Florida VETS Project Attends Veterinary Conference

More than 300 people visited the Florida VETS Project display of trucks and equipment at the annual Florida Veterinary Medical Conference, September 8-10 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, according to John Haven, Director of the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in Gainesville. VETS, a cooperative effort of the College of Veterinary Medicine, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the 2,600-member Florida Veterinary Medical Association (FVMA), stands for Veterinary Emergency Treatment Services.

Florida VETS is a special disaster-response unit based at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, that can help provide veterinary medical care for animals both large and small impacted by a disaster. “It is similar in concept to the U.S. Army’s old-style MASH units,” Haven said.

Immediately following a disaster such as a hurricane, a VETS team in cooperation with private, state and federal agencies, would perform an assessment of needs in an impacted area. The team would assist veterinary hospitals and clinics, support and coordinate aid for private practitioners, and provide basic to moderate levels of animal care when needed.

The VETS Project was begun with generous grants from the FVMA, Humane Society of the United States, American Veterinary Medical Foundation and PetSmart Charities. These grants and others allowed VETS to purchase two ¾-ton, 4-door diesel crew-cab pick-up trucks and equip them for animal emergency services. The VETS project also received in-kind support from Port-A-Vet, Webster Veterinary Supply and Toshiba. Haven estimates that another $100,000 is needed to reach the VETS goal for disaster assistance supplies and training.

Click here to check out the Florida VETS Project brochure.