Thanks to ALL

I want to take the time to personally thank all of the wonderful people who have made our deployment possible to help the oiled wildlife. I know I can't name all of you but I would like to mention some. The crew from Bay Area Dart and their leader Connie Brooks. Without them, we could never have made this possible. Pam Burns for tirelessly working on scheduling issues, Laura and JT for bringing their big rig in when mine needed to be elsewhere. All of the other Sumter DART members that are too numerous to list, THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!. For the most part, you've all made us look very professional and like we actually know what we're doing. There is no place for cowboys amongst us and I know we've stepped up to prove there are none.
The University of Florida's vet's Emergency response team has deployed a truck, trailer, and a team mate to Louisiana also.
I can't forget my wife either. She's stepped right up and taken the reins at our business and our home while I'm away and has had to take care of all of our animals too. My employee Daniel Hickey for taking care of the equipment and getting it ready.
I would also like to Thank Carmen, Beth, and Resee and Rejina from US Fish and Wildlife These ladies have been tireless in guiding us through the needed efforts to make this happen.

16 Birds Released that Sumter DART transported

In the early morning hours of July 28th 2010, Ronnie Graves and Angela Shields rolled into the rehab facility in Hammond Louisiana and picked up 14 birds to be released. We then continued on to LSU in Baton Rouge to pick up two more at the vets school. We then proceeded to drive to Grand Chenier to the Roosevelt Wildlife Refuge to meet with the Louisiana Wildlife personnel. They were so nice. They invited us to be included in releasing some of the birds. Basically, they allowed us to open the kennel doors. Who would've thought that one could get so excited just opening a door. The birds walked out then flew to freedom. Some sat around on the pier just looking around before taking off but they all eventually flew away. BEAUTIFUL.

Our NEW TRANSPORTER "Beagle 2"

This is our latest addition to our fleet of transporters. This is a Brand New leftover 2007 SportChassis truck with a 2008 Pace American 44' trailer. 4 AC/Heat systems, 2 Intake powered roof vents, 4 Exhaust fans mounted in the floor to exhaust bad air  out. E Track along both walls for either strapping or shelving to secure varying sized kennels in.
We topped it all off by adding a 20KW Power Technologies Diesel generator on the truck controlling the electrical needs of the trailer and additional outlets on board the truck.
Next, we will be adding 184 Gallons of water and building a bathroom and shower on board the trailer plus adding a hydraulic landing gear set on the front.

What an adventure

Sumter DART was involved in a very unique transport last week. We got to be one of the transport vehicles to move the birds from Ft Jackson La, to Hammond, La where a brand new rehab facility has just been completed.
We got to be involved in moving over 350 birds at once. Working with the folks at US FWS, Tri State and IBRRC has been such a rewarding experience. Getting to be involved will go down as one of the highlights in my life of rescuing animals.

Oil Response Transports

Working within the system can be challenging. First, all of our people have to have ICS 100, 200, and 700 completed and an additional course from BP. Some of us have had to take the 24 hour HazWopper course. All of our command level staff have gone on to get ICS 300, and 400. Those are a lot tougher than the first ones. All of us have to keep in mind that this is a huge challange and IF we follow the ICS protocols, it will become easier. Sometimes, just remembering how to fill out the paperwork can be daunting but it is all needed.
Gone are the days of just running in to help on your own. We've never done that but a few groups still try and they get turned away.
Our team has placed 8 transport vans, 3 pickups and trailers, one big Freightliner and trailer into this fight to help keep the wildlife safe and sound. We are adding another Freightliner and trailer in a week or so. Around 20 people are now involved on a daily basis. Working with the Fish and Wildlife people has for the most part been very good.

Oil Spill Response

Our presence in the gulf has increased. We now have three pickup truck and trailer combos, one Large transport, and 5 vans on a steady basis with another two vans being utilized two days a week. 14 fine folks are involved also.
Sumter DART has also committed to purchase a brand new Truck and a used trailer plus another brand new trailer to assist in this transport of the affected wildlife.
Next week we'll switch out the two pickup trucks and trailers in Louisiana for our one Freightliner and trailer. We've simply got to be ready to evacuate in the event a storm comes in.

