May 20th, 2026 in Allegheny County: 5 cats received Pet Care Kit as a service request from Red Cross to assist family in need.May 14th, 2026 in Allegheny County: 4 dogs & 1 cat received a Pet Care Kit when displaced by a house fire.May 18th, 2026 in Allegheny County: 1 dog received a Pet Care Kit when displaced by a house fire.May 16th, 2026 in Westmoreland County: 1 cat received Pet Care Kit when displaced by house fire.May 21st, 2026 in Somerset County: CART was contacted for assistance with community catsMay 19th, 2026 in Somerset County: CART requested to transport one dog with smoke inhalationMay 17th, 2026 in Somerset County: PSP requested assistance with a cow running southbound in the center of the northbound lane on 219.May 12th, 2026 in Somerset County: CART requested for two pigs loose in Meyersdale.May 5th, 2026 in Somerset County: Somerset CART assisted local rescues, shelters and PSP with a hoarding situation involving 48 dogs and 4 other animals.May 6th, 2026 in Westmoreland County: 1 dog & 1 cat received Pet Care Kit when displaced by house fire.

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


Mina Kalley, DVM, MPH-VPH, Dipl. ACVMP
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