05/22/2022
Photos from Lehigh Valley CART's post
Pennsylvania Animal Response Team
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Providing prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery for animal emegrencies Many could have been saved by a coordinated emergency response plan.
The Pennsylvania Animal Response Team is modeled after a similar effort undertaken in North Carolina. It was founded after Hurricane Floyd, during which more than 3 million domestic and farm animals were lost. PART is based on the principals of the Incident Command System developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and involves a coordinated effort of government, corporate and ani
The Pennsylvania Animal Response Team is modeled after a similar effort undertaken in North Carolina. It was founded after Hurricane Floyd, during which more than 3 million domestic and farm animals were lost. PART is based on the principals of the Incident Command System developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and involves a coordinated effort of government, corporate and ani
Operating as usual
05/21/2022
We're all set up at the Pet Expo in Folsom, showing off our supply trailer - generously provided by AKC Reunite - and distributing pet preparedness information. Come by to find out how you can take care of your pet in an emergency.
05/17/2022
Photos from Somerset County Animal Response Team - CART's post
05/15/2022
Photos from Westmoreland / Fayette / Allegheny County Animal Response Team's post
05/14/2022
Photos from Nanticoke City Fire Department's post
05/13/2022
Photos from Lehigh Valley CART's post
05/12/2022
Photos from Gone to the Dogs's post
05/02/2022
Photos from Westmoreland / Fayette / Allegheny County Animal Response Team's post
05/01/2022
Photos from Somerset County Animal Response Team - CART's post
04/23/2022
Our cart team received another generous donation of handmade pet beds for us to give away to our Disaster clients. These are made by some of the residents at Saint Ann’s home in Greensburg. They are looking for donations of bolts of fleece material to continue the pet bed project. Pet beds are one of the top items that are requested by our clients.
04/22/2022
Photos from Somerset County Animal Response Team - CART's post
04/12/2022
Members of Somerset CART have recently completed training and demonstrated skills to become FEMA Typed Resources. They are Type 2 Animal Intake & Reunification Specialists, Type 1 & 2 Animal Care & Handling Specialists, Type 3 Animal Search & Rescue Technicians, and Animal Emergency Response Team Leaders. We have two Type 4 Animal Sheltering Teams, several Type 3 & 4 Animal Evacuation, Transport & Re-Entry Teams, and Type 3 Animal Search & Rescue Teams. These certifications enable us to be better prepared to deal with emergencies and disasters affecting animals in our region.
04/10/2022
Assisted State Police with Rabbits today. One of our team members volunteered to foster.
04/03/2022
Fire departments receive lifesaving gear for pets
Mercer CART protecting pets!
Some recently-donated equipment will help a couple Mercer County fire departments in their mission to protect lives and property — specifically, the lives of residents’ pets.
03/31/2022
Photos from Lehigh Valley CART's post
03/24/2022
Photos from Somerset County Animal Response Team - CART's post
03/05/2022
Photos from Westmoreland / Fayette / Allegheny County Animal Response Team's post
03/04/2022
***PLEASE READ***
Spring is coming and that means BABIES are coming too!! If you happen upon a litter of tiny kittens outdoors, it’s natural to want to scoop them up and try to care for them yourself or take
them to a shelter. BUT both of those options may actually place them in more danger. To give newborn kittens the best chance
of survival, follow these steps:
1. Leave the kittens alone and try to figure out if their mom is still around. Observe them from a distance every couple of hours
for 12 to 18 hours. If the kittens seem content and are not fussing, there’s a good chance their mom is coming back. Just because you can't see mom doesn't mean she can't see you.
2. If the kittens are in danger due to their location, move them to a safer spot nearby so the mom can easily find them when she returns.
3. If the kittens are dirty, appear sick, underweight or dehydrated, contact a local rescue organization or a trap-neuter-return (TNR) or community cat program. They can help you determine if the kittens are at risk and if you should intervene.
