Delaware County Animal Response Team (DelCART)

The Delaware County Animal Response Team (DelCART) is a unit of the Pennsylvania State Animal Response Team (PART), a state-based network of public agencies and private partners dedicated to the preparedness, care, and recovery of animals in emergencies. In addition, DelCART works to educate the public and municipal officials about the needs of pets before, during, and after disasters. 

Joining DelCART

DelCART is deployed by either the Pennsylvania Animal Response Team (PART) or the Citizen Corps of Delaware County (CCDC). You will need to sign up as a volunteer with both organizations to deploy with DelCART and with PA’s State Emergency Registry of Volunteers (ServPA):

Register with PA Animal Response Team: paanimalresponse.org/become-a-volunteer

*Register with Citizen Corps of Delaware County on the ReDI platform: ccdcredi.delcocitizencorps.org/user/register/

*Register with ServPA: www.serv.pa.gov/agreement.php

• Complete your state criminal and child welfare background checks to qualify for deployment: epatch.state.pa.us and www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis (both free for volunteers)

*Once registered in ReDI, the new volunteer management program, add the volunteer app to your cell phone!

 *If you are reading this, then you have accounts in both servPA and ReDI!!

If disaster strikes and you must evacuate your home, don’t leave your pets behind! DelCART makes it possible to bring your pets with you and out of danger. Evacuation shelters set up by the Red Cross and other emergency agencies often cannot accommodate pets safely, but our trained volunteers will establish and maintain a shelter close by that is equipped for displaced animals. Pets will be securely housed in supplied kennels or crates. You should notify us of your pet’s medical needs or dietary requirements and provide any special food or medications. You will be asked to participate in their daily care and feeding whenever possible. DelCART also provides outreach education to the public to help county residents with pets prepare for a disaster. Please contact us if you would like one of our members to speak to your group.

DelCART Brochure

Training

• New volunteers should start with the 3 required FEMA courses:

  • Introduction to the Incident Command System (IS-100): https://training.fema.gov/is/courseoverview.aspx?code=IS-100.c

  • Introduction to the National Incident Management System (IS-700): https://training.fema.gov/is/courseoverview.aspx?code=IS-700.b

  • Introduction to Hazardous Materials (IS-5): https://training.fema.gov/is/courseoverview.aspx?code=IS-5.a

• Check the Delco Citizen Corps calendar for upcoming trainings (delcocitizencorps.com/calendar). Introductory classes include:

  • Citizen Corps Orientation and Handbook Training

  • Emergency Preparedness and Response

  • Situational Awareness

• Other animal-related FEMA courses are recommended: https://training.fema.gov/is/searchis.aspx?search=animal

• See https://paanimalresponse.org/get-trained/for a full overview and additional training information.