Assistance to Firefighter Grant (AFG) Training
Please consider Basic Animal Rescue Training (BART) in your assistance to
firefighter grant (AFG) proposal. We understand that you have many
competing interests especially in these tough economic times. BART is
working to identify sources of non-federal matching money required by the
AFG. The attached letter outlines how BART satisfies the AFG and PETS Act
goals.
Thank you for your consideration.
Respectfully,
Janet Olson DVM
BART President and Founder
BART Curriculum Gains National Approval
On March 3, 2008 the Federal Emergency Management Agency/US Department of Homeland Security (FEMA/DHS) approved the curriculum for the Basic Animal Rescue Training (BART) Small Animal Basic Life Support course. Minnesota Homeland Security and Emergency Management approved the course for delivery in Minnesota in 2007 and assisted the Basic Animal Rescue Training organization with the FEMA course approval application process. FEMA approval makes the BART class a national standard course for training first responders in safe pet handling and rescue on the scene of emergencies. FEMA approval also makes BART and departments we train eligible for federal funding to help cover the costs of holding classes.
Why did BART pursue FEMA approval? BART has received training requests from over 30 states and is pursuing national expansion. The American Veterinary Medical Foundation has granted BART $50,000 in matching funds to aid our expansion to 5 new states. As an almost completely volunteer organization, BART realizes our Minnesota trainers cannot personally train all the first responders in the nation. We needed a way to standardize our course and FEMA provided the route. BART was able to require that our course can only be taught in other states when the State Veterinary Medical Association and Board of Veterinary Medicine approve, and that the trainers have to be in the veterinary profession and certified by BART to teach our class. This will ensure that the course continues to meet our high standards, no matter where it is taught. BART plans to travel to other states to hold Train the Trainer classes and teach veterinary volunteers how to deliver the BART courses.
For the full story on FEMA approval, see the March 2008 Special Edition of BART’s newsletter The Siren.
Read more about FEMA Funding here.
For more information and an application for bringing BART to your state, click here.
BART Receives Grant for National Expansion
Basic Animal Rescue Training has been awarded a $50,000 matching grant from the American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) to be used toward expanding the training program beyond Minnesota and starting chapters in 5 new states. This money will be used toward purchasing training equipment and holding Train the Trainer classes for new BART volunteers in chapters outside of Minnesota.
BART requested financial assistance from the AVMF for national expansion in response to interest from multiple states in starting the training there. People in twenty five states have contacted BART thus far.
To date, this AVMF grant is the largest amount of funds donated to BART. Dr. Anna van Heeckeren, chair of the AVMF Grants and Awards Committee, said the caliber of BART’s written national expansion proposal was stellar. “They obviously put a lot of effort into thinking about the program and how to put that across on paper,” she said.
The $50,000 grant to BART is one of the highest amounts of money that the AVMF has awarded from its Animal Disaster Relief and Response Fund, aside from the grants provided to the AVMA Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams.
To learn more about starting a BART chapter and how to apply for the AVMF matching funding, contact us or call 612 282 2608.
Read the related story in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
Firefighter’s Generosity Launches BART’s New Web Store
Bloomington Custom Embroidery
Featured Platinum Donor
Basic Animal Rescue Training thanks Steve and Nancy Oberaigner, owners of Bloomington Custom Embroidery, for creating BART’s new logo and donating their embroidery and screen printing services. Bloomington Custom Embroidery donated T shirts for 100 BART certified trainers, as well as embroidery of BART emergency medical kits and multiple other clothing items. In addition, Steve and Nancy set up a web store for BART so that items bearing the BART logo can be easily purchased on line. Net proceeds from the sales of these items will be used to support BART program activities.
Steve is a volunteer firefighter with the Bloomington Fire Department and learned of the BART program when his department went through training this year. He contacted BART immediately following the training with this incredible offer of assistance. Steve says, “We would like to thank BART for everything you and all your volunteers are doing to train and equip emergency personnel so we know how to rescue animals that are involved in all types of emergency situations. As pet owners, we know how valuable pets are in our everyday lives. They are considered family members and we would be absolutely devastated to think of what could happen if emergency responders were not trained in these lifesaving measures. We are pleased to help outfit the many BART veterinary volunteers who go above and beyond, donating their time to help train our emergency response personnel.”
Thanks Steve and Nancy for your extremely generous donation and assistance that will help support BART’s growth!
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