4. If you spot the mom, leave the kittens alone. When the kittens have been eating on their own for about four weeks or are big enough for surgery (typically when they’re between two and three
months old), humanely trap the whole family and have them spayed or neutered. After the cats are fixed, release them
at the location where you found them. TNR is the most humane method of preventing cats and kittens from entering the shelter system.
We do fix kittens at 8 weeks old (they MUST be 2lbs). Below is a chart to help determine the age of your kitten(s). You can schedule an appointment on our website at adamscountyspca.org
02/03/2022
Our CART assisted the Penn Township Police Dept. this afternoon with a call about a domesticated goose that was abandoned at a local business. It had been staying in that parking lot but also getting near a busy local road and causing lots of calls to the police because of this. Police and local business owners tried to find an owner, but none was found. Our CART member went and was able to bring it home to his farm where it will have 6 other goose friends to hang out with now and be fed and safe.
01/15/2022
Barn Fire Safety is particularly important during these very cold temperatures!
01/09/2022
We would like to thank the Southmoreland High School students for their recent donations to our emergency supplies for our Pet Care Kits for our disaster clients. They will come in handy with the expected increase in fire calls as weather gets colder.
01/09/2022
Timeline photos
: We anticipate implementing various speed and vehicle restrictions throughout tonight's storm: http://ow.ly/j1Ga50HqguL
Avoid unnecessary travel and check 511PA for updated information as the storm progresses.
01/08/2022
Good chart to use when judging if dog should be outside or not!
01/04/2022
Photos from US National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA's post
01/01/2022
2021 has been a busy year. Our 16 active members have completed extensive training and responded to some complicated and time consuming incidents. We are honored to serve Somerset County and wish all of the animals and their owners a healthy, safe and peaceful 2022.
12/30/2021
UPDATE: The second emu has been caputured safely!
12/30/2021
VIDEO | Crews wrangle up emus on the loose in Somerset County
Emu update! Great work Somerset CART!
Crews in Somerset County had their hands full Tuesday as they tried to wrangle two emus on the loose. The emus, who are endemic to Australia, had apparently escaped a nearby farm and were roaming the area near Rock Cut Road at Reels Corner. Emus are the second largest birds in the world with their c...
12/29/2021
I’m sort of shocked by the number of Emu calls this year…
12/28/2021
Pennsylvania State Police Reminds Pet Owners of Obligation to Care for Animals - PennWatch
PSP reminds pet owners of their responsibilities!
Pennsylvania State Police is reminding pet owners, including those who keep their pets outdoors, that they are required to provide the animals with basic needs, as defined by law, or face potential animal neglect and/or cruelty charges. “Basic needs include the proper sustenance to maintain a heal...
12/22/2021
🐾 Hey, PA dog owners!
In the hustle and bustle of the season, don’t forget to license your dog. All dogs three months and older must be licensed by January 1.
For info and to apply: https://on.pa.gov/3E87RTe
12/10/2021
Photos from Somerset County Animal Response Team - CART's post
11/30/2021
Please Wait... | Cloudflare
It’s Giving Tuesday! 🥳 Help us save animals by donating at PaAnimalResponse.org/donate and share to spread the word!
If you are on a personal connection, like at home, you can run an anti-virus scan on your device to make sure it is not infected with malware.
10/05/2021
Mavis wants to remind you don’t forget to sign up for today's Webinar hosted by State Farm and ~ PA. Moderated by Julie Grant with legislators Ryan Bizzarro and Frank Farry and experts in the animal welfare community: Jennifer Johnsen-Nazareth - State Farm Agent, Sarah Speed of Pennsylvania Animal Response Team, Cathleen Palm of Center for Children's Justice, Amy Kaunas of Humane Society of Harrisburg Area and Cpl. Spada of PA State Police.
