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Vets Beyond Borders volunteers on standby for NSW flood emergency



The flooding emergency across NSW means that not only families are needing rescuing, but their beloved pets too.

Australian animal welfare charity, Vets Beyond Borders (VBB), played a vital role in the deployment of veterinary volunteers in the Black Summer fires of 2020 and are on standby once again for the NSW flood emergency.

VBB’s Australian Veterinary Emergency Response Team (AVERT) is ready to work alongside partners RSPCA NSW and the Animal Welfare League of NSW (AWL-NSW) to provide support to the pets of families displaced by the current flood emergency. AVERT volunteer veterinary professionals are also well positioned to assist communities with livestock, horses, and any injured wildlife caught up in the disaster event.

“During these times of crisis, families endure a great amount of hardship and grief, compounded with the uncertainty of when they may be able to return to their properties. Our volunteers can assist with basic husbandry, care, and any veterinary support that families may require for pets and livestock” said Dr Sally Colgan CEO of Vets Beyond Borders.

“We’re on standby to provide support to the Castle Hill evacuation centre, and we’re gearing up to board the AWL-NSW Mobile Vet Truck, which is preparing to provide vital support to the disaster affected communities in the mid-north coast of NSW”, Dr Colgan explains.


“AVERT comprises almost 2000 vets and vet nurses across Australia ready to help out in times of crisis. The veterinary profession is incredibly empathetic and the ability to dig deep and turn up day after day to help out is such an admirable quality. Our volunteers are amazing” said Dr Colgan.

In the 2019/20 Black Summer bushfires, VBB deployed veterinarians and veterinary nurses who contributed over 400 days of professional time in NSW and SA alone. In these devastating fires, where an estimated 3 billion animals in the wild were affected, we learned that our vets and veterinary nurses are extremely passionate about animal welfare and are willing to use their expertise to help when and wherever they can.

Vets Beyond Borders receives no government funding and relies on the support of our donors to continue to help in these times of crises. Donations are gratefully accepted via portal.vetsbeyondborders.org/donate/

Veterinarians and vet nurses who are keen to join the AVERT team, are asked to register via vetsbeyondborders.org/form/avert-registration-application/



About Vets Beyond Borders

Vets Beyond Borders (VBB) is an Australian-based animal charity, in operation since 2003, working to improve the lives of animals and humans around the world.

Through its VetMatch and VetTrain programs, VBB deploys volunteer veterinarians, and veterinary nurses to our Partner Organisations around the globe. We deliver animal health services, participate in, and manage humane animal population control programs, and engage in educational programs, to empower local communities and improve animal welfare at home and abroad.

In 2020 VBB launched VetMatch-AU - the Australian arm of the flagship VetMatch program. Through partnerships with Australian welfare organisations our veterinary volunteers provide vital assistance to animals and people in disadvantaged communities.

VBB’s AVERT (Australian Veterinary Emergency Response Team) program has volunteers standing by, ready to help animals when natural disasters strike or in the event of an emergency animal disease outbreak.

For more information about our programs and how you can help, please visit our website www.vetsbeyondborders.org

MEDIA RELEASE, 23rd March 2021
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