Our Fredericksburg deployment was a new type of operation many of us were unfamiliar with, as we worked with other state agencies on the ground, such as the Texas Animal Health Commission. My time on the team has taught me to be adaptable to changing circumstances and always be ready, but that adaptability was tested at Fredericksburg as I played a more active role in animal health than ever before, drawing on my experience working with livestock.

This deployment pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me do things I didn’t think I could do. I learned to be more confident in my skills, not only as a technician but also as a more active, contributing member of our team.

I had many opportunities for growth during our time at Fredericksburg. Since joining in 2025, I have always thought of myself as the “new” member, but as we progressed through our deployment, I realized I was no longer the newest member. I was entrusted with educating others about the functions of veterinary emergency response and demonstrating our overall mission while inspecting animals in the field.

I was not only an educator for our newer members but also for our community, providing relief and hope to people affected by New World screwworm quarantines.

Each time I deploy, I am amazed by the hospitality and kindness of the affected communities toward our presence. The words of encouragement from the community are what allow me to keep going and strengthen my resolve to continue doing the best I possibly can, so that my actions can positively help others in their time of need.

With each Veterinary Emergency Team deployment, I learn and experience something different that makes a lasting impression on my perception of community and sense of duty. Each activity has strengthened my connections with other VET members and with the communities I serve.

Much like our team, I strive to be compassionate, resilient and committed to serving Texas and our nation every day.

I joined the Texas A&M Veterinary Emergency Team in February of this year as a Support Specialist. With no prior knowledge of emergency preparedness and disaster response, I didn’t know what to expect going into it.

Deploying with VET to assist in the New World screwworm response was my first official call to action, and it was an unforgettable experience. The members of the team are such amazing people who readily accepted me and guided me throughout the week. In our combined efforts, we assisted the Texas Animal Health Commission in evaluating and treating livestock while educating many owners and producers on New World screwworm.

My deployment in Gillespie County showed me how ingrained the value of community is in VET, both within the team and through the people we help. It takes trust in one another to effectively work together and handle unique situations such as this with the care and effort they deserve.

While I haven’t been part of the team for very long, this experience allowed me to take part in emergency response firsthand and understand the role I play within it. This has reaffirmed my decision to join VET, and I look forward to preparing for and assisting in future deployments.

For as long as I can remember I knew my life would revolve around animals. And once I was accepted to veterinary school, I knew I was following my dream. As my fourth year of veterinary school has started, my education and personal experience have exposed me to facets of veterinary medicine I never imagined. For example, my most recent rotation, Community Connections, is a required rotation by the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. This is a rotation I would not have taken as an elective.

Nonetheless, I was eager to see what this rotation was about on my first day. The immediate difference I noticed was the way in which the role of the veterinarian was discussed. The recurring theme the professors reminded us of was the tremendous potential veterinarians have to do good in the world. This paradigm transcended the different subjects broached during the course. From the duties of shelter veterinarians to state health officials, to those of first responders, the take home message was one of duty to the public. Although the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciecnes does have VET (Veterinary Emergency Team), this rotation usually culminates with a simulated disaster scenario where the students take part as veterinarian first responders. My rotation, however, was a little different.

On the night of Wednesday, April 17^th, I was about to fall asleep when I received a text message from a friend, indicating the ongoing apparent disaster in West, Texas. Instead of practicing first response techniques in a simulator, we were deployed to the real thing. For 2.5 days I, along with 3 other students, assisted the Veterinary Emergency Team in the first response to the fertilizer plant explosion in West, Texas. This was the first time I’ve been a part of such a massive disaster. Our primary role was to treat the search and rescue dogs as well as any pets collected from the disaster zone. This culminated in us receiving and processing approximately 80 pets that were then transported to the local animal shelter to be reunited with their owners.

This experience changed the way in which I see myself as a soon to be veterinarian. Although the devastation shocked me, I was left with a powerful and resonating notion of pride and satisfaction with what we did. The victims of this explosion lost everything. Some lost mothers and fathers; others lost sons and daughters. Many lost friends. More lost their homes. But at the end of the day, most still had their pets. And they had their pets because of what VET did. The tireless work in documenting and treating each animal we came across facilitated their return to their owners. When families returned to what once were their homes, they knew their lives had changed forever. But we could provide them with the dog or cat they thought was surely lost. Amidst the darkness and chaos comes a small sliver of hope. And this hope may be all they have. From that point they can reassess, rebuild, and recover.

