Florida State Animal Response Coalition

10/21/2026

Hey FORT MYERS — WE'RE COMING YOUR WAY!
Ever wanted to help animals during a hurricane, natural disaster, or large-scale animal rescue? Here's your opportunity to get trained!

The Florida State Animal Response Coalition (FL SARC), a program of SPCA Florida, is partnering with the North Fort Myers Fire Control District to bring our Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) Certified Small Animal Emergency Sheltering Awareness (Level 1) Course to Lee County!

Saturday, November 7, 2026
9:00 AM – 4:40 PM

North Fort Myers Recreation Center

Registration: $35

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!

You don't have to work in animal rescue or emergency management to attend! This course is designed for anyone interested in helping animals and their communities during emergencies.

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?

Setting up and operating temporary emergency animal shelters
Animal behavior and safe handling
ily animal care during disasters
Disease prevention, sanitation, and biosecurity
How animal sheltering fits into emergency response operations
The roles and responsibilities of emergency animal shelter responders
This course provides the foundational knowledge and practical skills needed to work in an emergency animal shelter and is the first step toward becoming a trained FL SARC volunteer responder!

WHO CAN ATTEND?

Adults 18 years and older
Ages 16–18 with a parent or guardian
CLASS SIZE IS LIMITED — REGISTER TODAY!
Whether you're a CERT volunteer, animal rescue volunteer, veterinary professional, first responder, or simply someone who wants to make a difference, we would love to have you join us!

Visit the Florida SARC website and select Training to register.

A special thank you to the North Fort Myers Fire Control District for partnering with us to help strengthen animal disaster response capabilities in Southwest Florida!

When disaster strikes, trained volunteers make the difference. Come be part of the response!

10/17/2026

COMMUNITY PARTNERS MAKING A DIFFERENCE!

We want to give a HUGE shout out to A HOPE and the volunteers in Santa Rosa County, Florida, for their incredible efforts helping families and their pets impacted by Hurricane Isaias!
With the support of SPCA Florida's Florida SARC, Greater Good Charities, Alaqua Animal Refuge and other generous community donations, A HOPE spent several days getting much-needed pet food and supplies directly into the hands of families throughout their community.

The impact was incredible!

More than 700 families served!

922 bags of dog food distributed
561 bags of cat food distributed

Three pallets of donated supplies, along with additional community contributions, distributed!

The need was so great that supplies ran out multiple times, requiring additional trips to secure more food. Despite the challenges, A HOPE's dedicated team continued working to help as many families and pets as possible.

This is what disaster response and recovery are all about — organizations coming together to help communities when they need it most.

We are incredibly grateful to be able to support A HOPE who stepped up and made sure that donations reached families throughout Santa Rosa County. We also thank Greater Good Charities and Alaqua Animal Refuge for helping make this relief effort possible.

While the storm has passed, the recovery continues, and so does our mission.

Together, we're making a difference — one family, one pet, and one community at a time!

10/16/2026

🐾 THE STORM HAS PASSED, BUT OUR MISSION IS FAR FROM OVER! 🐾

When disaster strikes, Florida State Animal Response Coalition (FL SARC) responders answer the call. But we can't do it without your support!

In the aftermath of Hurricane Isaias, our team deployed to the Florida Panhandle to assist with emergency animal sheltering operations, helping families and their pets during one of their most difficult moments.

And our work didn't stop when the storm moved on.

We've continued supporting impacted communities, coordinating emergency pet food distributions, and helping animal shelters, rescues, and county agencies care for animals in need.

🐕 Dogs and cats
🐎 Horses
🐐 Goats and sheep
🐖 Pigs
🐓 Chickens

Every animal matters. Every donation makes a difference.

Your generosity helps us put trained responders in the field, transport critical supplies, maintain emergency equipment, and prepare for the next disaster.

❤️ WE NEED YOUR HELP TO KEEP RESPONDING!

Whether you can give $10, $25, $50, or more, your donation supports our ability to answer the next call for help.

💻 Donate Online: at our website flsarc .Org

✉️ Prefer to Mail a Check?

Checks can be made payable to SPCA Florida and mailed to:

SPCA Florida
5850 Brannen Road, S.
Lakeland, FL 33813

Please write "FLSARC" in the memo line to ensure your donation is designated for our emergency response program.

You may not be able to deploy into a disaster zone, but your support can help make sure someone is there when animals need us most.

