Author Archives: Julie K Hutchison

Last night the team gathered to honor a remarkable individual who has dedicated her time, expertise, and passion to the Wilson County Disaster Animal Response Team. Thank you Julie Hutchison, who is embarking on a well-deserved retirement after years of unwavering service.
Her dedication, leadership, and unwavering commitment to our mission have been instrumental in shaping the team’s success and growth.
Julie, you will always be a part of our team, and your contributions will forever be cherished. We wish you joy, fulfillment, and good health in the years to come. May your retirement be filled with happiness, adventures, and the knowledge that you have made a profound and lasting difference in the lives of animals and our community.

Disaster Preparedness for Animals isn’t complete without an AKC REUNITE TRAILER!
Back in 2015, the American Kennel Clubs came together to offer WC DART a grant which included a 16’ Box Trailer complete with enough supplies to house 100 companion animals in times of Disaster. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club of America , Inc., Nashville Kennel Club, Maury County Kennel Club, Clarksville Kennel Club, Tennessee Valley Kennel Club of Knoxville, Tn., Greater Murfreesboro Kennel Club and Tullahoma Kennel Club made this AKC REUNITE Grant possible!

Haley “Stormy” Meier, Fox Weather, interviewed the WC DART Team to further increase public awareness to evacuate with your pets in times of disaster. People will put themselves in harms way to keep their pets safe. The Human Animal Bond is so great, people would rather keep their pets in dangerous situations, unaware accommodations are provided for their pets, too! In 2006, President George Bush signed the Pets Act into law, stating provisions for humans and their pets must be provided for in order to receive federal funding post disaster.

Watch the Fox Weather Channel, on May 8th, 2023, for the Interview.

Thank you Laurie Adams, WC DART Photographer

What an awesome Ropes and More (RAM) Training Day with Code 3 Associates! Sunday October 16th, at the WEMA Training Center, the WC DART Team and Putnam County DART, spent a full day, training with the best of the best! The Team learned how to properly use Ropes, Knots and Techniques in Companion and Large Animal Response, making the team sharper in technical assistance! Thank you to all who attended! Thank you Code 3! Thank you to the Wilson County DART Association Directors for breakfast and lunch!

Heavy rainfall, leading to 17 inches of rainfall in less than 2 hours, caused flash flooding in the city of Waverly Tn. A wall of water, 7’ high went through a residential area of this beautiful community, displacing humans and their animals. Loss of Life was imminent, as there was no warning of this unpredicted storm.

The Humane Society of the United States, reached out to the Wilson County Disaster Animal Response Team to assist the Waverly Animal Shelter with Donation Management as well as Emergency Sheltering operations and Animal Care. The out pour of donations was amazing, support was coming in locally and from all over the United States!

Thank you to the Waverly Animal Shelter, we made friends both human and animals, we will never forget!
Thank you to the HSUS for this opportunity to assist!

The WC DART Team was called by the TN Department of Agriculture to assist with 500 Turkeys being hauled in an overturned Tractor Trailer. The Turkeys were removed from the accident site by Metro Animal Control Officers, TN Dept. of Ag staff and EMA. The Turkeys were brought to Metro Animal Care and Control. Wilson Co DART assisted the staff unloading the Turkeys into the Shelter awaiting Transport back to the Turkey Farm…..and again loading the Turkeys into the Transport Semi.

Adrienne and Kim came up with a “Fireman’s Sling” to carry the Turkeys ! Which made carrying the 50 lb birds safer and easier for all involved plus expedited the loading of the birds!

Metro Animal Control did an exceptional job helping the Turkeys!

Thank you to ALL the WC DART Volunteers who assisted with this operation !

The WC DART Team received a call from WEMA Dispatch reporting a 300 pound Pot Belly Pig was stuck in a sump pump hole in a yard under construction. When Laurie Adams arrived on the scene, Itty was definitely stuck in a hole!!! Using a Tow-Strap, Itty was pulled to safety! The Family and WC DART Team was so happy to see Itty running around the yard normally once again! Thank you to all the volunteers who responded to the call: Adrienne Molteni, Laurie Adams, Brian and Rebecca Partridge, Alison Benton Kim Bradley and Julie Hutchison

After the Team returned home, a second call came in from WEMA Dispatch – “A Dog with her head stuck in a car engine” Wilson Co Animal Control had requested WC DART handle this call. Adrienne Molteni and Julie Hutchison responded to the call… There was a white female Pit Bull with her head stuck in a Truck engine- the result of chasing mice!! The homeowner said “The Donkeys alerted her to the situation, they were quite upset while looking at the Truck.” When she came over to investigate she found Mattie in this predicament. After a little adjusting and wiggling – Mattie was free, with only a scratch to her head. Really happy to see Mattie, the family greeted her with love and hugs! Adrienne and I were happy to see a happy ending to a one of a kind request!

