Happy New Year - 2026

A message from Cal CARTs Board President, Stefanie Geckler: As we come to the end of this year and head into the next, I wanted to take a moment to speak to all California Community Animal Response Team (Cal CARTs) members and say thank you.

Thank you for your commitment to animal rescue and thank you for your time and energy that you commit to your local Community Animal Response Team (CART). I truly respect each and every one of you for choosing to stay engaged and caring about your communities. 

Cal CARTs accomplished a lot this year, and that matters. The progress we made around Animal Emergency Response Resource Titles is a big step forward and it’s something we should be proud of. At the same time, There’s still more to do, more to refine, and more voices to bring into the conversation and I see that as an opportunity for all of us to continue to share about the good work we do. 

I’ve learned a lot this year about this organization and about the people who make it what it is. We are lucky to have some amazing people that invest their time, energy and soul to advance our cause. The passion is palpable and I’m proud to work alongside you.

Looking ahead, I’m especially excited about the Cal CARTs Leadership and Training Summit in March 2026. This is a chance for us to come together, share knowledge, strengthen connections, and continue moving CARTs forward. I truly believe this summit will be an important milestone for Cal CARTs and for our members and I can’t wait. 

As we move into the new year, I’m excited about the possibilities! 

Our team will continue to advocate and to help drive the changes needed to strengthen local CARTs. I believe that together, we will continue to support each other, in blue skies and during times of need.