UF VETS Animal Technical Rescue & Disaster Response

05/07/2026

This week we had the opportunity to work with members of Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department to better prepare them for animal emergencies locally in Northeast Florida and while on Task Force deployments. They focused on ensuring life safety while maintaining a high level of animal welfare during scenarios, and were able to conclude the training with a simulation of a multi-victim incident involving an overturned horse trailer thanks to an incredibly generous donation of an old trailer by a community member. Partnerships like this between the livestock industry and first responders keep us all safer and lead to better outcomes for people and animals. Strong work!

05/04/2026

Large animals in emergencies pose a significant risk to rescuers. Taking a blow to the head can turn an animal emergency into a human emergency and the outcomes can be catastrophic.

Every time you wear a helmet, you protect not only yourself, but the animal you are helping and your would-be caregivers following a traumatic brain injury. Buckle your chinstrap and give us some love ❤️ if you wear a helmet when working with livestock!

04/29/2026

Our friends in the Florida Forest Service in cooperation with local partners have been doing excellent work managing wildfires across the state. With the drought continuing, the danger persists. Consider plans for your animals and check out the guide linked here to help you prepare:
https://largeanimal.vethospitals.ufl.edu/2026/04/21/wildfire-info-for-florida-horse-owners/
Photo by Tyler Jones, UF IFAS

04/27/2026

Thanks to North River Fire District and the Manatee County Fairgrounds for hosting another great training last week! Multiple fire districts came together for this training along with an area veterinarian and equestrian to better network, learn how to manage emergencies involving animals, and make their communities safer for all. We love working with these teams and can't wait to return!

04/15/2026

A new initiative to ensure readiness and resilience of Florida Specialty Response Teams has been launched. If you are part of a team in Florida that provides animal search and rescue (including animal technical rescue response) participating in the Capability Assessment Program will allow the Florida Department of Emergency Management (FDEM) to recognize your team as a response resource. This initiative will not place new demands or mandates on any assessed agency, but will be used for identification, assessment, and credentialing purposes.

We know that Florida teams have worked hard to prepare for animal responses, and are eager to see those efforts be counted. To learn more, visit:

Longview Solutions Group is a mission-driven emergency management and disaster response firm supporting government and private-sector clients. - Florida SRT CAP

04/08/2026

We've had a great working relationship with Hernando County Fire Rescue for many years, and it's always a great week when we get to train together! Looking forward to watching them continue to serve the two and four legged citizens of Hernando so well!

04/07/2026

Congratulations, Melby! What an incredible effort from so many agencies, organizations, and community members to get this guy back to where he belongs, in much better shape than we found him!

04/06/2026

Trailer accidents happen. Are you prepared?

In addition to regular safety inspections (checking floors, brakes, lights, connections, etc.), it is critical to have an emergency plan in the event of an accident while hauling animals.

Have an emergency kit, including:
-List of emergency contacts
-First aid kit with euthanasia supplies
-Fire extinguisher
-Panels/temporary containment
-Flashlights
-Traffic cones or triangles

Show us some love ❤ below if you have an emergency plan when you travel!

04/04/2026

A big congratulations to our own Justin Feagle, recently recognized as a Community Builder at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine! In addition to being a valuable asset to our Large Animal Hospital, Justin is one of our instructors and responders for Animal Technical Rescue. He's a motivating team member, always willing to go above and beyond to enhance and maintain our equipment, and shares helpful practices across many disciplines. We're so glad to have him on our team and to see him recognized for his efforts!

03/31/2026

Do you separate your animals from your septic system?

Septic tanks are an often overlooked safety hazard by livestock owners, but prevention is absolutely the best medicine! Animals grazing over a drain field can cause compaction leading to failure of the system, but a bigger emergency may arise if the lid to the tank collapses. We've seen fiberglass and concrete covers fail under the weight of a horse or cow - and we don't want to see it happen to yours!

Update your fencing to exclude your animals from septic components in your yard. Always call your veterinarian and 911 to prevent animal emergencies from escalating to human emergencies.

Drop us some love ❤️ if you've already excluded your animals from your septic system!