About Sheriff's H.E.A.R.T.

Sheriff’s H.E.A.R.T. (Humane Emergency Animal Rescue Team) is a Sheriff’s Office–operated, dispatch-deployable animal emergency response program serving Nevada County and assisting statewide missions under California’s emergency management frameworks.

Unlike independent animal rescues, HEART is founded and operationally controlled by the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office, ensuring direct supervision, accountability, and seamless integration into public-safety operations.

HEART volunteers are activated through the Sheriff’s PSAP/911 dispatch, making HEART one of the only animal evacuation resources in California capable of deployment during the first operational period of a wildfire, evacuation, or search incident.

The program is staffed entirely by trained Disaster Service Worker (DSW) volunteers who operate under SEMS (Standardized Emergency Management System) and ICS (Incident Command System) in coordination with law enforcement, fire, Animal Control, Emergency Operations Centers, and other public-safety agencies.

Why Sheriff's H.E.A.R.T.

California faces an escalating wildfire crisis:

1 in 10 acres in California burned in the last 12 years.
95% of Nevada County residents live in High or Very High Fire Severity Zones.

During wildfires and evacuations, families often delay evacuation or refuse it entirely because they cannot evacuate their animals. Delays significantly increase danger to residents, responders, and animals.

Counties across California lack a scalable, dispatch-ready animal rescue model that integrates directly into public-safety command structures. Sheriff’s H.E.A.R.T. fills this statewide gap.

How Sheriff’s H.E.A.R.T. Operates During an Emergency

Sheriff’s H.E.A.R.T. is Nevada County’s Sheriff-based animal emergency response team. We evacuate, transport, shelter, and rescue animals during wildfires, floods, and other disasters—working directly inside California’s official emergency management system.

Integrated With Sheriff’s 911 Dispatch

Our team is activated through the Sheriff’s Office 911 dispatch center, the same way deputies, Search & Rescue, and Animal Control are deployed.
This ensures:

Rapid response during the earliest stages of a fire or evacuation
Seamless communication with law enforcement and fire agencies
Full operational interoperability within ICS (Incident Command System)

A Disaster Service Worker Volunteer Force

All HEART volunteers are registered Disaster Service Workers (DSWs) with Nevada County.
This gives our team:

Legal authority to operate during declared emergencies
Workers’ compensation protections
Direct supervision under a public-safety agency
Safe, accountable deployment—never spontaneous or self-initiated

Rigorous Training You Can Trust

Our training pathway moves volunteers through Basic → Intermediate → Advanced readiness, including:

FEMA courses: ICS-100, ICS-200, IS-700, IS-800
Wildland fire behavior and safety
Truck, trailer, and equipment operation
Large and small animal handling skills
State Fire Training: Animal Technical Rescue (Awareness + Technician)

Every volunteer is prepared to operate safely, responsibly, and as part of the broader public-safety system.

A Growing Operational Force

What began as 2–3 trailer teams has grown into 30+ trained trucks and trailers ready for deployment.
Our capacity now includes:

Evacuation and transport teams
Shelter support teams
Incident Command support staff
Mapping and field-simulation teams
Technical rescue response aligned with State Fire Training standards

Sheriff’s H.E.A.R.T. is built for rapid, coordinated, and compassionate animal response—helping protect Nevada County’s animals and the people who love them when it matters most.