The evolution of development for ASAR Training and Response started back in 2005 with the 501c3 non-profit start up company Emergency Equine Response Unit (EERU). With the goal to become a training resource in the Midwest, EERU Staff was grateful when both Rebecca Gimenez and John and Deb Fox agreed to share basic slide presentations and rescue techniques so an awareness course could be offered in the region. This cooperation and networking became the fundamental business plan for EERU as we started the long journey to working with all types of organizations across the Country to identify both training and disaster response needs.
As EERU started to expand their teaching footprint, local emergencies and national disaster response in support of Code 3 Associates began to build practical rescue experience for all species of animals. In 2010 the push to develop credentialed Animal Search and Rescue (ASAR) teams started to be reinvigorated at a national level. EERU Staff members were now working at a national level in cooperation with Code 3 Associates and participating in developing ASAR best practices as a result of a USDA cooperative agreement with the National Alliance of Animal and Agricultural Emergency Programs (NASAAEP) and the National Animal Rescue and Sheltering Coalition (NARSC). As these standards were identified, it became clear that EERU needed to expand to provide a platform for experts to teach different disciplines identified by the national guidelines.
In 2013 EERU created the ASAR teaching platform and expanded the curriculum to include more advanced training in swiftwater, floodwater, boat operations, and high angle rope rescue. In 2014 NFPA published the Technical Animal Rescue guideline which provided another level of application as the ASAR platform bridged into teaching many fire and rescue teams across the Country. 2014 also brought the expansion of the ASAR Heavy Extrication branch; which was created to work with animals over 3,000 lbs. This branch includes exotic animal and technical rescue specialist that problem solve how to work with megavertabrates in enclosed environments where conventional resources may not be applicable. ASAR continues to work with our exotic partners to develop the Exotic Animal Strike Team (EAST) program so exotic animal specialists have a mechanism of response in disaster situation.
In 2019 EERU legally became ASAR Training and Response, and expanded our training platform to include new project branches and a total of 12+ instructors. What started in 2005 with 1 awareness level large animal technical rescue training; now expanded to 20+ standard classes with many new project branches. The ASAR Training and Response team is humbled to receive the continued support for growth so we can fulfill our ever-growing mission. It took a village of dedicated people to get us this far; and we look forward to building communities of resources that enhance all levels of emergency response for animal-related situations.
