Civil emergencies: role of the vet in delivering veterinary care in a multi-agency environment

Background: Through 20 years as an animal rescue responder and 15 years of providing training to large animal veterinary professionals, I am satisfied that the thought of being in charge of a civil emergency is, in the main, a daunting idea for a vet and one not relished by many. However, there often remains some confusion about legal responsibility when vets are involved in an incident with other agencies, and where the emergency falls out of a routine context.

Aim of the article: The aim of this article is to explain how emergency services view animal incidents, how national models are used to manage incidents and to outline the developing role of veterinarians within structured emergency response frameworks. This should help prepare veterinarians for a developing role in civil protection and risk mitigation.