Register for this free Animal Welfare Critical Issues Webinar at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_oNp2TZSTTRuzpnpIoVCv_w
10/03/2021
Photos from Somerset County Animal Response Team - CART's post
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Pennsylvania Animal Response Team Supporting people by saving their animals in times of emergency In today’s world, we all worry about the threat of a natural or man-made disaster. Animals are especially vulnerable when a disaster strikes because they must rely on us for help. In 1999, Hurricane Floyd claimed the lives of millions of animals in North Carolina and thousands more were separated from their owners. Many of these animals could have been saved by a coordinated response plan. From this tragedy, the State Animal Response Team (SART) concept was born. In 2004, Pennsylvania adopted this concept to address its animal-related disaster response needs. About PART The Pennsylvania Animal Response Team (PART) was created through a private-public partnership to serve as a unifying network of organizations, businesses, federal, state, county and local government agencies, and individuals that supports the prevention, preparedness, response and recovery for emergencies affecting animals. Because disaster response needs to happen at a local level, PART builds County Animal Response Teams (CARTs) across the state. County coordinators are selected to lead the development of county teams consisting of volunteers who will respond to emergencies at the local level. Goals of PART - To facilitate a rapid, coordinated, and effective response to any emergency affecting animals; - To decrease the health and safety threat to humans and animals; - To minimize the economic impact of emergencies affecting animals; and - To prevent or decrease the spread of disease during emergencies affecting animals.
Nearby government services
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PA Fish and Boat Commission Bureau of Law Enf
1601 Elmerton Avenue -
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
1601 Elmerton Ave. -
League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania
1425 Crooked Hill Road, PO Box 60890 -
2001 Elmerton Ave
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2001 Elmerton Ave
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One HACC Drive
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3003 N. Front Street
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14th and Calder St
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Bright Futures Learning Centers, Inc
1745 N. Cameron St. -
Volunteers of America of Pennsylvania
2112 Walnut Street -
11 N Progress Ave
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Harrisburg Bureau of Fire Station 1 "The Upto
1820 North 6th Street -
Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol P
2601 N 3rd St -
2589 Interstate Dr
Other Public & Government Services in Harrisburg
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Home Builders Association of Metro Harrisburg
2416 Park Dr -
3300 N 6th Street
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2215 Forest Hills Dr Ste 39
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Communities in Schools of Pennsylvania
2101 N Front St -
2301 N Cameron St
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150 S 43rd St
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Pennsylvania Medical Society Alliance
777 E Park Dr -
Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Dist
5925 Stevenson Ave., Suite A -
901 N. Cameron Street
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Pennsylvania DBE Supportive Services
1821 Fulton St., ProRank Suite -
Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Educati
2986 N 2nd St
Comments
Trailer Superstore in Mechanicsburg PA is getting a load of SOLD trailers from Car Mate Trailers Inc.
The three 6 x 12 HD Custom Cargo Trailers on front are sold to Pennsylvania Animal Response Team. Thank you for your continued loyalty!
The 8 x 16 HD Custom Cargo in white is also sold! Thank you from all of us at Car Mate.
The three 6 x 12 HD Custom Cargo Trailers on front are sold to Pennsylvania Animal Response Team. Thank you for your continued loyalty!
The 8 x 16 HD Custom Cargo in white is also sold! Thank you from all of us at Car Mate.
It's ! Please consider giving to one of the many rescues and animal welfare organizations we've worked with over the years! We add to this list each year but if there's an organization we've missed please tag them in the comments!
Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh 🐶 Animal Friends 🐱 The Animal Friends of Westmoreland 🐰 Biggies Bullies 🐶 The Proper Pit Bull 🐱 Forever Home Beagle Rescue 🐰 Senior Pet and Animal Rescue 🐶 Cross Your Paws Rescue 🐱 Pet Friends 🐰 The Foster Farm 🐶 All But Furgotten 🐱 Guardian Angels Pug Rescue 🐰 Ninth Life Rescue Center 🐶 Pennsylvania Animal Response Team 🐱 Hospaws 🐶 Joey's PAW 🐰 SOS Animal Rescue 🐶 Tj’s Rescue Hideaway 🐱 Kiski Valley Cat & Kitten Rescue 🐰 Senior Hearts Rescue & Renewal 🐶 Going Home Greyhounds 🐱 Steel City Greyhounds 🐰 Hello Bully 🐶 Helping Hearts & Healing Tails Animal Rescue 🐱 Bridge To Home Animal Rescue 🐰 Pet Adoption League 🐶 FurKid Rescue 🐱 Action For Animals Humane Society 🐰Wayward Whiskers 🐱
Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh 🐶 Animal Friends 🐱 The Animal Friends of Westmoreland 🐰 Biggies Bullies 🐶 The Proper Pit Bull 🐱 Forever Home Beagle Rescue 🐰 Senior Pet and Animal Rescue 🐶 Cross Your Paws Rescue 🐱 Pet Friends 🐰 The Foster Farm 🐶 All But Furgotten 🐱 Guardian Angels Pug Rescue 🐰 Ninth Life Rescue Center 🐶 Pennsylvania Animal Response Team 🐱 Hospaws 🐶 Joey's PAW 🐰 SOS Animal Rescue 🐶 Tj’s Rescue Hideaway 🐱 Kiski Valley Cat & Kitten Rescue 🐰 Senior Hearts Rescue & Renewal 🐶 Going Home Greyhounds 🐱 Steel City Greyhounds 🐰 Hello Bully 🐶 Helping Hearts & Healing Tails Animal Rescue 🐱 Bridge To Home Animal Rescue 🐰 Pet Adoption League 🐶 FurKid Rescue 🐱 Action For Animals Humane Society 🐰Wayward Whiskers 🐱
Mavis wants to remind you don’t forget to sign up for today's Webinar hosted by State Farm and ~ PA. Moderated by Julie Grant with legislators Ryan Bizzarro and Frank Farry and experts in the animal welfare community: Jennifer Johnsen-Nazareth - State Farm Agent, Sarah Speed of Pennsylvania Animal Response Team, Cathleen Palm of Center for Children's Justice, Amy Kaunas of Humane Society of Harrisburg Area and Cpl. Spada of PA State Police.
Register for this free Animal Welfare Critical Issues Webinar at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_oNp2TZSTTRuzpnpIoVCv_w
Register for this free Animal Welfare Critical Issues Webinar at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_oNp2TZSTTRuzpnpIoVCv_w
Early yesterday morning, land pilot Mark Britton headed across the Keystone State to York, Pennsylvania to pick up 12 boxes of emergency pet supply kits 📦📦📦.
Courtesy of the Pennsylvania Animal Response Team, these kits provide vital resources for animals in dire situations and ultimately save lives! To learn more about animal emergency preparedness 🚨, visit the Pennsylvania Animal Response Team’s website: paanimalresponse.org.
🙏 Thank you again to all our supporters, volunteers, and donors, who make missions like these possible.
Courtesy of the Pennsylvania Animal Response Team, these kits provide vital resources for animals in dire situations and ultimately save lives! To learn more about animal emergency preparedness 🚨, visit the Pennsylvania Animal Response Team’s website: paanimalresponse.org.
🙏 Thank you again to all our supporters, volunteers, and donors, who make missions like these possible.
Thank you Pennsylvania Animal Response Team for choosing Trailer Superstore for your latest Car Mate Trailers Inc. purchases. We appreciate your loyalty!
I've been trying to get a hold of animal control for the Perry County area about stray cat removal. Is there any information someone could give me please?
Thank you Pennsylvania Animal Response Team for choosing Altmeyer's Trailer Sales for your Car Mate Trailers Inc. purchase. Thank you for your service to the community, as well.
Yesterday I joined the MontCo Anti-Hunger Network, the RSVP volunteer corp and a host of other volunteers and organizations to distribute food and pet supplies to families at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center. Over 450 cars were served in 3 hours time! Thank you to all of the tireless volunteers who contributed their time and donations to make this event such a great success.
Stray Cat Blues (Cat Rescue and TNR) Township of Upper Providence Department of Fire & Emergency ServicesUpper Providence Township Police Department Montgomery County Animal Response Team Pennsylvania Animal Response Team Montgomery County Department of Public Safety
Stray Cat Blues (Cat Rescue and TNR) Township of Upper Providence Department of Fire & Emergency ServicesUpper Providence Township Police Department Montgomery County Animal Response Team Pennsylvania Animal Response Team Montgomery County Department of Public Safety
WANTED: PET FOOD DONATIONS - Our partners at Montgomery County Animal Response Team need your help in bringing much-needed pet food to our Food Distribution events over the next few weeks. There is a specific need this week for bags of dry cat food.
