The Pierce County Department of Emergency Management congratulates Dani Archer, chair of the Pierce County Animal Response Team, who will be honored during the Sixth Annual Governor’s Volunteer Recognition Award on April 19. This recognition honors Archer’s dedication in creating and building a team of emergency volunteers to aid in the evacuation and sheltering of animals in Pierce County following disasters.

Archer, a licensed veterinarian technician, has led Pierce-CART since 2008. She established protocols for team members and gathered enough supplies for more than 300 pets that may have to be evacuated. Mobile pet shelters can now be set up next to people shelters so owners can care for their own pets. Pierce-CART has been activated in response to two flood events and has a pool of approximately 50 volunteers ready to step in when needed.

The Governor’s Volunteer Recognition Award is part of the Washington State Commission for National and Community Service. A priority for WSNCS is the promotion of service and volunteerism as a strategy to accomplish needed activities throughout the state. Governor Chris Gregoire is scheduled to recognize the important services of approximately 50 volunteers at the event.

Pierce-CART is part of the Citizen Corps Council of Pierce County, an organization dedicated to bringing people and agencies together to plan how to support emergency management and first responders in making our community better able to deal with disasters.