July 10th, 2025 in Somerset County: Somerset PD contacted CART for assistance with cats that need to find new homesJuly 8th, 2025 in Allegheny County: 1 cat & owner displaced due to apartment fire in need of pet supplies.July 7th, 2025 in Somerset County: CART was activated for 10 cattle loose on a road in Middlecreek TownshipJuly 1st, 2025 in Somerset County: Somerset CART was requested to assist PSP with 10 small dogs apparently abandoned on a back road in Lincoln TownshipJuly 7th, 2025 in Juniata County: Requested to help retrieve and move 500 pigs after tractor trailer hauling them overturned.June 17th, 2025 in Juniata County: Requested to help find temporary placement for dog, whose owner was taken to the hospital unconscious.June 27th, 2025 in Somerset County: Activated for horses on roadwayJune 19th, 2025 in Allegheny County: 1 dog & owner needs Pet Care Kit due to house fire.June 19th, 2025 in Allegheny County: Police assist with animals in home for owner going into hospital care.June 24th, 2025 in Somerset County: Activated for two horses loose along rte 160 in Berlin

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