The Carbon County Animal Response Team reorganized during its recent meeting.

On Monday evening, members of the CART team elected officers of the group. This is the first official officer election the team has conducted since it began in 2007. Until now, Donna Crum, who was chosen by the Carbon County Citizen Corps, led the team as the coordinator.During the first part of the meeting, member Mel Bach conducted the elections.A ballot vote was conducted and all nominations were approved. The new officers for the CART team include: Carleen Ladden, president; Kelly Hook, vice president; Diane Sharpless, secretary; and Pat Bach, treasurer.Following the election, Ladden discussed the pet oxygen mask campaign that the team has been working on.The group's hope is to supply fire companies and area ambulances in the county with at least one pet oxygen resuscitation kit, which can be used during emergency situations where animals are suffering from smoke inhalation or other issues as a result of a disaster.The reusable pet resuscitation kits come in three sizes small, medium and large and fit over the animal's snout. It is then connected to an oxygen tank and provides the animal with fresh oxygen.The Carbon CART team is still looking for individuals, families, and other organizations or businesses to donate the money to pay for one set of masks, which cost around $70. They can also memorialize the mask and designate where the kit will go.If you would like to donate to the campaign, you can mail a check, payable to PA SART, to Carbon CART 1264 Emergency Lane, Nesquehoning, PA 18240.PA SART is the state animal response team that oversees all county CARTs.In other matters, next three CART meetings have been announced. Meetings will be held at 6:30 p.m. on March 31, April 26, and May 24, at the Carbon County Emergency Management Agency, located on the Broad Mountain in Nesquehoning.New volunteers are always welcome to attend and learn about the CART team.