A.S.I.S.T.
Animal Services Incident Support Team
Strengthening Animal Rescue in Disasters
When disasters strike, the safety of animals and their communities depends on rapid, coordinated action. ASIST was created to provide that support.
A joint initiative between the National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA) and Animal Search and Rescue (ASAR), ASIST is designed to enhance animal-related disaster response nationwide. From pre-incident planning to boots-on-the-ground deployment, ASIST ensures Animal Control Units have the tools, training, and support they need to respond quickly and effectively.
Mission
ASIST’s mission is to empower Animal Control Units to prepare for and respond to disasters with confidence and efficiency. By integrating animal welfare operations into the broader emergency management system, ASIST helps agencies work seamlessly within local, regional, and national response efforts.
ASIST offers professional, no-cost assistance to agencies of all sizes—whether in the field or within Emergency Operations Centers. From coordinating animal evacuations to supporting recovery operations, ASIST stands by responders every step of the way.
“When disaster strikes, we stand united—no agency, no community, and no animal faces it alone.”
Q & A
Training Delivery
Will the ASIST training be in-person, virtual, or hybrid?
Mostly Virtual with some possible in person opportunities as they arise.
Is this a rolling enrollment or cohort-based?
Rolling
How often will core ASIST trainings be delivered?
We will try and have some kind of training or communication with the ASIST program members quarterly. We will be adjusting the training to meet current disaster phase topics.
Who delivers the training: NACA instructors, ASAR leads, or a shared team?
Highly skilled and qualified instructors from both NACA, ASAR and other industry experts.
Will there be refresher trainings or continuing education requirements?
Yes, both.
Requirements & Mandates
Will ASIST certification be mandatory to deploy?
No. However ASIST program members will have priority deployment opportunities before we reach out to members/agencies to participate.
Will deployments only include trained ASIST members, or can affiliates assist in certain roles?
Deployments may include a variety of animal welfare professionals depending on the needs of the agency making the request.
Will ASIST training be required for all NACA members, or optional as a specialty unit?
The ASIST training is optional for all NACA members.
Will ASIST members need to recertify (e.g., every 2–3 years)?
ASIST members that have technical ASAR skills will need to recertify those technical skills every 3 years. ASIST members that utilize their road and animal handling on a daily basis do not have a recertification requirement.
What baseline qualifications must someone meet to enroll (e.g., FEMA ICS courses, ACO certification)?
We recommend NACA ACO I, FEMA Independent Study course IS-100, and IS-200 as baseline training. ASIST members that are looking for leadership roles in disasters, we also recommend additional training beyond the baseline standard including: NACA ACO II, FEMA Independent Study courses IS-700, IS-800, IS-10, IS-111.
Membership & Affiliation
Do ASIST participants need to be active NACA members?
Yes
Will there be a separate ASIST membership tier or dues?
No
Is ASIST open to shelter staff, vet techs, volunteers, or only sworn officers? Humane officers?
Yes. The ASIST program is built to support Animal Control agencies during disasters. Some ACO agencies may also have shelter and veterinary needs.
Will ASIST members get special ID, badges, uniforms, or a member portal?
ASIST responders can respond in their agency uniform or t-shirt. If you are unable to wear your uniform during deployment, please let us know so we can determine an appropriate attire.
Operational Readiness
How will we verify readiness for deployment? (e.g., gear checklist, self-assessment, supervisor sign-off)
Email correspondence will be the primary source of communication for deployment. Preparedness lists will be discussed during ASIST training.
Who decides when and where ASIST deploys? (Triggering criteria, call tree, decision chain)
When NACA or ASAR receive a deployment request, we will use the following criteria to allocate resources: What MOU/MAA are in place for existing resources? Is there a State ACO association that is engaged and is providing assistance? Who are the closest ASIST members to the disaster? Which ASIST members are available and able to deploy in the request time frame? We want to support the local ACO resources with this program, not supersede any assistance that is planned or engaged.
How will deployment be requested?
An ASAR MOU is preferred ahead of deployment so the requesting agency understands deployment details during “blue skies” and not in the middle of a disaster. To start the MOU process, email ethompson@asartrainig.com. There is no cost to have an MOU. An agency that is requesting ASIST deployment will need to confirm the request has been approved by their agency leadership, and that agency needs to be in contact with their Emergency Management to communicate the request has been made. Requests can be sent to jowen@nacanet.org or ethompson@asartraining.com. If an agency is in the path of a “known event”, we encourage the agency to lean forward and send an email with intent to activate ASIST resources. That gives resource coordinators additional time to line up responders and resources.
How long does it take for ASIST resources to arrive?Agencies need to plan on being self-supportive for 24-72 hours unless there has been an email of intent to activate ASIST resources prior to the deployment request.
Will deployment be in-person or virtual?
Both.
Who pays my expenses if deployed in-person?
Approved expenses like travel, meals, and accommodation will be available through the ASIST program. Details for those reimbursements will be available at the time of deployment. Expenses for personal equipment, snacks/coffee/unrelated items to deployment are the responsibility of the ASIST responder.
Is deployment paid or volunteer?
The ASIST program does not pay any wages to responders. Some agencies may choose to pay their officers during deployments, and some agencies may require officers to take PTO to deploy.
Communications & Community
How will you keep ASIST members informed?
Email will be the primary form of communication to the ASIST program members. Once you are deployed communications will also include Zoom meetings, phone calls, and text messages.
Will there be an annual ASIST member summit or networking event?
At this time, we are encouraging State ACO associations to plan a disaster workshop/training as part of their annual conferences. This gives the opportunity for ASIST members to be identified in their state and promote additional participation.
Will deployed responders receive debriefs, recognition, or peer support after events?
Yes! We will have after-action debriefings and use acceptable pictures to help tell the story of ASIST member deployments.
