Berks CART – Because it can happen here. Are you prepared?

Humane Pennsylvania (HPA) has been designated by PASART (Pennsylvania State Animal Response Team) to direct emergency large-scale pet food and supply distribution efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.

With guidance from PASART, Berks CART has two operational warehouse spaces to be utilized for receiving, sorting, and distributing food and supply resources from central locations and is serving as the primary Eastern Pennsylvania large-scale emergency distribution resource for pet food and supplies.

Since being activated, Berks CART has delivered over 25 tons of pet food to human food pantries, animal shelters, and rescue groups in Berks, Lancaster, Chester, Dauphin, Northampton, Luzerne, Schuylkill, Lebanon, and Tioga counties and beyond.

We are continuing to work on distributing on request to school districts in Berks, Lancaster, Chester Counties, and beyond who reach out with any requests to be added to the deliveries of needed pet food.

Berks CART, in conjunction with PASART, has been preparing for emergency situations just like this one and is ready to be a lifesaving resource to those who need it.

Humane Pennsylvania’s Spike’s Pet Pantry program is open in a modified way for our Lancaster and Berks clients.

>> View the new procedure for acquiring pet food at the Humane League of Lancaster County and Humane Pennsylvania’s Community Resource Center.

Humane Pennsylvania is a longtime leader in ensuring a strong and ready response to emergencies and natural disasters.  Before Katrina drew attention to the peril of pets and people during disasters, Humane Pennsylvania’s partner organization the Humane Society of Berks County was the first animal welfare organization to lead a County Animal Response Team (Berks CART) as part of Pennsylvania’s nationally recognized PA State Animal Response Team.

Since 2004, Humane Pennsylvania has taken the lead in emergency and disaster response in our region and beyond through the County Animal Response Team (Berks CART). Humane Pennsylvania staff and volunteers have set up and managed emergency shelters during ice storms, hurricanes and floods and served around the nation as team partners for national organizations.

Local, state, and federal governments can’t do it on their own and, when it comes to animals, they need the help of experts like Humane Pennsylvania’s staff and volunteers.  In order to be there for them, we need you to be there for us.  For information on how you can support Humane Pennsylvania’s emergency response efforts, contact Damon March, Chief Operating Officer at dmarch@humanepa.org.