There are two preferred ways to help:
• If you own a pet store or business and can donate food: Please email [email protected] or call 610-631-3000 between 8am-3pm M-F and someone will contact you.
• If you’re a pet lover and want to contribute: Please consider making an online cash donation at the Pennsylvania Animal Response Team's secure website: https://paanimalresponse.org/donate/ This way, MCART will have flexibility to buy whatever pet food is needed in that particular week. ** Please be sure to include the code word “MONTCO” in the Comments field of your donation form so we can be sure that your donations are provided directly to MCART.
Thank you for being so generous to our furry friends!
There are two preferred ways to help:
• If you own a pet store or business and can donate food: Please email [email protected] or call 610-631-3000 between 8am-3pm M-F and someone will contact you.
• If you’re a pet lover and want to contribute: Please consider making an online cash donation at the Pennsylvania Animal Response Team's secure website: https://paanimalresponse.org/donate/ This way, MCART will have flexibility to buy whatever pet food is needed in that particular week. ** Please be sure to include the code word “MONTCO” in the Comments field of your donation form so we can be sure that your donations are provided directly to MCART.
Thank you for being so generous to our furry friends!
Congratulations to the following organizations for winning a $250 Last Chance Prize:
Howard Fire Company
State College Choral Society
The Music Academy
Centre County Animal Response Team (Pennsylvania Animal Response Team)
Centre Region Down Syndrome Society
The Bestwick Foundation
State College Friends School
St Vincent De Paul Thrift Store, State College, PA
Mount Nittany Health Foundation
Taproot Kitchen
Centre Helps
Alzheimer's Association- Greater PA Chapter
St. John the Evangelist Catholic School
Nittany Valley Figure Skating Club
The Arc of Centre County
The Last Chance Prize winners were selected by a random drawing of all organizations that had at least 10 unique donors, but had not yet won a prize during Centre Gives on May 12 or 13.
Thank you to everyone who gave during 2020! What an incredible 36 hours!
Howard Fire Company
State College Choral Society
The Music Academy
Centre County Animal Response Team (Pennsylvania Animal Response Team)
Centre Region Down Syndrome Society
The Bestwick Foundation
State College Friends School
St Vincent De Paul Thrift Store, State College, PA
Mount Nittany Health Foundation
Taproot Kitchen
Centre Helps
Alzheimer's Association- Greater PA Chapter
St. John the Evangelist Catholic School
Nittany Valley Figure Skating Club
The Arc of Centre County
The Last Chance Prize winners were selected by a random drawing of all organizations that had at least 10 unique donors, but had not yet won a prize during Centre Gives on May 12 or 13.
Thank you to everyone who gave during 2020! What an incredible 36 hours!
Dear Advocate,
Hurricane Katrina taught us in a profoundly tragic way that pet problems are inextricably intertwined with human issues. It is essential to integrate pets and animals in emergency planning during this COVID-19 pandemic. We are thankful to Governor Wolf for his recognition of this and his inclusion of pets in establishing guidance for PA’s families and businesses. To show appreciation and make his day, post of photo of you and your pet on social media, tag the Governor, use hashtag , and comment your thanks for including pets in his approach to contend with this outbreak. Our shelter partner, Humane Animal Rescue, posted steps to take for pet preparedness in the context of a pandemic: https://www.humaneanimalrescue.org/2020/03/03/pets-covid-19/?fbclid=IwAR0FBLxmFklDs6qExK1T-8kIgQR5exzRbtWoUcscbAWCt_kpwbYirf8lNCA
Per Governor Wolf’s order, a business or nonprofit may take steps necessary to sustain life-including animal life. While practicing strict social distancing protocols, staff and volunteers may continue to provide essential veterinary care and health-related services, food, shelter, and other necessities of life for animals. Businesses or organizations with questions as to their status can contact the PA Department of Community and Economic Development customer service for clarification at: [email protected] or 1-866-466-3972. Please share this resource as needed. Also, feel free to use the attached graphic to visually send the message about animal-related entities.
