Vets volunteer for animal emergency response team
ABC NEWS Posted
Animals injured during natural disasters in Tasmania will now have their own emergency response team.
The Veterinary Emergency Response Team is made up of volunteer veterinarians and will be activated by the Department of Primary Industries in the event of disasters like bushfires or floods.
During the Dunalley bushfires in January last year, residents took to social media to arrange help for injured pets and native animals.
Sandy Bay veterinary surgeon Dr James Harris says the new team will fill a much-needed gap.
“There obviously has been a need for a veterinary response, to respond to disasters when they occur in Tasmania,” he said.
“They will be available to set up a field station where animals can be triaged and then treated appropriated as an emergency and transported to other suitable facilities.”
The team will include 10 volunteer vets available across Tasmania.
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