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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
Hummelstown, PA
Permanent Seat


Douglas Dinwoodie
Ambler, PA
Term Expires December 31, 2026

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March 21st, 2024 in Westmoreland County: 2 dogs and 2 cats, along with family, were displaced by house fire and in need of Pet Care Kits and possible fostering.March 25th, 2024 in Allegheny County: 2 families displaced by duplex fire in need of Pet Care Kits for a total of 4 dogs.March 20th, 2024 in Northampton County: Help was requested for horse down in field.March 19th, 2024 in Westmoreland County: 3 dogs and family displaced by house fire and in need of Pet Care Kit.March 13th, 2024 in Westmoreland County: Temporary foster assistance requested for 1 lg dog due to owner being arrested.March 12th, 2024 in Allegheny County: 1 dog and 2 cats with family displaced by house fire. Pet Care Kit delivered to hotel.March 9th, 2024 in Northampton County: Help requested by Red Cross for house fire involving cats.March 10th, 2024 in Lehigh County: Request for assistance with 6 cats and 2 dogs involved in a Carbon Monoxide incident, family taken to hospitalMarch 10th, 2024 in Allegheny County: 1 guinea pig and family displaced by house fire. Pet Care Kit supplies needed for g.pig.March 8th, 2024 in Allegheny County: 1 Cat missing from house fire incident, client requesting assistance with locating and catching cat.