The Pet Evacuation Team (P.E.T.) was formed through the Humane Society of Redmond in 2001.
The team formed its own 501c3 in 2008 and resumed operations as a private, all volunteer
organization.
P.E.T. is the only private disaster rescue organization in Central Oregon.
P.E.T. maintains a team of 124 response and resource volunteers who are required to attend a
three part volunteer training and continuing training or response thereafter. Volunteers
assist by providing animal rescue response and temporary shelter for animals throughout
Central Oregon.
Special volunteer skills and training include rope and water rescue, cruelty investigations, veterinary care and animal handling of all kinds. Over the past fifteen years, P.E.T. responded to more than 14 wildfire evacuations, two floods, and several house fires.
Three volunteers were sent for one week to New Orleans two weeks after Katrina by the
Humane Society of United States. Volunteers have assisted law enforcement with several
animal abuse and neglect cases and successful seizure and prosecution of those responsible.
P.E.T. and the local American Red Cross have a memorandum of understanding and working
together to care for people and animals during disaster.
The Regional Coordinator for P.E.T. is part of the Incident Command Team and works closely with emergency management in the tri-county area. In addition to regular in-house training sessions, P.E.T. offers classes to community groups and at events which are designed to assist the animal owner (large and small animals) in adding an evacuation plan for their animals. There are also classes offered to law enforcement in animal body scoring, cruelty and abuse case processes, seizure of animals and forfeitures.
Growth, insurance costs and educational presentation costs have prompted the organization to
hold its First Annual Rescue Me! fundraising and social event on Saturday, April 23, 2016 at
the St. Thomas Parish Hall in Redmond.
The event will feature rescue partners such as Red Cross, police, fire and private contractors who typically work with P.E.T. each year.
Outstanding volunteers will also be recognized. There will be a chili feed (vegetarian and
regular), silent and oral auction, music and libations. Watch for detailed press releases soon.
If you would like to make a donation, volunteer, or to provide an annual sponsorship of P.E.T.’s
important service programs to our communities, go to www.petevacuationteam.com to make a secure donation or mail to P.O. Box 922, Redmond, OR 97756.
541-610-6628
