October 19th, 2025 in Somerset County: Requested for a kitten in a storm drain with an approaching storm.October 13th, 2025 in Northampton County: Horse down in stall unable to get up.October 12th, 2025 in Allegheny County: 3 apartment fire clients, each with one dog, displaced by apartment fire in need of Pet Care Kits.October 10th, 2025 in Westmoreland County: 1 dog displaced as owner hospitalized and caregiver in need of dog food.October 9th, 2025 in Adams County: 1 dog & owner displaced by apartment fire in need of Pet Care Kit.October 7th, 2025 in Westmoreland County: 1 dog & owner displaced by flooding received Pet Care Kit of supplies.October 8th, 2025 in Cambria County: Assisted County Humane Society with biohazard trained members to remove multiple cats from residence that is...October 9th, 2025 in Perry County: Horse fell into a ditch and was unable to stand on its own.October 7th, 2025 in Montgomery County: Received a call from Lehigh County dispatch to contact Montgomery county EMA for horse down in a ditch.October 5th, 2025 in Indiana County: 2 cats & family displaced by house fire in need of Pet Care Kit supplies.

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