Wilson County Disaster Animal Response Team

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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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!