Author Archives: Julie K Hutchison

WC DART assisted Macon Co. Animal Control Officer, Jamie Weekley, Lafayette Animal Control Officer, Tom Dallas, and Macon Co. Sheriff’s Department and EMA, in evacuating 38 Husky, Beagle and mixes, from a hoarding situation. The dogs were Sheltered and cared for by the Macon Co Animal Control and WC DART. WCDART sponsored the rescue operation, through a Mutual Aid Agreement.

Joey Cooper, WEMA Director prvides the WCDART Team with 2way Radios! Captain Daniel Cowan programmed and gave an inservice on the Radios. The Team appreciates these Radios so much! Often disaster sites do not have cell service, making communication out in the field difficult. Now the Team can communicate more efficiently coordinating disaster response efforts. Thank you Director Cooper and Captain Cowan! They will be used at every training, deployment and events!

The WC DART Team was deployed to Rockport TX by a request from The Humane Society of the United States. The Team got the word to head out on 9/4/17 and departed WEMA Headquarters at 10:31 am, with the AKC Reunite WCDART Trailer in tow. CJ and Shea Hutsenpiller, Paula Applegate, Jo Jarvis, Myla Snyder and Julie Hutchison, WCDART Coordinator joined The HSUS already on the ground in Rockport,Tx

The WCDART Team assisted with Sheltering Operations, assisted in the Texas A&M Vet Clinic, went out in the city and surrounding counties searching for animals running at large, set up feeding stations, passed out dog food,cat food, bottled water and Gatorade and Resource phone numbers to assist the residents with available assistance.

Thursday August 10, 2017 WC DART members: Kim Bradley, Claudia Richardson, Nina Ground, Paula Applegate and Julie Hutchison spoke to the Eastern Star about WC DART’s deployments and disaster response. We had a fabulous meeting with fellowship and good conversation. They surprised us with a gift basket of much needed dog/cat toys and support! Thank you Eastern Star!

Lebanon’s Chapter of the Eastern Star, Rose Croix #95. Claudia Richardson, Photographer.

WC DART and the AKC Reunite Trailer are going to be appearing at 2 upcoming events. Catch up with the Team and Trailer at The Williamson Co. Expo Center April 29 and 30 for the Maury Co. AKC Dog Show. The Team will be on site Saturday April 29 with the Trailer open and on display for all the show goers to see!  AND

WC DART heads to Bark in the Park, a benefit for New Leash on Life at the James E Ward AG Center on May 13, 2017 from 11:00- 4:00 pm. The Trailer will be on site. The Team will be out and about to talk to the public, recruit volunteers and fundraise for a new Carport to store the Trailer! Come on out and support the team. New volunteers are welcome!

WCDART celebrates the New Year with a New Trailer from the AKC!

This weekend March 11 and 12 WC DART and the Trailer headed to the Williamson Co. Expo Center for the Music City Cluster. This is the biggest AKC Show in Tennesse. Sponsored by the Nashville KC and Tullahoma KC.

WC DART was invited to put theAKC Reunite trailer on display and to be on site       .

Claudia Richardson, Photographer, Adrienne Molteni and Kim Bradley and Winston in front of the AKC DART Trailer.

Thank you Adrienne and Nina & Dudley for transporting the Trailer to and from the event!

Saturday, March 18, 2017 the WC DART Team is getting together at the Chop House on the Green at the Lebanon Country Club, Coles Ferry Pike in Lebanon Tn. to celebrate the longevity of the team! 10 Years serving Wilson Co. and mission ready for the State of TN. The party starts at 6:00- Dart tales, 6:30-Dinner. Family and friends and new volunteers of WC DART are welcome to attend. Please RSVP by Friday 3/17/17 to http://www.wcdart@yahoo.com Continue reading →

WC DART received call from WEMA, Nov 30 at 4:12 am a request from TEMA to assist with Disaster Animal Response in Sevier Co., in response to the wildfires which have overcome Gatlinburg, TN. Julie Hutchison, WC DART Coordinator, Susan Stafford , Jennifer Pearson , Kim Bradley, Paula Applegate and Nina Ground responded and departed for Gatlinburg. Stopping in at the LaConte Center , Bradley Co DART had the sheltering operations under control. We got to look in on the Bald Eagles from Dollywood who were seeking shelter there as well. It was then on to the Rocky Top Sportsplex where Hamilton Co DART welcomed our assistance. The Team assisted with Sheltering Operations, admitting, setting up, walking the dogs and offering support to their families.

WC DART: STAND BY FOR FURTHER DEPLOYMENT REQUESTS, INTO NEXT WEEK!

Sunday July 5, 2015, the call came in to TEMA from the Macon Co. EMA requesting assistance from the Wilson Co. DART Team to respond to Animal Control’s request for assistance after flash flooding left numerous families and animals displaced. Many families had to give up their pets as their lives were turned upside down very quickly. The flooding destroyed homes and even washed away a vehicle as the rains came on so fast and heavy.

Macon Co. Animal Control and Lafayette Animal Control were overwhelmed with the intake of animals and needed to do something with the overflow….that’s where WC DART came in.  The Team was on the ground in Macon Co. first thing Monday Morning, July 6, 2015 setting up an Overflow Shelter at the Macon Co. Fairgrounds. There people could find their lost pets or relinquish custody as they focussed on putting their lives back together.

Tom Dallas, Lafayette AC and Corey Lawrence, Macon Co. AC worked hard to help the residents of Macon Co. with their animals. Just when we thought we had a handle on the flooding animal victims, a call came in : People up and left their homes–2 mobile homes on 1 lot on the river..leaving behind 20 dogs due to severe flooding damage. The WC DART Team assisted AC with the round up and recovered 11!

All in all there were 75 animals rescued by AC. (42cats came from 1 mobile home), 33 animals came through the Overflow Shelter. When sheltering operations ceased today, July 13, 2015, all except 8 had been placed…and some of them were going to local rescues and fosters. If you are interested in adopting or fostering please contact Macon Co Animal Control or Lafayette Animal Control.

Thank you to all who made this Rescue/Sheltering Operation a success!