Want to join OnCART?
If you are interested in learning more about OnCART or getting involved. Send an email inquiry to the email below.
Email
emweb01@ongov.net
OnCART
ONONDAGA COUNTY ANIMAL RESPONSE
The Onondaga County Animal Response Team (OnCART) is comprised of volunteers with expertise in managing and solving emergencies involving animals – both large and small.
“To support the development of specialized resources for animal care during emergencies and disaster response.“
The OnCART Mandate
Who we are & What we do:
Dedicated volunteers who provide specialized resources for animals during emergencies and disasters. Our team members have been trained to extricate large animals from compromising situations, such as being stuck in mud unable to move or trapped in a space too small to get out of without assistance.
The Team includes veterinarians, vet techs and owners who are committed to animal safety.
OnCART is also able to assist with rescuing and sheltering of household pets in conjunction with human shelters in disaster situations.
We welcome volunteers from the public. While no specialized training is required to join, experience in emergency medical services, fire service, police force, and veterinary offices is helpful. All initial training requirements can be done online at your leisure. Additional training is offered in classroom settings and hands-on in the field.
Next steps after joining:
All new OnCART members begin with self-paced online training, which takes approximately 10 hours to complete. The onboarding process includes submitting an application and reviewing, signing, and agreeing to the Code of Conduct. Online coursework introduces key topics such as the Empire State Animal Response Team (ESART), the Incident Command System (ICS), the National Incident Management System (NIMS), and hazardous materials awareness. Once members have completed the training and submitted printed certificates, they transition to hands-on instruction. This phase covers the use of specialized gear for both Large Animal Rescue and Small Animal Shelter operations, along with technical response techniques to ensure safe and effective deployment in the field.
OnCART members gather every other month beginning in January, with sessions structured to maximize learning and collaboration. Each meeting includes a dedicated training hour from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM, followed by the formal meeting from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM. In addition to these regular sessions, members have access to various training opportunities throughout the year, offered on both weekdays and weekends to accommodate diverse schedules.