PURPOSE: To establish a training policy for County Animal Response Teams (CARTs) in Pennsylvania. All CART members must complete Level I – Basic Responder training as soon as practical following enrollment as a volunteer. The courses listed below will standardize the training while offering flexibility for the CART Coordinators in scheduling appropriate training for CART members based on their roles and responsibilities.

GOAL: To train CART volunteers commensurate with their responsibilities and assigned duties in an effort to protect the safety of the volunteers and animals (small, large, domestic, and wild).

SPECIAL PROVISIONS: Consideration will be given to CART members on a case-by-case basis who have had prior practical experience. Members who have completed courses prior to enrollment as a CART volunteer will be given credit provided a certificate was issued.

TRAINING REQUIREMENTS AND OTHER RECOMMENDED TRAINING:

Level I - Basic Responder – Required of all volunteers

• SART Orientation
• Basic Incident Command System (IS-100 or equivalent)
• HazMat Awareness (4 hours per the 1999 Minimum Standard Accreditation listed)
  http://www.osfc.state.pa.us/osfc/lib/osfc/Hazardous_Materials_First_Responder_Awareness_.pdf
• National Incident Management System (IS-700 or equivalent)
• *HazMat Awareness Annual Refresher (1.5 hours per 1999 MSA)
  http://www.osfc.state.pa.us/osfc/lib/osfc/Hazardous_Materials_Awareness_Level_Annual_Refresher_Training.pdf

Level II – Specialized/Technical Responder – Specific courses optional based on assigned role within each CART

• Animals in Disaster - Module A Awareness and Preparedness (IS-10)
• Animals in Disaster – Module B Community Planning (IS-11)
• Pet First Aid
• Human First Aid
• AWR-160 WMD Awareness
  http://www.pema.state.pa.us/central/lib/central/Training_-_AWR_160.doc  
• (Per Information Bulletin - http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/odp/docs/info138.pdf )
• Q&A regarding Information Bulletin #138 http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/odp/docs/info138att.pdf
• Large Animal Rescue
• Animal Sheltering
• Livestock in Disasters (IS-111)
• Biosecurity and Zoonoses
• Trailer Rescue
• Animal Behavior
• Euthanasia
• Barn Fires
• Ice Rescue
• Swift Water Rescue
• Developing and Managing Volunteers (IS-244)

INSTRUCTORS/TRAINERS may include but are not limited to certified instructors, teachers/professors affiliated with accredited schools or universities, and other credentialed professionals such as the following:

• Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue, Inc. – Drs. Tomas and Rebecca Gimenez
• Days End Farm Horse Rescue – Allan Schwartz
• Code 3 Associates, Inc.
• The MSPCA at Nevins Farm – Roger Lauze
• Rescue 3 International
• American Red Cross
• The Humane Society of the United States
• Federal Emergency Management Agency
• Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency
• County Emergency Management Agencies
• Volunteer Fire Companies
• Train-the-trainer opportunities and Independent Study (IS) on-line training through the Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency (www.fema.gov) will be encouraged to conserve resources.

POLICY REVISIONS: The Board of Directors may amend or revise this policy as priorities and needs change, financial resources become available, or other factors require amendments or revisions.