ASPCA Awards Owner App Grant

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Williston, VT – January 5, 2026

DART Command Central Awarded ASPCA Grant to Expand Emergency Animal Shelter App with Owner-Focused App

Disaster Animal Response Team Command Central (DARTCC) is pleased to announce it has been awarded a grant from the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) to support development of an Owner App as part of the Shelter Module of the Emergency Animal Shelter App (EASApp™).

"We are proud to support DART Command Central's innovative efforts to support animal disaster response. Pet reunification is a core priority of the ASPCA's disaster response work, and effective collection of animal and owner information is critical to achieving that goal. When this information is captured accurately and consistently, in-shelter care is enhanced and the likelihood of pets being safely reunited with their families is significantly increased," said Susan Anderson, senior director of disaster response for the ASPCA.

The Owner App allows pet owners to enter and manage their own information and their animals’ profiles before a disaster, giving shelter teams access to accurate, owner-provided data before animals arrive. This improves intake planning, reduces delays, and helps shelters better prepare for incoming animals.

Using a smartphone or tablet, owners can download EASApp™ from the Android or Apple app stores and create an account with a verified email address. Owners can update their profiles and their animals’ information at any time. When a pet is housed at an emergency shelter, owners can record Daily Care details, while Medical Care and Release information remains visible to owners but is entered and managed only by shelter staff.

A key feature of the Owner App is pre-registration. When internet access is available, owners can notify shelters of their intent to arrive and share essential information in advance. If multiple shelters are operating in an area, owners can view participating shelters, including shelter types and locations, to better plan where to go.

Pre-registration benefits both owners and response teams by:

  • Alerting shelters in advance to incoming animals and owners
  • Allowing teams to assess capacity and allocate space more effectively
  • Reducing congestion by enabling projected arrival times or intake windows

“By allowing owners to provide accurate information before arriving at a shelter, teams can plan staffing, space, and resources more effectively,” said Deb Shelby, Founder of DART Command Central. “This grant strengthens EASApp™ as a practical planning and coordination tool for emergency animal response.”

DARTCC works with animal response teams nationwide and continues to expand EASApp™ to support a wide range of disaster and emergency sheltering scenarios.

For more information about DART Command Central and the Emergency Animal Shelter App™, visit https://dartcc.org