• First, it was to be a full field deployment, which required moving staff and equipment to a remote sight and to set up and operate housing for all members as well as set up, and operate a full field hospital.
• The second mission was to teach Remote Drug Immobilization and actually put the principals and techniques to use. This was done under the direction of Dr Mark Lloyd, a world-renowned Exotic Animal Veterinarian and the Deputy Team Leader of VMAT-1. Hurricane Andrew, with the destruction of the Miami Zoo and release of a large number of its inhabitants, served as a great lesson on the need for those capabilities.

The Training was conducted in Zolfo Springs Florida at Peace River Refuge and Ranch which is a location that provides housing and care for large cats and exotic animals that have been abandoned or relinquished to their care for a variety of reasons. They provided the actual animals that had some veterinary needs and we were able to provide the veterinary care at no cost so that it was a win-win situation.

Although we have trained extensively and accumulated our equipment and supplies with the intent of being able to set up and operate a field hospital, we had (until now) never done that. Just the logistics of packing, categorizing and finding a way to move our cache proved to be a challenge. We now have in a plan in place and a backup plan to move it in the event of a disaster. We were also able to identify those items that we needed to add to our cache to allow us to actually function and do anesthesia and surgery in the field as a field hospital. Until you actually do surgery and anesthesia in a field hospital environment, you are not positive that you can. We now know that we can.

 
Photos by: Lyn T. Garson

The actual animal procedures accomplished included darting and remote tranquilization of several animals (including a 383 pound Tiger and several Mountain Lions); the subsequent surgical sterilization of several of those animals; blood drawing for routine laboratory testing; TB testing of a variety of Primates; Micro Chip Implantation of all animals worked on; Sample gathering and submission for some special research studies; fecal examination for parasites; and dental evaluation and care for anesthetized animals and appropriate vaccinations. Various vendors donated the majority of the consumable veterinary supplies utilized as well as the laboratory work provided. Much thanks to Henry Schein, Inc. for their generous donation of supplies. A big thank you to Antech Diagnostics for all the laboratory work and supplies. Much appreciation to Schering-Plough for the microchips they provided.