Saline County Emergency Management has announced the launch of a new Animal Aid Alliance program, according to an update provided at the recent county commission meeting.
Emergency Management Director Michelle Barkley informed commissioners that the county is now focusing on animal response in addition to their existing Community Emergency Response Team efforts.
The Animal Aid Alliance is being created to enhance local capabilities for managing animal-related issues during emergencies. Barkley noted that in 2019, the county had to open an animal response shelter during flooding events. With this new program, Saline County aims to be able to facilitate such operations themselves rather than relying on state resources.
Barkley highlighted that currently only two other counties in Kansas have similar animal response teams. As the program develops, she plans to provide further updates to the commission on its progress and training efforts.