Oil Response 3

Our teams have increased to 4 vehicles and 6 members with another two vehicles and 4 members going in tomorrow. We are working diligently to assist in the relief efforts. I wish we could talk more about our work but media security is very tight. I'm hoping someday to post photos.
Any Wildlife and Bird Rescuers that want to respond, please email us. We would love it if you had the 24 hour hazwopper course but we may be able to use you even if you don't. Drivers are also needed that can handle vans and also Pickup trucks and trailers. Semi drivers are also needed.
Please understand that outside donations of Dawn dishwashing liquid are not being allowed. There is no way to guarantee that something other than Dawn isn't in the bottle so they are accepting it only from the manufacturer.
Donations to Sumter DART are being accepted and appreciated very much. We are a 501(c)3 Not for profit and your funding will go towards equipment needed to respond to disasters just like this.
Thank you very much and have a nice day.

Oil Spill Response 2

We have now placed 4 teams into the Alabama and Florida region to assist with the transportation of the affected wildlife.

Oil Spill Response

We have been called in to respond to the Oil Spill Disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. Our specialized equipment can do things that no one else can provide. We have placed one van and driver into the panhandle of Florida to act as a runner to pick up the rescued birds and wildlife and bring them into a center for stabilization. We also placed our larger Freightliner into Louisiana to be a safety net for them for a week. Our Freightliner is now at home in Florida awaiting further deployment requests. We are placing one of our trucks and trailers into the Pensacola area along with our van and driver to further assist in that region.

Working with Best Friends

Most people think you just call up and say, "Go pick up these dogs." It is not so easy. It takes a lot of planning and preparation. Just getting our rig ready can take a while. Driving 3500 miles in 5 days takes a toll on the drivers and the rig. Then when you get back home, you have to go over everything and make sure it's functioning properly.

Keep On Truckin'

Cathy Scott of Best Friends Animal Society wrote about us!

San Diego Fires

We were called on October 23rd, 2007, to ask if we could get a Command Post trailer out to San Diego for the fires. We left at 2:30 pm Tuesday and arrived at 6 am on Thursday.

Animal Hoarding

Unfortunately, most hoarders start out with great intentions but end up with a disaster of their own making. The animals wind up suffering, getting little to no attention, having to fight for their food, no vet care, and possibly dying unnoticed. All the while, the person or persons doing this really do think they are helping the critters.

More Katrina Photos

Here are some more photos from Hurricane Katrina.

Mother of All Storms

Sumter DART left Bushnell, Florida on a very hot Wednesday morning after Hurricane Katrina had destroyed the Gulf coast. We had been deployed to stage in Jackson Mississippi. We had already loaded up our gear and fueled up our trucks for the trip. We took a 2001 United Specialties Kenworth Motorhome, the logistical trailer, 2000 Dodge one ton Dually with a 44 foot enclosed gooseneck trailer, 2004 3/4 ton Dodge diesel pickup 4x4 and enough gear to help 30 people be comfortable for two weeks. The trip out was a nightmare. The first thing we did was blow a tire on the Kenworth. That cost $450.00. Then we blew two tires on the logistical trailer, only to find out that the tires were underrated for our trailer. We bought 4 stronger tires (that was all they had) and proceeded on our way. We then proceeded to work our way up through Alabama. Securing fuel for our equipment was a nightmare. When it was available, there were long lines and the prices were nearing $4.00 a gallon for diesel. We finally arrived on Thursday morning at about 4:30 AM, dead tired. We got a couple hours of sleep and were up and at it again. We started cleaning things up that had shifted during transport.

Hurricane Charley

In Hurricane Charley, we used Ronnie and Linda Graves's drag racing team's equipment to help with the rescues in Punta Gorda, Florida. We provided a trailer that became a base of operations for the Charlotte County Animal Control, and the Florida Department of Agriculture, along with another trailer that housed the rescued critters.

History of Sumter DART

After Florida suffered from drought and wildfires in 1998, we knew that bigger and better was the answer to our problems when rescuing animals. Our team had rescued over 650 animals and several people from the path of the firestorms that were raging across central Florida. Back in '98 we used pickup trucks with livestock trailers. Today we have specialized trucks and trailers to house the rescued animals and also to transport them inland or wherever they need to go. Our equipment is some of the most unique in the country.