Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association Veterinary Reserve Corps (MVRC) has been deployed to the Winter Show Barn in Valley City, ND. This team of veterinarians and veterinary technicians are individuals that have received special training in responding to animal disaster evacuation situations.

The Valley City evacuation site has a surge capacity to receive up to 600 animals should there be a breach in the Fargo levees and evacuation of animals becomes required. The evacuation site is equipped with needed provisions such as cages, bowls, food, cat litter boxes, as well as other medical supplies for the shelter. Kennels for quick use are available in case animals start arriving without warning. The MVRC team has worked closely with a wonderful group of people at the Show Barn who have agreed to put up some horse stalls and sawdust so the dogs can be walked inside. Outside the facility is a sandbagging staging area for a local threatened flood and therefore the area around the outside of the building is very busy and dangerous for dogs and dog walkers. 

The MVRC veterinary staff at Valley City, ND continues to maintain its position at the Valley City site as of Monday. The shelter is completed. Communication with Nancy Allen, the Winter Show Barn manager continued with strong support of the mission. The American Humane Association sheltering team, led by Tracy Reif, has arrived in Valley City and a meeting was held with Nancy Allen and Mark,the facilities manager. The sheltering group toured the facilities activities. The facilities will work excellently for the sheltering operations and a good collaborative relationship exists between the sheltering and veterinarian teams. It was felt that this facility could easily house many more animals than projected if required. Areas within the shelter facility have been established for isolation, reception, cat area, food area and hospital area. In addition, a well-heated room is available for pocket pets and hospital cases if necessary.

It is believed that dislocated animals are located in the West Fargo area. Efforts are being made to let the West Fargo flood coordinators know that the Valley City facility is prepared to receive animals. There is also a possibility of local animals, due the pending flooding of the Sheyanne River running through Valley City, being taken to the Valley City facility. Extensive sand bagging and temporary levy construction is preparing the city for flooding, predicted to be five feet over the current levy standards. Veterinary and shelter staff have been assisting the local people in building sandbags when not busy with the shelter.

(Please contact Dan at the MVMA office if you have any questions or need further information)

DONATIONS: Please contact the MVMF at info@mvma.org or call 651-645-7533 if you would like to make a contribution to the MVRC in support of veterinary response activities. Thank you for your support.

CLICK HERE to learn more about the MVMA Veterinary Reserve Corps (MVRC)