VERT's goal is to provide a community resource for animal-related emergencies and disasters utilizing UC Davis veterinary school resources, while also training future veterinarians in emergency and disaster response.
The UC Davis Veterinary Emergency Response Team was formed in 1997 after the Yuba County floods. The unit functions as a source of veterinary response in horse or large animal accidents, and technical large animal rescue, including equine helicopter rescue. We also respond to veterinary disaster and emergency response for Yolo or adjacent counties, involving multiple species.
Volunteers are UC Davis veterinary faculty, veterinary residents, veterinary students, and UC staff. We coordinate with Yolo county Animals Services, Yolo County OES, other agencies upon request including Yolo County Sherriff, Fire Departments, California Veterinary Medical Association, and humane organizations.
In January of 2008, the UC Davis VERT expanded to become part of the Medical Reserve Corp (MRC). The MRC is a civilian volunteer organization sponsored by the Office of the Surgeon General. As a MRC, UC Davis VERT can be mobilized for large-scale human health needs, such as wide-scale vaccinations, and to provide assistance in national disasters.
We have training and experience attending to large animals injured in trailer accidents, falls from a cliff, downer animals, and helicopter evacuation when transport by land is unfeasible due to weather, floods, or terrain.
VERT is equipped with a two-horse trailer fully equipped with a two ton winch, a glide and 2 slips for moving down horses on the ground, and lifting technology including the Large Animals Lift (LAL) and the UC Davis Anderson Sling.
VERT is working on a curriculum to provide training and fee based classes to train in large animal rescue techniques, safe animal handling in emergencies, and disaster planning for beloved pets.
| 2009 |
American
River
Horse
Rescue Evacuated Natasha, an eight year old Paint mare- Click here for a SacBee Slideshow |
| 2008 | Butte County Fires Set up and ran a small animal shelter for evacuated pets. |
| 2006 | Yolo County Wildfires Attended to hundreds of sheep who were badly burned. |
| 1999 | Hurricaine Floyd Air-lifted stranded livestock and horses who had been without food or drinkable water for three days. |
| 1997 | Yuba City Floods Provided medical treatment and supplies to stranded livestock. |
