How Agencies Can Partner with NFDR

ASPCA Staff member kneeling in front of destroyed house petting a dog

The National Field & Disaster Response (NFDR) Response Partner Program allows the ASPCA to join forces with local and national shelters, rescue groups, disaster response teams and animal control agencies to help animals in dire situations. Partners provide much-needed assistance by sending skilled staff and volunteers to assist with field rescue, crime scene documentation and emergency sheltering.

Partners also provide rescued animals a chance for a new life by accepting them into their adoption programs. NFDR's response partners have placed thousands of animals from disaster and cruelty cases into loving homes and that number continues to grow.

When partners accept animals for placement, the ASPCA provides:

General veterinary care for all animals, including vaccines, rabies and health certificates for out-of-state transfer, deworming/parasite treatment, heartworm & FIV/FeLV tests and more
On-site behavior assessments provided by certified behaviorists
Direct transportation of animals or transport assistance
Financial support in the form of grants to offset costs
Recognition of the partnership on ASPCA outlets and media support for generating local interest in rescued animals

When partners deploy staff/volunteers, the ASPCA provides:

Invaluable experience in the field working alongside ASPCA experts to rescue and care for complex animal populations, such as hoarding, neglect, cruelty, and disaster victims
All lodging, travel, and meal costs associated with the deployment
Knowledge and practical experience with ASPCA protocols
All necessary handling equipment and tools during the response
Opportunities to learn new skills in areas like animal handling, emergency sheltering and animal training and behavior

Interested in partnering with ASPCA National Field & Disaster Response?

As a partner, your organization will have the opportunity to support this lifesaving work, and your staff will gain valuable experiences they can use to prepare your agency for a large-scale cruelty, crisis or disaster response.

Become A Partner

No-cost partnership benefits may include:

Access to ASPCA experts in incident management, contingency planning, emergency sheltering, animal search and rescue, animal transport, responder management and more.
Opportunities to apply for invitation-only grants that can cover direct costs incurred as a result of a natural disaster or to build your organization’s capacity to respond to or prepare for future disasters.
Deployment opportunities for you, your staff and/or volunteers. These opportunities can help build new skills and relationships while providing the chance to work with complex animal populations alongside ASPCA subject matter experts. Situations may include responding to animal fighting, hoarding, large-scale breeding operations and natural disasters. As a partner, your deployment-related expenses will be covered by the ASPCA.
Virtual and in-person training opportunities in animal handling and husbandry, police and animal control officer safety, large animals, exotics, defensive dog handling and more.
Support with disaster planning and response, including the creation or review of disaster plans.
Resource sharing such as shelter and large-animal supplies, technical equipment, wildland certified personnel, swift water trained personnel and more.
Emergency animal sheltering support.
Criminal and non-criminal case support, such as dogfighting and other cruelty situations, hoarding victim support, including behavior support and forensic veterinary services.
Media opportunities to elevate your brand and promote our shared response.

"The benefits of working with NFDR are many and varied. Those who deploy learn new skills, build confidence, and come back feeling that they have made a positive difference. It's great team building and keeps staff enthused and engaged.”

Shelley Thayer, Cat Depot, Sarasota, FL

Additional Resources

Questions? Please email us.