UT Veterinary College Large Animal Ambulatory Truck Deployed To Help Hurricane Helene-Affected Animals

Working With the State on Hurricane Helene Relief Efforts

SANDRA HARBISON

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE

The University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine (UTCVM) is deploying its large animal ambulatory truck to Carter County, Tennessee, to treat animals that are transported to Tractor Supply or to respond to emergency calls as needed. Species include horses and farm animals from Carter County and surrounding areas. This deployment is in response to a request from the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA). 

This effort is in addition to the college’s mobile veterinary clinic that was deployed earlier this week to establish a disaster veterinary services clinic to provide essential care for pets affected by the hurricane. This is a collaborative effort among UTCVM, UT Emergency Management, TEMA, and the Humane Society of the United States, and is supported by Boehringer Ingelheim.

“Hurricane Helene has impacted the people and animals of our communities greatly. Staff, students, friends, neighbors and clients have all suffered life-changing losses, and our vet school community grieves with all of those impacted,” said Paul Plummer, UTCVM dean. “Tennessee pet owners and farmers care deeply about assuring the health and welfare of their animals, and we are honored to partner with them in that mission.”

Clinic Services and Details

Cattle, goats, horses, and other farm animals are common in our East Tennessee landscape. These animals can provide supplemental and valuable income to families; others provide recreational and competitive outlets for owners. “We want to be able to get our communities back to enjoying the things they love and providing veterinary care for these species is one way we can do that,” said Meggan Graves, UTCVM clinical associate professor of large animal emergency medicine. “We are very fortunate to have UT Extension agents in all 95 counties across our state, and they have been a valuable resource during these efforts. Adding veterinary care for livestock will be an important addition to the recovery efforts for our agricultural communities in upper Northeast Tennessee.”

The clinic is designed to treat sick or injured animals with minor conditions. Veterinarians will also assess animals’ illnesses and refer them to local clinics for further care if needed. Please note that no routine preventative care will be provided.

• Location: Tractor Supply, 210 Cherokee Park Drive, Elizabethton, Tennessee
• Dates for small animals: Wednesday, October 9 – Tuesday, October 15
• Dates for large animals:  Thursday, October 10 – Friday October 11
• Hours: 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Closed from 1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. daily)
• Registration Ends: 3:00 p.m. each day (only two pets per person per day, please. No limit on large animals).
• Cost: Free

For more information or updates on additional services available in the area following Hurricane Helene, please visit UT Public Safety’s website.

UTCVM continues to collect animal feed for the affected area. For updated items and drop-off items, please visit vetmed.tennessee.edu/relief-efforts-for-animal-related-supplies/.

UT Institute of Agriculture has compiled information to assist individuals, families, and producers who have been impacted by a flood event. Visit utia.tennessee.edu/flood-resources-and-support for additional information.

For more ways to give, please visit UT Public Safety’s website.   ∆

SANDRA HARBISON: University of Tennessee