September 2025 Speaker Series - Emergency Animal Evacuation & Preparedness Practices

This month we will be joined by Julie Atwood from the Halter Project. Julie will discuss animal preparedness and evacuation practices. Wildfire season is upon us, so all pet owners are encouraged to attend this presentation.

Julie has lived in rural Sonoma County for most of her life. A serial entrepreneur, she’s noted for her historic and contemporary architectural designs, unique style, and signature hospitality events integrating local art, craft, and food. A lifelong horsewoman, in 2013, an emergency involving one of her ranch horses motivated her to develop local resources for helping animals in emergencies. What started as a small local project to help first responders acquire Animal Technical Rescue (ATR) skills, evolved into a “Train the Trainer” program that now reaches the entire state. In 2014, the HALTER Project added Community Preparedness Education to its toolkit, filling a great need for information and resources for animal owners and residents of rural areas.

The HALTER Project, established in 2013, is a grass-roots project based in Sonoma County, California, dedicated to the safety and welfare of people and animals in emergencies and disasters. HALTER Project has a two-fold mission supporting planning and preparedness for animals and people.

FIRST RESPONDER ANIMAL AWARENESS & RESPONSE: HALTER Project provides support to first responders for training, and equipment to assist animals in emergencies. This includes sponsorship and scholarships for Animal Technical Rescue Certification, grants for animal rescue equipment, collaborative development and delivery of teaching tools, and fundraising assistance to agencies and NGOs providing animal technical rescue services.

INDIVIDUAL & COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS: The HALTER Project is committed to inspiring and enabling individual and community preparedness for people and their animals. They connect people who care about animals – from family pets, backyard chickens, fibershed animals, 4-H projects, to equine boarding facilities, commercial dairies, and livestock ranches, with resources to be safe and prepared in any emergency or disaster. HALTER Project supports local, regional, and national non-profits by promoting awareness of their work and achievements.