015 and a Professional dog trainer since 2016, Pam has deployed to numerous emergencies with us, including assisting with Citrus County in 2022. She adds valuable experience whether she’s reuniting lost animals with their families or training volunteers to deploy.
Dawn Eyestone
Dawn is a long time animal lover and rescuer who's been on multiple deployments over the course of many years. She began disaster response work in 2005 after hurricane Katrina and has been fostering cats and kittens forever. She began working with FLSARC when she moved to Florida in 2015. (Picture of me in my USF office with a foster kitten named Princess Peach.)
Melissa Forberg
Melissa is an original founding member of FL SARC, board member, instructor, and disaster responder. She also led the Panhandle Animal Welfare Society. She has an extensive business and leadership background. She and her husband Steve currently operate Windmaster Farms, an equine farm specializing in specializing in Russian and Russian related Arabian horses in Walton County.
Steve Carriere
After retiring from the Coast Guard in 2016, Steve moved to Florida with his partner Elena where they became involved in animal fostering, rescue, and TNR. In 2018 he deployed to Hurricane Michael assisting residents with hurricane damage and recovery, and later joined FL SARC in 2019 supporting the Alaqua Refuge hoarding case. He reconnected with FL SARC in 2022 as a Train the Trainer student, then deployed again supporting FL SARC with logistics and donation management for Hurricane Ian. He led SARC from January 2023 through December 2024.
In Loving Memory
Shana Arias
Shana was involved with animal welfare since 2003. She was a volunteer with FLSARC, ASPCA Field Investigation and Response Team, ASPCA Regional Advocacy Field Team, and the Orlando Pet Alliance. She deployed with FLSARC several times, including assisting in the efforts in Panama City during Hurricane Michael. Prior to passing, she was the proud rescue mom of three dogs, two cats and a frequent foster mom. Her bright smile and personality are sorely missed, and will forever be cherished and remembered.
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