Butte County, California – 2020
Our team and agents from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension returned home on Oct. 24, 2020, after a month-long deployment to Butte County, California, where the team cared for more than 500 animals displaced by the ongoing wildfires and spread across three shelter locations. In total, more than 18 VET and AgriLife team members deployed. This was the second time we deployed out-of-state and to this location. “When we received the phone call from Texas A&M saying that they were responding to the request, we had a celebration in the operations center.” — Ryan Soulsby, local animal response incident commander
Deployment Begins| Update | Deployment Ends
Hurricane Laura – 2020
After assessing Jefferson County for their veterinary medical needs following Hurricane Laura’s landfall, our team returned to College Station. The team departed College Station before sunrise and arrived in Jefferson County on Thursday, Aug. 27—making it the shortest deployment in the history of our team.
“Jefferson County was prepared and the state of Texas was prepared; that’s what preparation does—it gets you through these times.” — Dr. Wesley Bissett, VET Director
Deployment Begins | Deployment Ends
Polk County – 2020
Seventeen members of the VET deployed to Onalaska, Texas, to serve citizens affected by a tornado that struck East Texas. In Polk County, our team worked with community sheltering operations to provide veterinary medical care to animals injured in the storm, which killed three people and left up to 30 injured. The request for our team’s services was initiated by the veterinary medical community there through county officials as a result of the significant damage caused by the tornado, combined with the fact that most of the veterinary medical resources are around 20 miles from the impact area.
Deployment Recap
Camp Fire in Butte County, California – 2018–19
During the 29-day deployment, the team’s first outside of Texas, 12 members of the VET and seven AgriLife Extension agents from across Texas worked at the Del Oro Emergency Animal Shelter in Oroville, California, aiding with volunteer, inventory, and data management, as well as medical care to the many animals sheltered there.
Deployment Begins | Deployment Ends
Hurricane Harvey – 2017
The VET was called to respond in 10 jurisdictions located between Nueces County and the Texas-Louisiana border following Hurricane Harvey. The VET Hurricane Harvey Response impacted more than 4,000 animals, including medical interventions, support provided to the emergency animal sheltering community, and animals that were positively impacted by community emergency plans authored by our faculty and students. Our response was described as the model for the nation by members of the federal and other state governments.
Harvey Update (PDF file)
Canton Tornadoes – 2017
Our team deployed to Van Zandt County spent three days at Canton Junior High, where they provided medical support for injured animals, both large and small, and helped reunite lost or missing pets with their owners. They arrived to conditions resulting from an F4 tornado that brushed one side of town and an F3 on the other; the F3 was on the ground for approximately 50 miles. Our team coordinated with local veterinarians and the Texas Animal Health Commission.
Deployment Recap
Fort Bend & Brazoria Counties – 2016
Early June 2016 brought devastating floods and tornadoes to southeast Texas. The VET was deployed to the two counties and spent two weeks treating more than 100 animals—including livestock, cats, ducks, horses, and dogs—in the flooded community. Along with decontaminating animals that may have come into contact with toxic chemicals in the flood water, the team treated many other conditions, such as dehydration and submersion injuries.
Deployment Recap
Memorial Day Floods – 2015
Rainfall changed the flow of the Blanco River into a wall of water that carried away houses, trees, cars, and anything else left in its path. After treating a lab found in a tree for minor injuries, the dog was scanned for a microchip. And, through the efforts of our team, Maggie was returned to Jonathan McComb—the only member of his immediate family to survive the tragedy. Later, our team was redeployed to provide search and rescue support to a team continuing with search-and-rescue from a base of operations in San Marcos. Due to the ongoing heat and humidity, we sent teams into the field to provide support.
Deployment Recap
San Saba Deployment – 2014
A small group of VET members and veterinary medical students were called out to provide veterinary medical support for search-and-rescue dog teams involved in a long-standing criminal investigation. Rugged terrain, high ambient temperatures, and the potential for snake bites presented hazards for the dogs and their handlers. Excellent handler oversight and veterinary medical support allowed all of the dogs to complete their mission. The deployed group returned to Aggieland after the conclusion of operations at the site.
Director’s Message
West, Texas Explosion – 2013
The VET deployed to the West, Texas Fertilizer Plant Explosion at 4:30 AM on April 18, 2013, with the mission of providing veterinary medical support for the search-and-rescue dogs of Texas A&M Task Force One and resident animals injured as a result of the blast. Five veterinary faculty, four senior veterinary medical students, four veterinary technicians, and five support staff from the VMBS responded, utilizing two of the team’s mobile veterinary medical platforms and four vehicles.
Status Updates
Bastrop County Complex Fire – 2011
It was the most destructive wildfire in Texas history, striking areas of Bastrop County in September and October 2011. Three separate fires started on September 4, 2011, as a result of strong winds caused by nearby Tropical Storm Lee, and merged into one large blaze that burned east of the city of Bastrop—devastating a significant portion of the Lost Pines area.
Status Updates