So, when I say this rotation changed me, it changed the way in which I perceive my duties within the veterinary profession. It has allowed me to take a step back from the algorithms of medicine and precision of surgery to ask myself, “When the time comes, can I use my skills to help my neighbors? Will I?” Veterinarians have the power to change peoples’ lives and in turn save peoples’ lives. And thanks to mentors like Dr. Moyer, Dr. Espitia, Dr. Zoran, and Dr. Bissett, I can confidently say I have the knowledge and experience to be a productive member of an emergency response team.

Seeing first hand the profound effect their work in West had on those victims, I cannot sit idly by when disaster strikes again. I would not trade my experiences on this rotation for anything. It has strengthened my commitment to my fellow man in ways I could not conceive.

Having thought about and prepared for a devastating situation through the Community Connections rotation for almost two weeks prior to the events in West, TX, I undoubtedly comprehended more fully the tasks that laid at hand in West, TX. It’s difficult to think about your life being uprooted and forever changed in a split second. This truly “sunk in” as I looked upon the destruction caused by the explosion in West. Having now seen devastating loss first hand, I understand why the Community Connections rotation and Veterinary Emergency Response Team are so vital. And why, though difficult, it’s important to have thought about and planned in case of an emergency. Ignorance will not always be bliss.

The Veterinary Emergency Team was well equipped and able to respond quickly in just a matter of hours. Those of us, who have been through the Community Connections rotation, understand the hours of thought and the dedication of lives to this mission. Teams so well equipped and trained do not suddenly appear, although to the public eye, it may seem that way. But it was only after I was led through the process of preparing a plan for a shelter, for a temporary veterinary clinic, for my own personal evacuation, and now especially having seen these plans be put into action in West, that I comprehend the depth of planning required. Hap- hazard planning results in flash lights without batteries (my usual planning strategy: last minute); thoughtful planning results in a team well equipped and trained to handle whatever may come. Excellence in planning was exemplified in West, TX. Our team moved seamlessly through the triage process of each animal and was able to deliver each animal to safety. I call that success!

I also learned in West that it takes a community to run a first response mission. Now understanding the efforts it takes to coordinate a team to carry out such successful tasks in somber situations, it was refreshing to have others who aid in what seem to be ‘simple’ logistics. The American Red Cross deserved a standing ovation for providing warm meals to our team and the Task Force. It was one less logistic our fearless leaders had to worry about everyday. Because they carried this burden for us, it allowed the Veterinary Emergency Team and Task Force to aid in full capacity. Resources, such as this, are vital to keep the team up and running, but are often overlooked as not “part of the mission.” Having other first responding entities like the American Red Cross, and local schools (who donated their locker rooms for us to shower in), means that our team and the Task force were able to focus on our overarching missions. I learned that partnering with community leaders such as these to ensure that the team’s needs are meant results in better service. I’m also thankful for those who give to entities such as this, and I hope they know the impact of their gift.

However, the bottom line for me was this: The Veterinary Emergency Team is about loving people. (The animals are definitely loved too!) But the team in West gave up their lives at home and all their comforts in life, to help others they did not even know. Looking at the destruction and placing yourself in the shoes of those who lost so much, certainly makes you realize what recovery of a beloved pet means. The Veterinary Emergency Team works countless hours to recover animals to bring people hope; they are certainly lovers of people, and exemplify sacrifice of self for the betterment of others. While in veterinary school we focus on the animals, on the disease, on the medication or surgical procedure, we cannot forget that veterinary care is more than just treating the animal; it’s about love for people and community who care for those animals. This team’s sacrifice, without a doubt, summed up why I am so proud to become an Aggie Veterinarian.

So this essay may be too emotional, and not exactly what you were looking for. But this trip didn’t necessarily expand my knowledge of emergency medication or how to triage a patient, but it expanded my compassion for others. It provided the reality of what it takes to form a team, provide for that team, and to work successfully as a team to serve others.

