Texas A&M Veterinary Emergency Team returns from wildfire deployment

After an arduous eight-day mission, the Texas A&M Veterinary Emergency Team (VET) has returned to Bryan-College Station, having rendered vital veterinary care to the animals affected by the devastating Smokehouse Creek Fire in the Texas Panhandle. Deployed just before the inferno was declared the largest wildfire in the state's history, the VET swiftly mobilized to Canadian, Texas, to offer assistance.

Comprising 36 dedicated individuals, including faculty, staff, and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students from the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (VMBS), as well as the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Disaster Assessment and Recovery team, the VET undertook their mission across five counties in the region. Additional support was extended by colleagues at the Veterinary Education, Research, & Outreach (VERO) campus in Canyon, who provided crucial veterinary medical aid to residents in Potter and Gray counties.

Throughout their tenure, the team conducted visual checks on 672 cattle and administered examinations or treatments to 271 animals, ranging from cattle and horses to dogs, cats, a pig, and a goat. Injuries spanned burns, hoof issues, respiratory complications from smoke inhalation, and nutritional deficiencies among calves orphaned by the fire's wrath.

Dr. Deb Zoran, VET director, reflected on the enormity of the devastation and the long road to recovery ahead. "Deployments always present challenges, but the devastation and loss caused by the fire to both the people and the animals in this region has been unimaginable," she remarked. "The disaster will take years to recover from, but our help with the initial veterinary care and getting them in a position to move forward is done."

A significant portion of the VET's efforts focused on providing indispensable support to the canines of Texas A&M Task Force 1 and Texas Task Force 2 search and rescue teams, stationed in Canadian and Borger. This included daily health assessments, foot bandaging for protection in fire-affected areas, and thorough decontamination post-mission.

Dr. Zoran emphasized the significance of safeguarding working dogs in rescue operations. "Working dogs are critical to the success of search and rescue efforts, and we work hard to keep these dogs safe so that they can do their job — which is to provide hope and answers to the loved ones of those in the affected areas."

Collaboration with county authorities, emergency management teams, and academic institutions such as West Texas A&M University was integral in disseminating information about available veterinary services to affected communities. The VET also provided remote counseling to local ranchers, ensuring continuity of care in the aftermath of the disaster.

Dr. Zoran expressed gratitude for the unwavering support received from volunteers, stakeholders, and the broader community. "I’m incredibly proud of and thankful for everyone who has contributed to our response," she affirmed. "It's no small task to reorganize a full workload and home life overnight, but that’s exactly what our school does when disaster strikes, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the support our team receives."

Original story written by By Jennifer Gauntt, Texas A&M University School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences