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Emergencies & Disasters
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Burglar to veterinarians: Don’t display lavish stock of flea-tick products
7/13/2017
Prisoner shares his views in letter
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Veterinarians brace for Hurricane Matthew
10/6/2016
Survivor of past flooding opens clinic to pets of evacuees
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Veterinarians offer, accept help during 'Great Flood'
8/25/2016
17 veterinary practices reportedly impacted by Louisiana flood waters
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Alberta wildfire still out of control
5/19/2016
Veterinarians and veterinary staff pitch in to help affected pets
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Storms like Jonas challenge veterinary practices
2/3/2016
Practitioners discuss staffing, transportation during inclement weather
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Veterinarians rally for uprooted colleague
11/12/2015
Somali practitioner-turned-refugee needs better prosthetic leg
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South Carolina veterinarians dig out from epic flood
10/9/2015
Water rose almost to roof of one clinic
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Veterinary community rallies to combat burglaries
9/25/2015
Thieves target flea, tick, heartworm products
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Veterinary clinic recovering from deadly fire
6/19/2015
Rebuilding can take years
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MRI explodes at Oradell Animal Hospital
3/6/2015
Contract worker reportedly critically injured; hospital evacuated
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Fending off a riot
12/5/2014
Around Ferguson, veterinarians prepared for civil unrest
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First canine Ebola quarantine met with good luck
11/17/2014
Texas veterinarians recount 16 days with Bentley
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Dog under Ebola watch gets high-level caretakers
10/20/2014
Pending quarantine protocol for pets unlikely to involve private clinics
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Changes coming to common rodent poison
10/16/2014
Potent anticoagulants to be discontinued
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Tornadoes a reminder to veterinary clinics: Plan for disasters
4/29/2014
Experts suggest ways to prepare
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Human medical emergencies pose conundrum for veterinarians
6/7/2013
Many are unsure of their responsibility and liability
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Animal death toll unknown after Moore twister
5/21/2013
At least four veterinary clinics still operating in devastated area
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Tornado missed veterinary hospital by 70 yards
2/11/2013
Doctor and staff huddled with surgery patient
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Free pet food offer brings deluge of requests
12/26/2012
All 10,000 pounds now spoken for
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Free pet food available by the ton
12/21/2012
Surplus from Hurricane Sandy relief sits in warehouse
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Storm recovery focus of NYC symposium
11/15/2012
Veterinarians, physicians, dentists invited to free event
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Battered, not beaten: Veterinarians brace for new storm in Sandy’s wake
11/7/2012
Ravaged areas of East Coast evacuated ahead of nor'easter
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Veterinarians, clinic staff recount effects of Sandy
10/30/2012
ACVS cancels annual symposium
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Veterinarians recount Pentagon 9/11 search and rescue
9/11/2012
Effort less publicized than Ground Zero’s but equally intense
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Louisiana authorities checking Isaac's effect on livestock
8/29/2012
Mississippi shelter transfers pets to New York
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Colorado wildfire livestock refugees treated for free
6/25/2012
Tales from fire include donkey heroics
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Duluth veterinarian corrals zoo animals during flood
6/22/2012
Polar bear breaks out, seals swim in street
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Ohio Veterinary Medical Association building burns
6/1/2012
Flames destroy more than half of structure
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Company asks veterinarians to stop using its hyperbaric oxygen chambers
2/14/2012
Fatal explosion a 'wakeup call' for safety, training
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Veterinary practice digs out from Alabama twister
1/24/2012
Animals unharmed; massive cleanup ensues
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Veterinary 9/11 first-responders were local
12/1/2011
Shared experience forged lifelong ties
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Preparedness urged for Australian bushfire, cyclone season
10/6/2011
Experts advise reviewing insurance coverage, readying for evacuation
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9/11 brings first responder to ‘emotional brink’
9/9/2011
Memories from Ground Zero haunt veterinarian
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Veterinarians encounter Irene
8/29/2011
Accounts mixed on storm's impact
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North Carolina veterinarians brace for Hurricane Irene
8/26/2011
NCVMA collects names of volunteers
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Colorado State to examine rubble in fire's wake
8/2/2011
Source of blaze that destroyed Equine Reproduction Laboratory unknown
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Zoo stranded by titanic flood
8/2/2011
Displaced animals won't return for a year or two
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Joplin marches forward
7/12/2011
Adopt-a-thon finds homes for 745 displaced pets in two days
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Wildfires: Veterinary volunteers urgently sought in Arizona
6/21/2011
Pharmaceuticals, supplies needed
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Veterinarian tells story of chaos, relief in tornado's aftermath
6/1/2011
Dr. Ben Leavens sets up makeshift ER while family is missing
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Tornadoes strike again; veterinarians shaken
