GREEN COVE SPRINGS – A disaster doesn’t know bounds - it affects everyone, including pets and animals. One way you can help is to become an emergency animal responder so you can be ready to help when you get the call to action.

Thanks to a grant from the Florida State Agricultural Response Team, Clay County Emergency Management, UF/IFAS Extension, and the Florida State Animal Response Coalition are partnering to provide free training on how to respond to local, state, and national disasters, save animals and operate temporary emergency animal or pet-friendly shelters. This training is open to the public.

The event is Saturday, Dec. 3.. from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Clay County UF/IFAS Extension Godbold Building at State Road 16.

Registering is a $40 administration fee, but you can use the promo code SART and receive free registration by visiting bit.ly.CLAYAWARELVL1.

The course is called Small Animal Emergency and Disaster Sheltering Course – Awareness Level.

The Awareness Level class will give you the knowledge and skills you need to work in an emergency animal shelter or pet-friendly shelter. It will provide you with the expertise and practical experience required to become an emergency animal responder. The Awareness Level Small Animal Emergency Sheltering class is FEMA-recognized and certified by the Florida Department of Emergency Management. FL SARC responders require this class to respond in Florida to help companion animals during a disaster.

After successful completion of the class, you will receive a complimentary Florida SARC uniform T-shirt and a pet evacuation information bag. Choose your shirt size on the registration page. On the registration page, you may also order additional shirts for $15 or pet info bags in packs of 5 for $10.