UC Davis Veterinary Emergency Response Team (UCD VERT)

The Veterinary Emergency Response Team at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine is a volunteer organization of faculty and staff veterinarians, veterinary technicians and veterinary students that provides training on veterinary emergency and disaster response, as well as field veterinary services to animals injured during disasters. Originally formed in 1997 after the Yuba County floods, the unit provided large animal technical rescue and equine helicopter rescue for large animal accidents, as well as response to small- and large-scale disasters for Yolo and adjacent counties. In January 2008, VERT became a registered Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Unit, which is a program under the umbrella of the Civilian Volunteer Office of the Surgeon General and part of the National Citizen Corps Program.

Members of the UCD VERT are registered Disaster Healthcare Volunteers (DHV) at the DHV Medical Reserve Corps, as well as Disaster Service Worker Volunteers at the Yolo County Office of Emergency Services. 

The UCD VERT can be deployed in Yolo and other counties upon request by the Yolo County Office of Emergency Services (OES), or in declared state disasters. Over the years, VERT’S response has ranged from assisting in the effort against the H1N1 influenza pandemic of 2009 to wildfire response, including the Tubbs Fire in 2017, Camp Fire in 2018, Kincade Fire in 2019, Lightning Complex and North Complex Fires in 2020, Dixie and Caldor fires in 2021, and Mosquito Fire in 2022.

This program relies on donor support and does not charge for its activities. Donations can be made to the Veterinary Emergency Response Team to support emergency response to assist animals in disasters by contacting the Office of Advancement at svmadvancement@ucdavis.edu, (530) 752-7024.