The pervasive nature and rapid escalation of the contagion spreading across the nation presents a clear imperative that the U.S. Congress needs to immediately pass the Providing Responsible Emergency Plans for Animals at Risk of Emerging Disasters (PREPARED) Act, H.R. 1042: https://blog.humanesociety.org/2019/02/bill-in-congress-will-require-puppy-mills-roadside-zoos-and-other-businesses-to-have-emergency-plans-to-protect-animals-during-disasters.html?credit=blog_post_032020_id11283 This bill would require all facilities regulated under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), including commercial animal dealers and breeders, non-accredited roadside zoos, and research labs, to have emergency response plans for the animals in their care when disaster strikes. Please contact your federal legislators and ask them to co-sponsor the PREPARED Act if they’re not already on this commonsense measure, and do all they can to get it enacted quickly.
There is more you can do to save animal lives: In addition to adopting and fostering, please support relief programs in your community and donate pet food and/or supplies to a local shelter or rescue group. Some shelters are launching emergency pet food response programs. Our Pets for Life program, which supports pet owners in underserved areas, has delivered supplies to senior and immobile clients and is modifying spay/neuter and other veterinary appointments to maintain crucial services within prescribed guidelines: https://www.humanesociety.org/issues/keeping-pets-life
The founders of Lancaster Farm Sanctuary work hard every day to ensure all their animal inhabitants receive the highest level of care. Even in the midst of hard times, Jonina Turzi and Sarah Salluzzo continue to educate the public on farm animal welfare. Check out their sanctuary virtual tour - “meeting” these special animals will surely make you smile and feel inspired by some incredible rescue stories here. They always appreciate any donations: https://www.facebook.com/lancasterfarmsanctuary/videos/2676964429193545/UzpfSTExODk4MzAzODE4MzMzMDoyODI5NDUwMzAwNDY5OTEw/
Many Pennsylvania Wildlife Rehabilitators have had to cancel spring fundraisers and education programs which provide a large part of their operating budget. Many have also gone down to minimal volunteers which is putting an additional strain on them. Nearly all of the PA centers are currently open and accepting patients still. Please look at the Pennsylvania Association of Wildlife Rehabilitators webpage and reach out to a location in your area to learn what they need: https://pawr.com/
Many people are hurting financially now due to wage or job loss. Here is a list of organizations that provide financial support for pet owners: https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/are-you-having-trouble-affording-your-pet If you have a horse rescue, the following link provides information about grants for equine welfare organizations here: https://homesforhorses.org/resources/grants/
Please be assured that law enforcement, humane law enforcement, and the Pennsylvania State Police will continue to investigate animal cruelty and neglect crimes during this public health crisis. The Pennsylvania Animal Response Team (PA SART) is compiling a list of resources that may be utilized to serve animal related requirements, such as the capability to house animals belonging to first responders or the ability to provide veterinary healthcare. Please refer suitable contacts: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSer5xtQXuAJaJqhotjxCn69LOaYaLVkhoBvbzWK2g18sYYCxw/viewform PA SART is also encouraging pet owners to plan for their pets by making sure a neighbor, friend or family member is able to care for pets should they become ill. If you or anyone you know is in emergency need of pet supplies or care, please contact the county emergency management agency and ask for the support of the county animal response team.
