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.


During Hurricane Charley, Ronnie and Linda Graves used their drag racing team's equipment to help with the rescues in Punta Gorda. They provided a trailer that became a base of operations for the Charlotte County Animal Control, and the Florida Department of Agriculture, along with another 44' trailer that housed rescued critters. There was a Kenworth Moterhome 32' long with living quarters, two Dodge diesel pickup trucks, and a Toyota Tacoma involved as well. We also used Ronnie and Linda's fifth wheel camper to house teammates. During this rescue, we burned up several small portable generators and figured out that waste disposal is a must also.

After Hurricane Charley, we were directly involved with rescues in our own county when Hurricanes Francis and Jeanne hit central Florida. Our equipment was put to use to serve mankind. Animals were not affected drastically in our area except for one falling barn that killed two horses and trapped a third for 24 hours before we got to her. The owner was already getting her freed by that time. The other animal concerns were a lack of electricity that kept ranchers from getting water from their pumps to their livestock. We put a 300 gallon tank in a 3/4 ton Dodge 4x4 and had it out several days delivering water. Our 1 ton Dodge Dually was on the road with a flatbed trailer delivering food and water to two sites in Sumter County. FEMA would only deliver ice to all three sites, not food and water. It was delivered to our fairgrounds and we delivered the supplies. Our county public works didn't pony up with the trucks to do it, so we did. They also would not provide us with fuel or water from the county. This problem has been alleviated now, and in the future we will be provided fuel and water if we are running rescue in Sumter County.

Ronnie Graves recognized a need for a specialized unit to be ready before the next hurricane season. He firmly held fast to the thought that another bad season would be upon us. Little did he know how correct he would be. The following year, Hurricane Katrina hit.