March 31st, 2026 in Fayette County: Pet Kits delivered to 3 families with a total of 5 dogs & 11 cats displaced by apartment fire.March 30th, 2026 in Westmoreland County: Dog food delivered- HPO request for pet food assistance for a client.March 30th, 2026 in Allegheny County: Pet Kit delivered for 1 dog & 2 cats displaced by house fire.March 30th, 2026 in Allegheny County: Pet Kit delivered for 1 dog displaced by house fire.March 29th, 2026 in Westmoreland County: Pet food delivered client to assist HPO with humane case for his dog.March 29th, 2026 in Allegheny County: Resource referral needed for Red Cross Responder for rehoming 2 kittens.March 29th, 2026 in Fayette County: Pet Kit delivered for 6 dogs displaced by house fire.March 29th, 2026 in Westmoreland County: Assistance on house fire scene- 1 Pygmy Goat & 1 adult Cat; fostering & Pet Kit delivered.March 27th, 2026 in Allegheny County: Pet Kit delivered for 1 parrot, 1 hamster & 1 bearded dragon (including bird cage) for fire client.March 29th, 2026 in Carbon County: Call came in at 9:50pm(21:50). Cat Dumped at Park in cage. Response was to personal call from Ranger.

Board of Directors | Pennsylvania Animal Response Team

Board of Directors

Mission Statement

Pennsylvania Animal Response Team (PART) was created in 2005 to address the needs of domestic animals in large scale disasters.  PART provides animal handling, emergency sheltering, and temporary foster care, all available to assist law enforcement and emergency responders with a simple call to 911.  We also provide guidance and training to local County Animal Response Teams faced with responding to any emergency related to domestic animals in the state of Pennsylvania.

PART is a nonprofit and is an organization ensuring the safety of animals in the face of an emergency. It is important to note that PART is not an animal shelter nor an adoption agency for animals.

We provide hands on response as well as training and guidance to emergency responders saving the lives of domestic animals including pets, equestrian, and agricultural animals.

These efforts benefit and represent the lives of millions of our innocent animals that are residents of Pennsylvania that do not have a voice, while also protecting human lives.

Pennsylvania’s animals are worth over 2 billion dollars and are ensuring their safety is vital to our state’s economy.

All Directors Serve Without Compensation

Effective 01-01-24

Joel Hersh-Board Chair
Mechanicsburg, PA
Term Expires December 31, 2026


Karel Minor-Vice-Chair and Treasurer
Federation of Humane Societies of Pennsylvania
Reading, PA
Permanent Seat


Molly Dougherty
PA Emergency Management Agency
Harrisburg, PA
Permanent Seat


Nan Hanshaw, DVM, DACVPM
PA Department of Agriculture
Harrisburg, PA
Permanent Seat


Norris Benns, Jr, Esq.
Philadelphia, PA
Term Expires December 31,2026


Erica Tramuta-Drobnis VMD, MPH, CPH
PA Veterinary Medical Association
Zionsville, PA
Permanent Seat


Douglas Dinwoodie
Ambler, PA
Term Expires December 31, 2026