Veterinary Medicine

Filed In:

Veterinary Medicine

Attack on America Tragedy: Veterinary update

Veterinary news from NYC and ongoing disaster relief efforts

Permission to cross-post the following received from Jim Willis:

From:
Livi French
The Caring Corps
NYC
elf8000@juno.com

VETERINARY UPDATE:
I spoke on the phone this morning with Dr. Mark Burns, DVM, who is affiliated with three veterinary practices in downtown Manhattan:

1. BATTERY PARK VETERINARY (closest to disaster site)
Closed. Location is off-limits. NO ANIMALS ARE INSIDE. (This is normally an evenings-only practice for residents of Battery Park City.)

2. TRIBECA SOHO ANIMAL HOSPITAL on Lispenard. Tel. (212) 925-6100,
Closed. Location (1 block south of Canal St.) is off-limits. All animals were moved to their West Village location (see below).

3. WEST VILLAGE VETERINARY HOSPITAL - 705A Washington St.
(between West 11th & Perry). Tel. (212) 633-7400.
Open and heavily staffed with veterinarians and vet techs. This is the closest veterinary clinic to the disaster site.

Dr. Burns is personally unaware of any injuries or trauma to animals as a direct result of the disaster.

He also advises that West Village Veterinary is prepared to care for the SAR (search & rescue) dogs that are expected to be utilized. Please retain their address and phone number for reference:
WEST VILLAGE VETERINARY HOSPITAL
705A Washington St. (between West 11th & Perry).
Tel. (212) 633-7400.

Dr. Burns expressed his personal belief (and I concur, based on my knowledge of Mayor Giuliani's hard-nosed record on animals in/near building collapses) that the pets left alone in (structurally safe) owner-vacated apartment buildings will be fine for a few days, until residents are allowed back in. If forced evacuation of residents lasts more than a few days, then THAT will be the time to pressure Giuliani to let us in -- not now. (Also, I'm a UAN-EARS-trained rescuer but have not yet been contacted by UAN, which indicates they are holding off getting involved.)

WHAT CAN I DO?
Probably the most helpful thing we can do right now is for each of us to take responsibility for our own apartment building (or residential block of private homes) and do an occupant inventory to see if anyone is missing and, if so, determine if there are any orphaned animals left in their homes. Workers in the World Trade Center live all over the City and throughout the tri-state area.

Let's get to work!

Livi French
The Caring Corps
NYC

<<< Back to Veterinary Update: post-terrorist attack

EARS Disaster Action Reports - Ongoing relief effort reports from Emergency Animal Rescue Service (EARS)

Previous Features
Check out other articles from your Guide

Previous Features - Check out other articles from your Guide

Veterinary Medicine Home Page - Main page for VetMed at About.com

Library of Topics - Browse the site library of topics