A member of the CART team tends to a cat at the shelter set up at Lionville Middle School.

While most emergency responders were busy handling the needs of humans during Hurricane Sandy, a specialized group made sure that three cats and five dogs in Chester County received care when their owners had to evacuate, county officials said.

The effort was part of a statewide initiative by the Pennsylvania State Animal Response Team (PASART), a private nonprofit that receives the majority of its funding from the  Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA).

In Chester County, a County Animal Response Team (CART) mobilized equipment and called on its trained volunteers to establish temporary animal shelters for residents who needed to leave their homes. Working with the American Red Cross, the team set up two shelters: one at Avon Grove High School in West Grove and one at Lionville Middle School in Exton, officials said.

In harder-hit areas, more shelters housed a greater number of animals. For example, the Philadelphia CART handled 40 animals  – including a spider and a turtle – at three locations, and the Montgomery County group cared for 24 animals.

Donations were made to the Chester County CART from PetCo and Sam’s Club, both in Exton, officials said. CARTs consists of volunteers from all walks of life – from emergency responders and veterinary technicians to residents concerned with the welfare of animals. For more information regarding Pennsylvania CARTS, visit www.pasart.us.