A Mission to Serve the Profession... The spring edition of the TVMF Newsletter can be downloaded here (pdf). It contains a word from the TVMF President, Hurricane Katrina Relief donation updates, and much more!
Volume 1 | Issue 2 |Spring 2006
A Word from the President
Janie A. Carpenter, DVM
I am excited about this year for several reasons. The Memorial Gift and Buck-a-year programs continue to benefit the Foundation, veterinary professionals, and pet owners. The Memorial Gift Program has always amazed me with its ability to use a simple concept to foster interactivity between veterinarian, patient remembrance and client families. My clients often call or send notes to thank me for donating to the program in memory of their pet. I tell them that it was my honor to make the donation for their friend and family member. I see this program as a way to give to the Foundation with the knowledge that every penny the initiative generates will be used to further veterinary medicine, animal welfare and public awareness. The Foundation always focuses on allocating donations in ways that are most beneficial to animals and the profession. For example, we had a successful auction in College Station in February, which included some exciting bidding that went on between friends. The Foundation Board of Trustees have decided to use our auctions to help support the Good Samaritan Partnership, which will help veterinarians take care of abandoned animals. This year’s event was fun to watch, and even more fun to get involved in. If you have never made it to one of our auctions, you are missing a great time! In other fundraising news, the Hurricane Relief fund is being used to help Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. Look for the more detailed report on these funds on Page 2. Your Foundation continues to support multiple areas of veterinary medicine and animal welfare throughout the state of Texas, and often reaches beyond our borders when the need arises. Thank you for your support in making all of this possible.
Veterinarians – Ambassadors for Pet Health
Tracy McAdoo, DVM, Public Relations Committee Chair
The veterinary community is called upon to provide education to the public regarding pet health and welfare. This can be especially difficult for professionals who have demanding work schedules and precious little free time. One very effective means to accomplish this goal is to reach out to local youth organizations After all, children are the clients of the future.
There are many opportunities to interact with youth in the community. Local scout troops are an excellent place to start. Most scout dens have regular educational outings to plan. A visit to the veterinarian’s clinic is an informative and interesting way to accomplish their goals. It is important for the scouts to learn about responsible pet care. This is an ideal time to talk about the importance of spaying or neutering pets, as well as other critical health matters such as heartworm preventative. This is also a great format to inform the scouts and scout leaders about veterinary medicine as a profession. Many people are unaware of the education that veterinarians receive or the sophistication of the equipment needed in a veterinary hospital. While veterinarians are known for their love of animals and their compassion, it is important for the public to know that they are also skilled and motivated doctors. By inviting several scout dens to come by and visit, a veterinarian can reach a broad cross section of the community.
Many other ways to promote animal health and the veterinary profession are available. Consider volunteering to speak at career day or judge a science fair. Offering to provide free veterinary care for classroom pets in the local community is a fun and enjoyable way to enlighten others about the world of veterinary medicine.
Public education takes time, something most veterinarians do not have in abundance. However, if each veterinarian gives a small amount of time to this effort, the benefits to pets and to the profession can be enormous.
Hurricane Katrina Relief Funds From the Texas Veterinary Medical Foundation
Marisa Plumb, Editor
After two months of fundraising, the Texas Veterinary Medical Foundation (TVMF), the charitable and philanthropic arm of the Texas Veterinary Medical Association (TVMA), recently announced that it has raised over $32,000 for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. The fundraising drive was publicized through email to TVMA members and TVMA industry friends, and received an immediate and generous response.
The money raised will now be dispersed to organizations in Louisiana and Mississippi. The TVMF Board of Trustees sought out organizations that need further resources in order to conduct ongoing hurricane cleanup and to ensure animal welfare in the event of future disasters. It found the following organizations in greatest need:
Rescue Ranch, Belle Chasse, LA
Vermilion Animal Aid, Abbeville, LA
Humane Society of Louisiana, Tylertown, MS
Humane Society of So. Mississippi, Gulfport, MS
Pontchartrain Humane Society, Pearlington, MS
In the wake of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and more recently Ike, many lost, abandoned and injured animals required veterinary treatment and rescue services. Since facilities were not equipped for a disaster of Katrina’s scale, they are now in need of rehabilitation and disaster preparedness plans. TVMF hopes that its contribution will be a significant resource for these efforts.
The Rescue Ranch had been responsible for rescuing and sheltering over 40 horses in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. They do not return horses to owners without proper identification and they are still retaining animals that have not been claimed. Vermilion Animal Aid is a non-profit organization run by a handful of volunteers and takes in animals that have been abandoned and/or abused. One of their goals is to rehabilitate abused animals to be ready for adoption. Hurricane Katrina displaced the Humane Society of Louisiana from its in-state location and significantly affected the Humane Societies of So. Mississippi and Pontchartrain, but despite these challenges, all three organizations have stayed focused on their mission to investigate and combat animal cruelty. They are also continuing to provide aid to animals and pet owners dealing with hurricane-related distress.
As the 2008 hurricane season brought many animal disaster issues to light, TVMF is grateful to all relief fund contributors for recognizing and acting on the need to address hurricane cleanup efforts, as well as the broader implications of animal rescue and rehabilitation in times of national crisis.
TxSART, A New TVMA Program, Makes Developmental Strides
Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Ike put a national spotlight on the response efforts of trained rescue teams and the energies of dedicated citizens. In countless news stories and personal accounts, it was clear that the tirelessness and willingness of individuals to aid in relief were inhibited by enormous organizational challenges. For the most part, instated plans proved inadequate in relation to the scope of damage caused to gulf coast regions.
Now, local, state, and federal level agencies and organizations are turning their evaluations of previous natural disasters into strategies and public messages for improved response systems. TVMA is heading one such effort, which is titled the Texas State Animal Resources Team (TxSART). Using lessons learned last hurricane season, an array of professional fields and experiences, and successful SART models from other states, TxSART is in its developmental stage.
TxSART will operate under the Texas Veterinary Medical Foundation and will therefore depend in part on your tax-deductible donations. If you are interested in this effort to solve challenges of animal disaster rescue on a county and state level, please direct your contributions to the foundation, designated for TxSART or disaster planning.