The WC DART Team was deployed by WEMA, requested by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), to assist with Sheltering Operations of dogs being evacuated inland, avoiding the impact of Hurricane Laura. The dogs were being transported to placement partners,  freeing up a Shelter from Gulfport, MS. The Team did a GREAT job, Sheltering, Walking, Feeding and loading/unloading for transport to safety moving onto North Carolina!

Thank you to WEMA, the Humane Society of the United States and the Wilson Co Disaster Animal Response Team!

WC DART went out Saturday March 21st to assist with Tornado Clean Up in Hay Fields and Cow Pastures at a Farm in the Tucker’s CrossRoads Area, per request. The fields were littered with Insulation, Metal pieces,  Roof shingles, etc. from the March 3 tornadoes which touched down in Middle TN.  Mail discovered in the pasture had a zip code marked 37211 !  The Team was happy to get to help a Farmer and his Cows in need.

The Wilson Co DART Team has been doing an outstanding job keeping Wilson County Safe and caring for the People and their Pets since the Tornado made landfall on Tuesday March 3, 2020.

Tuesday 3/3/2020 the Team went out to Peyton Rd to assist 4 horses trapped in a collapsed Barn. When Teresa Fuller arrived onsite the owners already had the horses out and safe, until transported to a friends house. Paula and I went to all the RedCross Shelters making sure the Animals had what they needed. There were 2 Beagles we provided crates for. 2 Bearded dragons were at a tornado Victims home – they were unsure of their status when we spoke- Jay was on standby to assist.

Wednesday, WC DART had a Planning Meeting at Ruby Tuesday…Adrienne and Matthew, equipped with Muscle and Chain saw started on the Cedar Grove Cemetery Clean up.

Thursday, WCDART assisted with Cedar Grove Cemetery Clean Up. Made friends with Lowe’s manager Stephen- and had a hot BBQ FREE lunch! Lowe’s provided graspers for trash pick up- sure made our job easier!!! Thank you Lowe’s!

Friday, Myla and Allen Snyder checked on the Red Cross Shelters evaluating animal needs, taking a census- No new admissions No animal needs and the Beagles went home from the Mount Juliet ARC Shelter

Saturday- The Team participated in New Leash on Life’s 5K to collect donations for the Disaster Victims. The Team collected Dog Food, Cat Food, leashes, bowls and some crates , Gift Cards and $50 cash. The team had lunch at Rehab 23, where Cris Teal, WC DART and Rehab 23 volunteer,  was working providing meals and a place to chill and charge cell phones.
AS the Team took donations back to the New DART Storage space- The Call came in from Captain Cowan- WC DART has permission to Canvass Wilson County on Saturday and the Cities of Lebanon and Mt Juliet assessing animal needs of the communities.
I touched base Saturday night with Stephanie Cox, Director of Mt Juliet Animal Control and WC DART Team member. She called me back Sunday morning reporting that Mt Juliet’s 2 neighborhoods hit are not having animal issues. The neighborhoods are affluent and do not need assistance. The animals running at large had been contained by animal control and reunited with owners within hours! Give a shout out to Mt Juliet Animal Control doing a fabulous job keeping their City safe!

Sunday-3/9/2020  The Team canvassed the City of Lebanon and found a Cat Lady in need of food, litter, pee pads for her 15 cats which the WC DART Team provided a generous supply of each. While the Team was stopped assisting the Cat Lady, a Veteran approached us requesting assistance at a Veterans home in the City of Lebanon….the Team went by and assessed- they lost all their food supplies when they lost power….WC DART provided Gift Cards (collected at the 5K) to Publix, Kroger, Sonic and VISA Cash Cards totaling $575.00 . Dog food for the Seeing Eye Dog and 2 cats and personal care and cleaning items also collected at the 5k.
Some of The Team concluded the search of the city at O’Charley’s on HWY 231 who charged us 1/2 price for our lunch! Thank you to OCharley’s!
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Thank you to WC DART for your support and love for Wilson Co !

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