Why California Needs an Animal Emergency Response (AER) System and How the Sheriff’s HEART Nonprofit Is Building It

When evacuations occur with little warning or when fires move faster than expected, animals are often left behind in dangerous conditions. California has established professional systems for human rescue such as Search and Rescue, Fire, EMS, and Law Enforcement mutual aid. However, the state does not yet have a formal or standardized Animal Emergency Response (AER) system.

Because of this gap, animal rescue during disasters has relied on a mixture of animal control officers, nonprofits, volunteers, and community members acting independently. Although many lives have been saved, the approach has been inconsistent, unsafe, and often risky for the public and for responders who must sort through uncoordinated activity inside evacuation zones.

To address this longstanding problem, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office created the nonprofit Humane Emergency Animal Rescue Team known as Sheriff’s HEART. Sheriff’s HEART is one of the first nonprofit organizations in California to operate directly out of a Sheriff’s Office with an animal emergency response mission. Sheriff’s HEART is showing what a future statewide AER system could look like by building teams, training pipelines, and deployment structures that align with the Animal Emergency Response Resource Titles developed by CARES, Cal CARTs, Cal Animals, and Cal OES.

These resource titles are not yet a formal statewide system. They represent a vision for what California could adopt. Sheriff’s HEART is among the first in the state to structure its nonprofit operations around this vision.

Why California Does Not Yet Have an AER System

California has not yet created a standardized AER system for several reasons:

1. No statewide training or credentialing standard for animal disaster responders.

2. No typing or classification system that allows counties to request qualified animal response teams.

3. No formal safety regulations for animal rescue activity during disasters.

4. No unified structure connecting sheriffs, fire agencies, EOCs, veterinarians, and field responders.

5. No standardized documentation or reunification workflow for displaced animals.

6. Frequent reliance on untrained civilians who reenter evacuation zones to rescue animals.

   
   

These issues have repeated during every major wildfire and have created unnecessary risks for both people and animals.

Sheriff’s HEART Is Demonstrating What a Future AER System Can Become

The Sheriff’s HEART nonprofit functions with the same structure and discipline seen in professional Search and Rescue teams. Sheriff’s HEART volunteers train, deploy, communicate, and work inside the Incident Command System during emergencies involving animals. As a nonprofit operating under the authority of the Sheriff’s Office, HEART has developed typed response teams, credentialing pathways, radio communications integration, documented safety practices, and organized specialty teams.

Sheriff’s HEART is building real world versions of the roles outlined in the AER Resource Titles document. Although the state has not officially adopted this system, Sheriff’s HEART is already using the structure to guide the development of deployable teams. This work helps set the foundation for a future statewide AER standard.

Below is an overview of the proposed AER roles and how the Sheriff’s HEART nonprofit is building toward them.

AER Field Animal Care Specialists (ACS Field)

AER Types: Type 1 and Type 2

Field ACS personnel provide proper handling, capture, containment, assessment, documentation, and wellness monitoring for animals in the field. They also maintain biosecurity standards, operate radios, and determine whether animals should shelter in place or be evacuated.

Why California needs this role: During major wildfires, civilians frequently enter danger zones in an attempt to rescue animals. A standardized ACS Field role would ensure that only trained and credentialed responders conduct these operations. Sheriff’s HEART is already preparing volunteers with the skills described in the AER field classifications.

AER Shelter Animal Care Specialists (ACS Shelter)

AER Types: Type 1 and Type 2

Shelter ACS team members care for animals in temporary emergency shelters. They provide feeding, watering, enrichment, sanitation, health monitoring, biosecurity procedures, and documentation.

Why California needs this role: Large evacuations produce significant numbers of displaced animals. Without trained shelter teams, shelters can become overcrowded or unsafe. Sheriff’s HEART has already demonstrated effective shelter operations aligned with these expectations.

AER Animal Transport Teams

AER Types: Type 1, Type 2, Type 3

Transport responders are categorized into three levels based on the safety zone in which they operate.

Type 1 transporters can enter immediate threat areas and haul trailers. Type 2 transporters operate in warm zones where the threat is reduced but still present. Type 3 transporters operate in cold zones and often transport small animals or equipment.

Why California needs this role: Entering or crossing evacuation lines without training can create significant hazards. Typed animal transport teams would ensure that only qualified responders move animals during emergencies. Sheriff’s HEART’s transport units already follow zone based safety practices similar to these classifications.

AER Animal Search and Rescue Technicians (ASAR Land and Water)

ASAR technicians locate and rescue animals that are trapped, injured, or stranded. They use specialized training such as rope systems, technical extrication, hazard assessment, and in the case of ASAR Water, swiftwater and flatwater rescue skills.

Why California needs this role: Animals often become trapped in collapsed structures, ravines, waterways, or hazardous environments. Without ASAR technicians, civilians frequently attempt rescues that place themselves and responders in danger. Sheriff’s HEART supports ASAR aligned training and operations.

AER Communications Roles

Includes Communications Technicians, Communications Unit Leaders, Radio Operators for Field and Command

These responders set up and manage radios, internet equipment, and communications support at AER command bases or in the field.

Why California needs this role: Animal response teams often operate in areas with limited visibility, poor cell service, or evolving hazards. Without communications staff, teams can be left without updates or unable to request help. Sheriff’s HEART integrates communications volunteers into every deployment.

AER Shelter Managers for Large and Small Animals

Shelter Managers oversee all temporary shelter operations. They manage staffing, supervise animal care, coordinate veterinary needs, oversee biosecurity and sanitation, maintain documentation, and ensure that intake and reunification processes run properly.

Why California needs this role: Large scale sheltering operations require experienced leadership. Without trained Shelter Managers, shelters risk disorganization or disease spread. Sheriff’s HEART has successfully provided structured shelter leadership during real incidents.

AER Incident Support Team (IST)

AER Types: Type 1, Type 2, Type 3

The IST provides operational support and subject matter expertise for incidents that exceed local capacity. IST members may include specialists in operations, planning, logistics, communications, finance, safety, and public information.

Why California needs this role: Major disasters such as the Camp Fire or Dixie Fire overwhelm local resources. A statewide IST would provide crucial management support. Sheriff’s HEART is one of the few sheriff affiliated nonprofits building toward this capability.

Why California Must Build a Statewide AER System

A statewide AER system would improve public safety, responder safety, and animal outcomes during disasters. Such a system would:

1. Reduce civilian entry into evacuation zones by providing trained responders.

2. Make it possible for counties to request standardized and typed animal response teams.

3. Integrate animal response into the same ICS structure used by all other emergency services.

4. Improve reunification processes for displaced families.

5. Ensure consistent documentation and biosecurity.

6. Allow for scalable and predictable mutual aid.

7. Protect animals and reduce suffering by creating clear response pathways.

   
   

California is ready to move toward this new system. The structure exists in draft form. Sheriff’s HEART is helping turn the structure into reality.

Sheriff’s HEART Is Leading the Path Forward

The Nevada County Sheriff’s HEART nonprofit is not waiting for the state to build an AER system. HEART is actively developing the training, credentialing, deployment guidance, communications support, and team structures that a future statewide system will require. Sheriff’s HEART is preparing to collaborate with sheriff’s offices across California to help establish similar nonprofits that can integrate into a statewide AER network.

By supporting Sheriff’s HEART through volunteering, partnerships, or financial contributions, community members can help build California’s first unified and professional animal emergency response system.

The future of Animal Emergency Response in California is beginning with Sheriff’s HEART.