The storm may have passed, but the mission continues. Be part of it!

10/16/2026

Manatee County has the new pet resource Center open and is offering free vaccine and microchipping!!

Appointments are now OPEN for Manatee County Animal Welfare's upcoming FREE Vaccine & Microchipping Clinic! 🐾

🗓️ Wednesday, October 28, 2026
⏰ 10 AM – 2 PM

Services are available by appointment only and spots fill quickly!

📍 Animal Welfare Resource Center
401 17th Ave W.
Bradenton, FL 34205

⚠️ Important Registration Update

After booking your appointment, you MUST complete the required Pet Information Form before your appointment. The form link will be included in your confirmation email and is also available below.

Appointments with missing, incomplete, or inaccurate forms may be canceled.

Schedule your appointment today:
🌐 mymanatee.org/petclinic

Pet Information Form:
🌐 https://manateecountyfl.seamlessdocs.com/f/w7eii77ttmlr

🐱 Cats must be in carriers
🐶 Dogs must be on a leash

Vaccine clinic appointments are available to Manatee County residents only. Please read all details carefully in your confirmation email after booking an appointment regarding directions, arrival, and check-in.

Thank you for helping us streamline the check-in process so we can serve more pets and families efficiently. We look forward to seeing you and your pet(s) at the clinic!

10/15/2026

Our work to support animals and the people who care for them continues—wherever help is needed. Florida SARC is coordinating with partners on a mission in Maryland and identifying responders who may be available to assist.

Florida SARC responders: Please check your email for the mission information and availability survey. If you’re available, complete the survey as soon as possible so we can coordinate next steps.

Thank you to our responders and partners for continuing to show up for animals in need.

10/15/2026

10/14/2026

HURRICANE ISAIAS RESPONSE UPDATE – THE STORM HAS PASSED, BUT OUR MISSION CONTINUES!

Over the past several days, Florida SARC and our incredible volunteer responders have been working before, during, and after Hurricane Isaias to support animals and communities impacted across Florida's Panhandle.

ANSWERING THE CALL

At the request of the Florida Division of Emergency Management through ESF-17, Florida SARC deployed to Washington County to assist with pet-friendly evacuation sheltering operations.

When power and cellular service were lost during the storm, our emergency response trailer and generator kept essential equipment running, including lighting and fans for the animals and responders.

FROM RESPONSE TO RECOVERY

Following the storm, our mission shifted to supporting animal shelters, rescues, and communities in need.

Through our partnership with Greater Good Charities Florida SARC secured more than 40,000 pounds of donated pet food and animal care supplies! Without the support of this amazing organization, animals might be hungry!!

Our amazing partners at Alaqua Animal Refuge stepped up to receive and coordinate the distribution of these resources throughout the affected region.

So far, we've distributed:

More than 12,000 pounds of dog food

2,848 pounds of cat and kitten food

More than 14,848 pounds of pet food distributed!

MORE THAN 980 ANIMALS SUPPORTED!

Our response and recovery efforts have supported:

945 dogs and cats

7 sheep and goats

5 pigs

3 horses

20+ chickens

We also provided Washington County with emergency animal sheltering supplies to help strengthen its ability to care for animals during future disasters.

THANK YOU TO OUR RESPONDERS AND PARTNERS!

None of this would have been possible without our dedicated FL SARC volunteer responders, Greater Good Charities, Alaqua Animal Refuge, Florida SART & state emergency management partners.

Your dedication demonstrates what can happen when organizations work together to help animals and communities recover.

PET FOOD IS STILL AVAILABLE!

Limited supplies remain for shelters and rescue organizations in need. Please contact us to arrange pickup. Supplies are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

📞 Florida SARC – (863) 577-4602

📞 Alaqua Animal Refuge – (850) 880-6399

Want to help us prepare for the next disaster?

Learn how to become a trained responder, volunteer, or support our mission at our website.

Learn how you can donate to help us help even more shelters, rescues and ranches there too!!

The storm may have passed, but the mission continues!

10/14/2026

🐾 A HUGE thank you! 🐾

We are incredibly grateful to Florida State Animal Response Coalition, Greater Good Charities, and Alaqua Animal Refuge for providing us with THREE pallets of pet food! 💙💛

This generous donation will go a long way as our community recovers and will absolutely be put to good use helping pets and families who need it most.
We are so thankful for the support during this time! 🐶🐱