OSU CVM Responds to 2020 Wildfire Emergency
Tuesday, September 22, 2020 at 01:00PM Please join us in recognizing the amazing efforts of the Oregon State University Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine during this difficult time. They have gone above and beyond to aid wildlife that have been injured as a result of the major wildfires ravaging the western United States.
Top left: Shannah Duffy (2023) and Christie Greiner-Shelton (2022) dropping food from the pet food drive to a shelter in Eugene, OR. Top middle: Catherine Skinner (2022). Top right: Christie Greiner Shelton & Lindsey Zachary (2022). Bottom left: Shannah Duffy (2021) & Christie Greiner Shelton (2022). Bottom right: Tiffany Yee, Eilea Delgadillo, & Whitney Sia (2021).
An incredible team of people at the Oregon State University Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine have been working extremely hard to launch a veterinary wildfire response team to serve local emergency response locations at Benton County Events Center and Fairgrounds, Linn County Expo Center and Oregon State Fair and Exposition Center. Additionally, CCVM is also providing hospitalized care to large or small animals injured or ill as a result of the wildfires and evacuation endeavors. Faculty continues to be available to provide consultation related to emergency and critical care for these animals as well. More than 110 CCVM veterinarians, technicians, staff and students have volunteered in these efforts.
Since efforts began a little over a week ago, more than 1,400 animals have been served! Veterinarians and veterinary students have been visiting the Benton and Linn locations daily and visits to the state fairgrounds are on an as needed basis. They perform wellness checks and address urgent medical needs on animals including horses, cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, emus, cats, dogs and rabbits. An excellent way to support animals affected by these wildfires is to support veterinary wildfire response efforts by donating to the CCVM Wildfire Response.
The 2020 wildfires have burned over 950,000 acres in Oregon alone — destroying land, homes and lives. As members of Oregon State University Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, we saw a need to serve our community through additional disaster relief efforts. Initially we worked to hold a pet food drive and started a GoFundMe to provide immediate support for those evacuees with animals.
Over the last week, we have taken Subaru's full of pet food (over 2,000 pounds!) and supplies to rescues, shelters and emergency response centers in three counties. We are continuing to communicate and work with local organizations to provide support until all of the impending threat of fire is gone for the season, however at the moment, they are all sufficiently stocked with food (an excellent problem to have!). We will continue to leave the GoFundMe account (we've raised over $900 ! for the immediate distribution of food and supplies to aid in the triage and return of animals to their humans) open until the situation dictates that there is no longer any need for assistance due to this season’s wildfire disaster.
Resources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/15/us/oregon-fires-california.html
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