The Jones County County Animal Response Team (CART) is a county collaboration dedicated to preparing, planning, responding and recovering during animal emergencies. The Jones County CART is a partnership, joining government agencies with private citizens to address the issues facing animals during disaster situations. The Jones County CART’s goal is to train participants to facilitate a safe, environmentally sound and efficient response to animal emergencies on the local and county levels.

The Jones County CART meets regularly to ensure that in the event of a disaster, animals will be taken care of properly.  In addition, the CART recruits volunteers to assist as well as provides training to ensure that those persons who are called on to volunteer are familiar with ICS (Incident Command System) and the Jones County CART standard operating procedures.  During a disaster, the Jones County CART will open a co-location (animals and humans in the same location) shelter at the Jones County Civic Center located on Highway 58 East of Trenton.  The co-location shelter will accept domestic cats and dogs only.  Kennels will be provided however, owners will be responsible for caring for their own animals while housed at the shelter.  Owners need to bring their own food and current proof of rabies vaccine (tag and receipt), and proof of negative Coggins for horses.  Larger animals, in extreme circumstances, may be housed at other appropriate facilities.

The Jones County CART relies heavily on volunteers.  Volunteers are needed to help coordinate all efforts including registering animals in the shelter, managing volunteers who work at the shelter, securing facilities to house large animals such as horses or cows, preparing the animal section of the co-location shelter prior to animals being registered, serve on the CART committee, as well as helping to educate the public about CART and how to best prepare for emergencies that might involve all kinds of animals.  If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please submit a volunteer application, and we will contact you directly.  Please read our volunteer guidelines .

Carol Tyndall, Jones County Emergency Management
Kristen Richmond-Hoover, Jones County Health Department
Natalie Newsome, Jones County Health Department
Sheriff John Hall, Jones County Sheriff’s Department
Major Chris Frye, Jones County Sheriff’s Department
Wayne Bell, North Carolina Forest Service
Dr. James Kittrell, NCDA & CS, Veterinarian Division
Franky Howard, Jones County Manager
Doug Haas, NC Division of Emergency Management
Golonda Howard, Jones County Horse Owner
Ivy Reid, Jones County Cooperative Extension
Jacob Morgan, Jones County Cooperative Extension
Sue Meadows, US Equine Rescue League
Mari Spoonemore, US Equine Rescue League
Keith Metts, Jones County SWCD NCACS Technician
Allen McCoy, Retired Jones County Livestock Producer
Lynn Swanson, Safe Harbor Farms
Robert Toler, American Red Cross
Hank Reid, NCDA & CS– Emergency Programs
Mandy Tolson, NCDA & CS – Emergency Programs
Larry Feldhaus, American Red Cross
Steve Ward, Animal Control Contact

Yes, Jones County has spent much time developing a plan to address disaster issues that could affect animals in the county.  You may go to this link in order to view our Jones County CART plan .

You can donate your time and expertise by completing our volunteer application, or you can donate supplies.  Jones County CART is always in need of supplies such as bleach, buckets, brooms, scrub brushes, surgical face masks, copy paper, sheet protectors, zip ties, duct tape, trash bags, kitty litter, dog treats, etc.

Visit these helpful links that explain more about emergency preparedness for you,
your family and your animals.  You can refer to our Jones County CART plan in the section above.