Stay safe and healthy,
Kristen Tullo
Pennsylvania State Director
Hurricane Katrina taught us in a profoundly tragic way that pet problems are inextricably intertwined with human issues. It is essential to integrate pets and animals in emergency planning during this COVID-19 pandemic. We are thankful to Governor Wolf for his recognition of this and his inclusion of pets in establishing guidance for PA’s families and businesses. To show appreciation and make his day, post of photo of you and your pet on social media, tag the Governor, use hashtag , and comment your thanks for including pets in his approach to contend with this outbreak. Our shelter partner, Humane Animal Rescue, posted steps to take for pet preparedness in the context of a pandemic: https://www.humaneanimalrescue.org/2020/03/03/pets-covid-19/?fbclid=IwAR0FBLxmFklDs6qExK1T-8kIgQR5exzRbtWoUcscbAWCt_kpwbYirf8lNCA
Per Governor Wolf’s order, a business or nonprofit may take steps necessary to sustain life-including animal life. While practicing strict social distancing protocols, staff and volunteers may continue to provide essential veterinary care and health-related services, food, shelter, and other necessities of life for animals. Businesses or organizations with questions as to their status can contact the PA Department of Community and Economic Development customer service for clarification at: [email protected] or 1-866-466-3972. Please share this resource as needed. Also, feel free to use the attached graphic to visually send the message about animal-related entities.
The pervasive nature and rapid escalation of the contagion spreading across the nation presents a clear imperative that the U.S. Congress needs to immediately pass the Providing Responsible Emergency Plans for Animals at Risk of Emerging Disasters (PREPARED) Act, H.R. 1042: https://blog.humanesociety.org/2019/02/bill-in-congress-will-require-puppy-mills-roadside-zoos-and-other-businesses-to-have-emergency-plans-to-protect-animals-during-disasters.html?credit=blog_post_032020_id11283 This bill would require all facilities regulated under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), including commercial animal dealers and breeders, non-accredited roadside zoos, and research labs, to have emergency response plans for the animals in their care when disaster strikes. Please contact your federal legislators and ask them to co-sponsor the PREPARED Act if they’re not already on this commonsense measure, and do all they can to get it enacted quickly.
There is more you can do to save animal lives: In addition to adopting and fostering, please support relief programs in your community and donate pet food and/or supplies to a local shelter or rescue group. Some shelters are launching emergency pet food response programs. Our Pets for Life program, which supports pet owners in underserved areas, has delivered supplies to senior and immobile clients and is modifying spay/neuter and other veterinary appointments to maintain crucial services within prescribed guidelines: https://www.humanesociety.org/issues/keeping-pets-life
The founders of Lancaster Farm Sanctuary work hard every day to ensure all their animal inhabitants receive the highest level of care. Even in the midst of hard times, Jonina Turzi and Sarah Salluzzo continue to educate the public on farm animal welfare. Check out their sanctuary virtual tour - “meeting” these special animals will surely make you smile and feel inspired by some incredible rescue stories here. They always appreciate any donations: https://www.facebook.com/lancasterfarmsanctuary/videos/2676964429193545/UzpfSTExODk4MzAzODE4MzMzMDoyODI5NDUwMzAwNDY5OTEw/
Many Pennsylvania Wildlife Rehabilitators have had to cancel spring fundraisers and education programs which provide a large part of their operating budget. Many have also gone down to minimal volunteers which is putting an additional strain on them. Nearly all of the PA centers are currently open and accepting patients still. Please look at the Pennsylvania Association of Wildlife Rehabilitators webpage and reach out to a location in your area to learn what they need: https://pawr.com/
Many people are hurting financially now due to wage or job loss. Here is a list of organizations that provide financial support for pet owners: https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/are-you-having-trouble-affording-your-pet If you have a horse rescue, the following link provides information about grants for equine welfare organizations here: https://homesforhorses.org/resources/grants/
Please be assured that law enforcement, humane law enforcement, and the Pennsylvania State Police will continue to investigate animal cruelty and neglect crimes during this public health crisis. The Pennsylvania Animal Response Team (PA SART) is compiling a list of resources that may be utilized to serve animal related requirements, such as the capability to house animals belonging to first responders or the ability to provide veterinary healthcare. Please refer suitable contacts: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSer5xtQXuAJaJqhotjxCn69LOaYaLVkhoBvbzWK2g18sYYCxw/viewform PA SART is also encouraging pet owners to plan for their pets by making sure a neighbor, friend or family member is able to care for pets should they become ill. If you or anyone you know is in emergency need of pet supplies or care, please contact the county emergency management agency and ask for the support of the county animal response team.
Stay safe and healthy,
Kristen Tullo
Pennsylvania State Director