Sheriff’s H.E.A.R.T. (Humane Emergency Animal Rescue Team) is a Sheriff’s Office–operated, dispatch-deployable animal emergency response program serving Nevada County and assisting statewide missions under California’s emergency management frameworks.

​

Unlike independent animal rescues, HEART is founded and operationally controlled by the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office, ensuring direct supervision, accountability, and seamless integration into public-safety operations.

​

HEART volunteers are activated through the Sheriff’s dispatch call center, making HEART one of the only animal evacuation resources in California capable of deployment during the first operational period of a wildfire, evacuation, or search incident.

​

The program is staffed entirely by trained Disaster Service Worker (DSW) volunteers who operate under SEMS (Standardized Emergency Management System) and ICS (Incident Command System) in coordination with law enforcement, fire, Animal Control, Emergency Operations Centers, and other public-safety agencies.