Over the last three years, we have been taught from books: this is normal, this is abnormal, this disease causes these symptoms, etc. Our education has mainly been focused on the science of diseases. Teamwork, collaboration, and compassion have almost been put second to the science of veterinary medicine. It wasn’t until the past May that we were able to start putting what we learned from the books into a clinical perspective. Slowly, we’ve been learning how to put it all together. While deployed in Bastrop, these things (teamwork, collaboration, and compassion) were put in the forefront of the reasons we have chosen this profession. It was great to be able to experience first hand how everything we’ve been taught the last 4 years are truly intermingled.

Many of the animals we treated could have easy been euthanized simply due to the extent of their burns or the fact that they had no identification on them to prove they belonged to someone. But our team treated each and every animal with the same respect we would hope our own animals would receive in our absence. We were able to help these animals further fight what they already began to fight prior to our arrival.

While I can’t fully express in words my experience in Bastrop, I can say some of the things I took away from the deployment. Each member of the team is essential and no part is too small. We’ve all heard that statement growing up: from our parents, teachers, or coaches and it truly applies to our team, whether we are triaging large animals or small animals, each person on the team plays a vital role.

Compassion cannot be taught, but it can be better understood how to express it by observing others. Each member of our team put the animal’s well being first. They considered the extent of the injuries and the strength of the patient. They tried to do what is best for the patient, made each decision carefully, and never immediately jumped to euthanasia as a solution until the last resort. It was very helpful to see every thought process with each patient and every injury.

This deployment solidified my thoughts of why I chose this profession. We were able to help animals in a time when they needed it the most and were able to help reunite owners with their best friends. It is one of the best feelings in the world to help so many in a time of need. This experience alone added value not only to my professional education, but also to my every day education.

Humility. Servant Leadership. Selflessness. These are just a few of the words I use to describe the leaders of the Veterinary Emergency Team (VET). As students, we learn veterinary medicine from these leaders every day in clinics, but rarely do we have the opportunity to witness such selfless acts of community service and leadership away from the hospitals. These are attributes that we, as a society, expect every veterinarian to have, but it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be mentored by veterinarians and veterinary technicians while they are serving in this capacity. Never do they ask for credit or recognition and never do they ask for anything in return. I am honored to have had the opportunity to serve man and animals as a student of these heroic leaders.

Every veterinarian will face emergency situations, whether in their own ERs or in the case of a natural disaster like this one. It is rare that you are completely prepared for what you will face. Participating in this response gave us the opportunity to work under pressure, to address life-threatening injuries, and to adapt in an environment that did not provide all of the supplies and equipment that we become accustomed to in the teaching hospitals. We had to think and react quickly, make smart decisions, and help in any way that we could. Teamwork was essential for the success of this effort and learning where we fit into that team and how we could best contribute was a life lesson in itself. We all want to be leaders and up to this point, most of us have been, but this was a time to step back and ask ourselves, in what capacity can I be most useful to this team.

Training for an incident like this was training in triage, organizational structure, crisis communication, emergency management, and safety. All of that training was put to good use during this response effort. The third-year elective, the online training courses, and the practice exercise in April were all hugely successful in giving the students an idea of what to expect in this type of situation.

Most importantly, this response showed us how strong the human-animal bond is and how critical our role is in protecting that bond. From the firemen who took comfort in knowing there was someone there to resuscitate the suffering animals that were found, to the members of TTF-1 whose dogs are truly their best friends and protectors, having someone to care for those dogs and keep those key members of their team healthy and strong throughout the rescue effort. Each of us was able to identify at least one animal who touched our hearts, one that we would have driven to Austin to adopt from the humane society, had it not found its owner. Watching that facebook page and finally seeing a picture of a human’s smiling face as they cuddled with the only thing they have left after this fire destroyed their lives, brought tears to all of our eyes. We need those reminders. Reminders of how important our job is to so many people, of how many lives we touch on a daily basis, of how many people respect us and expect us to do the right thing, and of how privileged we are to have the ability to help when a family or our entire community is in need.