Evacuating, sheltering, and caring for animals when natural disasters strike are tasks central to a new veterinary program in the Golden State.
Administered by the One Health Institute at the University of California (UC), Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, the California Veterinary Emergency Team (CVET) leads training of government agencies, organizations, and individuals in caring for domestic animals and livestock during emergencies.
The program is timely for the wildfire season, with the goal to assist across the state with veterinary rescue and care when local resources have been exhausted.
“We are 100 percent ready to deploy and respond should a wildfire or any other disaster require veterinary response or assistance,” says William Burke, MPH, CEM, associate director of planning for CVET.
The veterinary emergency response organization is equipped for a mobile command, with several vehicles—including a horse trailer—to serve as hospitals and exam rooms for injured animals in the field. Additionally, a 44-foot trailer is being set up as sleeping quarters to veterinarians should the team be called to a remote location.
“Having ready-to-go resources on hand allows our veterinary team to show up with the resources they need to provide exceptional veterinary care in the field, treating burns, injuries, and other conditions as the need arises,” says Ashley Patterson, DVM, associate director of operations for CVET.
The team aims to be as self-sufficient as possible and ready to deliver veterinary care in cases of wildfires, flooding, or other disasters.
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