Saving Pets Starts With a Call: Transfur Line and ASAR Training
Saving Pets Starts With a Call: Transfur Line and ASAR Training
When disaster strikes, pet owners are often left asking the same question: Who do I call?
That question — and the gap it reveals — was the focus of a recent conversation on the ASAR Training and Response podcast, where hosts Eric Thompson and Carla Lewis sat down with Transfur Line founder Melissa Savage to talk about what happens when the phone rings during an emergency.
The Problem: A Missing Link in Disaster Response
During disasters, there's no shortage of people who want to help animals — shelters, rescue groups, emergency managers, volunteers. But there's often no clear path for a pet owner in crisis to reach the right one. Calls go to the wrong agency. Voicemails sit unanswered. Information gets lost between organizations.
The result? Animals that could have been evacuated, reunited, or sheltered slip through the cracks — not because no one cared, but because no one was connected.
How Transfur Line Bridges the Gap
Transfur Line isn't just a hotline. It's a coordination platform that connects pet owners, animal welfare organizations, and emergency management officials through a single system. When a call comes in, it gets connected with the volunteers that are on the ground, ready to help.
Why Training Matters
One theme that came up throughout the conversation: technology alone isn't enough. The organizations using Transfur Line need to be prepared before the disaster hits.
That's where ASAR Training comes in. ASAR (Animal Search and Rescue) provides training programs for individuals and organizations involved in animal disaster response. Their courses cover everything from field safety to shelter operations to incident command structures.
The partnership between Transfur Line and ASAR Training reflects a shared belief: effective disaster response for animals requires both the right tools and the right preparation.
When teams are trained on how to triage requests, coordinate across organizations, and use platforms like Transfur Line, the difference is measurable — faster response times, fewer missed calls, and more animals reunited with their families.
In the Field: Typhoon Halong and the Alaska State Veterinarian
The podcast also covers Transfur Line's deployment following Typhoon Halong in Alaska, where we worked alongside the Alaska State Veterinarian to help reunite displaced pet owners with their animals. It was a real-world test of everything the platform is built for — coordinating across agencies, routing incoming requests to the right people, and keeping track of cases through resolution.
Melissa discusses both the wins and the learnings from the response on the episode. Every deployment surfaces things that work well and things that need to improve, and Typhoon Halong was no different. Hearing those details firsthand — what it's actually like when the system is live and people are calling in — is one of the most valuable parts of the conversation.
When Every Call Is Routed Correctly
When every call is routed correctly, it can prevent a bigger crisis — and help keep people and pets together.
That's the core of what Transfur Line is built for. Not replacing the people doing the work, but making sure their work connects — that a pet owner's call for help actually reaches someone who can respond.
Listen to the Full Episode
Hear the full conversation on the ASAR Training and Response podcast:
Saving Pets Starts With a Call: The Power of Transfurline
Get Involved
- Organizations: Set up your hotline on Transfur Line — contact us at info@transfurline.com
- Volunteers: Connect with ASAR Training to learn how you can be prepared for the next disaster
- Pet owners: If your community uses Transfur Line, your local hotline number is your first call when you need help
Because pets deserve a lifeline, too.