5/25/2011
Oklahoma veterinarian escapes twister by jumping into kennel
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Veterinary relief under way in deadly tornado’s wake
5/23/2011
At least one Joplin, Mo., veterinary practice destroyed
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Recovery continues for wildlife affected by Gulf oil spill
4/22/2011
Rescuers able to release most animals back to sea
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Fearing overseas radiation, Americans seek potassium iodide for pets
3/18/2011
Veterinary experts say medication isn’t warranted
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Normalcy returns to Queensland veterinary school after epic flooding
2/17/2011
Most pets reclaimed by families
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Pet rescues undertaken in flooded Queensland
1/17/2011
Veterinary school becomes ad hoc shelter
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AU veterinary student missing in Thailand
7/30/2009
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Australian vets treat victims of deadly Victorian bushfires
2/18/2009
At least one veterinary clinic reportedly succumbed to blaze
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Colleagues Beset by Disaster Set Bitterness Aside
One forgives employee who set clinic on fire
10/31/2008
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Ike promises depressed economy for Texas region
9/24/2008
17 veterinarians practice in Galveston, TVMA reports
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Ike's aftermath
9/17/2008
Veterinarians endure post storm
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Generators wanted, Texas veterinary officials say
9/17/2008
More than 1,000 DVMs in devastated counties, TVMA reports
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Texas gears up for countdown to Ike
9/10/2008
Animal care agencies prepare for storm's strike
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LSART to assess damages before taking on new volunteers
9/2/2008
Aide workers should wait, officials say; supply donations not needed at press time
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At least one veterinary clinic reportedly succumbed to blaze
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February 18, 2009
By: Jennifer Fiala
For The VIN News Service
The bushfires scorching southern Australia since Feb. 7 have slowed, but veterinarians there continue to treat and euthanize animals impacted by the flames.
Thousands of animals were injured and perished along with 200 people who died in what officials are calling the country’s deadliest wildfires on record. Police suspect at least two of the fires were set intentionally and on Monday, charged a 39-year-old man with arson.
Residents of Victoria, ground zero for much of the burning, are stunned after massive infernos turned 1,500 square miles of farms, forests and communities into blackened wastelands. And along with displaced people, animal survivors lost their homes and food sources, area veterinarians contend.
On Saturday, Dr. Joanna Steuten, of Animal Aid Veterinary Clinic in Australia, reported an "urgent need" to treat animals, including horses and livestock with no feed and cats and dogs suffering from burned feet and smoke inhalation. With her practice "heavily involved" in the rescue efforts, she confirmed to the Veterinary Information Network that "thousands of wildlife have been killed or seriously injured."
"There is also the terrible job of euthanizing those too far gone to be saved and disposal of bodies," she says.
While other relief veterinarians could not be reached at press time, Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) President Dr. Mark Lawrie reports that members have provided enough “vet power” in Victoria to cope with area demands, hosting triage facilities to care for injured animals.
In another media release, Dr. Roslyn Nichol, AVA Victorian Division president reports that victim numbers are “enormous” and says pets, farm animals and wildlife are suffering. "The effect the fires can have on non-domestic animals that shun human contact often results in a slow and agonizing death," the release says.
Offers of support from the public and veterinarians are a bright spot, the release adds.
“Vets and vet nurses from across the state have pitched in to meet the demand, treating those animals caught up in the fire-ravaged areas,” Nichol says. “Government veterinarians have been on the front line, locating, assessing and helping injured livestock. The Victorian Department of Primary Industries has arranged for interstate animal health experts to relieve them.
“It’s inspiring to see how our communities and colleagues respond in an emergency situation like this,” she says.
The University of Melbourne’s veterinary clinic is taking in and treating animals affected by the bushfires while the state’s Bureau of Animal Welfare has developed a Web page dedicated to providing aid.
Along with reports of scorched wildlife, officials say hundreds of area horses have been displaced. In response, the Victorian Bushfire Lost and Found has been set up to unite owners and animals. Veterinarians who relocated horses are encouraged to register with the agency.
Animal shelters also are searching for owners of hundreds of displaced companion animals. According to local media reports, shelter workers fear that many owners might have assumed that their pets died or could be searching in the wrong places.
AVA officials acknowledge that at least one Victorian veterinary medical practice fell to the flames and say they are gathering more information on area veterinarians. In the meantime, Division President Nichol sheds some light on the extent of the devastation.
“Many of these vets have been personally affected in the tragedy, losing friends, neighbors and their own homes,” she says.
AVA requests that anyone with knowledge about practitioners affected by the fires to contact the association.
To donate to rescue and relief efforts, visit http://www.animalaid.com.au, https://www.redcross.org.au/Donations/onlineDonations.asp and http://rspcavic.org.
AVA compiled a list of organizations providing assistance at http://www.animalhealthaustralia.com.au/publications/update/aha-fire-and-flood-update/aha-fire-and-flood-update_home.cfm#story_4.
VIN News Service commentaries are opinion pieces presenting insights, personal experiences and/or perspectives on topical issues by members of the veterinary community. To submit a commentary for consideration, email news@vin.com.
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