New Local Team Forms to Rescue Animals in Wildfires and Disasters

A new volunteer-based organization, the Western Colorado Companion Animal Response Team (WestCO CART), has formed to provide crucial animal rescue services during natural disasters in Mesa County. The team aims to assist pet and livestock owners who cannot access or transport their animals from evacuation zones, a challenge highlighted by past incidents such as the 2021 Marshall Fire in Boulder County, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,000 companion animals.

The initiative gained momentum following the Western Slope’s Turner Gulch Fire in 2025 and the Snyder Fire in 2026. WestCO CART is designed to be a network of community volunteers trained and equipped to rescue animals from hazardous situations, coordinate emergency shelters, offer interim care, and ultimately reunite animals with their owners. The team will only deploy if activated by a local law enforcement agency.

Roice-Hurst Humane Society resource advancement officer Leigh Ashman emphasized the necessity of community involvement for the team's success. Ashman noted the team's goal to prevent residents from risking their safety by trying to re-enter evacuation zones. “The idea is that, if there’s a fire line you can’t get behind to get your animal, we have a plan so that people aren’t sneaking back behind fire lines,” Ashman said, explaining that trained volunteers would instead enter neighborhoods to collect and transport animals to safety, a process she described as requiring a “village.”

Montrose resident Andy Petrick, a veteran animal rescuer with experience from the 2012 Conifer wildfire in Jefferson County and Hurricane Helene in North Carolina in 2024, will serve as WestCO CART's training coordinator and a rescue volunteer. Petrick also participated in rescues during the 2026 Aspen Acres Fire in Pueblo. He highlighted that not all volunteer roles are on the front lines, and many integral positions are administrative or logistical.

These roles include conducting community outreach, providing emergency resources such as trailers or veterinary care, transporting supplies, and managing the identification, tracking, and reunification of animals. Roice-Hurst Humane Society serves as WestCO CART’s fiscal sponsor, allowing for tax-free donations, and year-round leadership opportunities are available.

Petrick stressed the paramount importance of safety. He cautioned against individuals attempting to self-deploy during emergencies, as such actions are dangerous and can complicate efforts for first responders. Ashman reiterated that there are “a ton of different needs” beyond direct animal handling for the CART to function effectively.

WestCO CART is currently fundraising to acquire essential equipment, such as radios for volunteer communication. While the team aims for preparedness, Ashman hopes they never need to deploy. The strategy avoids stockpiling perishable or expensive items like bagged dog food or entire fleets of transport trailers. Instead, WestCO CART plans to secure such resources through pre-arranged partnerships, such as a standing agreement with the Veterinary Medical Reserve Corps to borrow transport trailers during emergencies.

Ashman anticipates the core infrastructure of WestCO CART will be operational within a couple of months following upcoming November trainings. The team currently serves all of Mesa County, and there is an openness to explore expanding into a multi-county response team across the Western Slope should there be sufficient interest.

Community members can support WestCO CART through several upcoming opportunities. The annual Howl-o-ween 5K & 1-Mile Fun Run, scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 24, will dedicate 100% of its proceeds to WestCO CART this year. The $30 participation fee for the race, which encourages costumes, has previously raised over $3,000. Registration is required and can be done through grandjunctionsports.org/howl-o-ween.

An information session about WestCO CART and volunteer opportunities will be held on Nov. 4 at 5:30 p.m. at the Roice-Hurst Campus, located at 362 28 Road. Formal volunteer trainings will follow on Nov. 12 and 13 at the Clifton Community Center, 3270 D½ Road. The Nov. 12 training focuses on leadership roles requiring greater commitment, while the Nov. 13 session offers broader training for non-leadership positions. Both trainings run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with lunch provided. RSVPs are required for the trainings and can be sent to [email protected]. Ashman clarified that attending a training does not commit individuals to joining the CART. Additional information about the coalition, community preparedness, and resource offerings is available at WestCoCart.org and on the organization’s Facebook page.