July 9th, 2026 in Somerset County: Humane Officer requested CART assist for cat caught in a leg-hold trapJuly 9th, 2026 in Westmoreland County: 2 sm dogs received Pet Care Kit & temp oxygen tent assistance due to house fire.July 9th, 2026 in Westmoreland County: 2 sm birds in need of temp foster from EMS incident.July 7th, 2026 in Indiana County: 2 dogs in need of transport to hotel and Pet Care Kit due to flooding.July 5th, 2026 in Allegheny County: 1 kitten received Pet Care Kit when displaced by house fire.July 3rd, 2026 in Westmoreland County: PA Trooper assist for dog abandoned in car.June 28th, 2026 in Westmoreland County: 1 kitten found in floodwaters in need of vet care & foster home.July 23rd, 2026 in Allegheny County: 1 cat received Pet Care Kit when displaced by house fire.June 25th, 2026 in Westmoreland County: Assisted with horse down in field, able to get up & into barn.June 22nd, 2026 in Allegheny County: 1 cat & 1 dog needed Pet Care Kit for house fire displacement.

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