at the American Red Cross, 1115 Easterwood Drive, Tallahassee, FL

Tuition: $150

A basic introduction to disaster response and disaster planning for animals. Topics covered: incident command system, emergency animal sheltering, animal behavior and handling, legal issues, communications, working with volunteers, media relations, worker health and safety, stress management, and many others. This is the full 20-hour course developed by The Humane Society of the United States. The HSUS issues a Certification of DART Training on successful completion of the course. Target audiences: DART teams and volunteers; animal control officers; animal shelter employees and volunteers; SART members; veterinarians and vet techs; local Humane Society volunteers; boarders and groomers; animal responders.

Tuition: $150. Includes snacks, drinks, coffee, and a three-ring binder with extensive reference materials. Meals and accommodations are on your own. Register for the course at www.hsus.org/disasterservices/training. Pay online by credit card or mail a check payable to HSUS to the address on the registration website.

Special group rate of $54.99 per room per night at Days Inn South, 3100 Apalachee Parkway, Tallahassee. Toll-free number for reservations, 1-800-DAYSINN; local hotel number, 850-877-6121. Register before May 15 and mention American Red Cross or Big Bend DART to get the special rate.

Friday May 20: 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Saturday, May 21: 8:30 am - 6:30 pm (one hour lunch break)

Sunday, May 22: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm (one hour lunch break)