Newsletter

Update on Maui Wildfire Response

August 14, 2023

Remember that disaster response is a marathon, not a sprint. Here is an update communicated to us by the team working under Maui Humane Society (MHS).

Due to the severity of the fire and limited access following the event due to safety concerns, there were not nearly the amount of burn survivors as was anticipated. Most likely, those that could be saved have already been rescued, though the field teams are still looking. Thankfully many people were able to evacuate with their pets.

The next phase will include long term community outreach for those who are now living in Lahaina, Napili, and Kapalua, as they no longer have vets on the west side of the island. MHS is leading this effort. They and other nonprofit organizations will have mobile units in West Maui starting tomorrow that will need to be staffed. There won’t be a need for many trained vet professionals all at once, but more likely over a long period of time. We will be helping MHS coordinate the pool of volunteers.

If you are interested, please fill out this online form with your interest/availability in longer term volunteer efforts.

There have been many, many hours of meetings attended by HVMA leadership, Dr. Aleisha Swartz (primary HVMA liaison to HiEMA/ State Emergency Support Functions), Dr. Nate Lam (volunteer), MHS staff, all government agencies (county, state, fed) and non-governmental organizations (e.g. American Red Cross, ASPCA). We are doing our best to identify needs and respond appropriately in a rapidly changing and challenging situation. The right people are getting in place for the long term plan. Emergency management meetings are discussing the following considerations: getting feed & water to livestock whose pasture has burnt, disease management from decomposition, marine pollution, trapping feral/strays when they re-emerge, short and long term sheltering and feeding of displaced people and pets, keeping families together with pets, veterinary needs, etc.

HVMA’s role in this emergency currently is supportive to governmental agencies and organizations like MHS that are acting under the emergency declaration. We are making every effort to coordinate volunteers, gather information on needs, and share information on resources and identify information and needs gaps. We are also coordinating support offered from national organizations such as AVMF. Most of our time and work is remote and we may need remote volunteer support for this as well, as the board is all volunteering their time to coordinate this effort.

A call to action- if your HVMA membership is not current please RENEW today! The more members we have, the stronger we are in times like this, and the more resources we have to support these efforts.

We hope this helps with some of the questions and anticipation out there. Thanks again for all your care, concern, kokua, and patience! We are proud to be a part of the HVMA and the Hawaii vet community. Let’s continue to make our community stronger!

Your HVMA Board

AVMA Update – August 2023

AVMA continues to work hard to support your professional success. Your delegates just returned from the 2023 annual convention in Denver and have a few developments to share. Most notably, AVMA has come out strongly against creating a new “mid level practitioner” position, passed and updated several animal welfare initiatives, and discussed issues surrounding the spectrum of care and sustainability in veterinary practices. It has been very exciting to observe the increased diversity and representation of AVMA leadership to better reflect who is actually in our profession.

In January, AVMA solicited comments from members on the idea of creating a new role in veterinary medicine, the so-called “mid level practitioner” who would have the ability to diagnose, prognose, and prescribe without a veterinary degree, to address our workforce challenges. There was a broad consensus that patient health and safety would be better served if we focus on leveraging our technicians and assistants to support the role of the licensed veterinarian. Pursuant to your feedback and that discussion, Resolution 10, Safeguarding care for Veterinarian-Led Teams, was passed by the House almost unanimously. In addition, Immediate Past President Dr. Lori Teller delivered remarks to industry leaders dispelling myths about our workforce needs and outlining a path forward. You can read a summary of her comments here: https://www.avma.org/news/straight-talk-about-veterinary-workforce-issues

Measures updating policies on canine devocalization, docking of lambs’ tails, tail docking of cattle, physical restraint of animals, and a new policy of canine hybrids were also passed with strong support. Measures on sheep and goat castration as well as dehorning and disbudding were referred for further refinement. Finally, a statement to the profession outlining the need for better support of federal veterinarians to protect public health was passed.

Veterinary Information Forum topics, for which we solicited your comments this spring, addressed the spectrum of care in veterinary medicine and environmental sustainability in veterinary practice. Regarding the spectrum of care, several comments were made that we should move away from language like “gold standard,” “low vs. high quality,” and other terms that may carry judgment and toward using terms like “basic versus advanced” treatment options. The House requested that the Board of Directors research these issues and develop tools to better support the profession in these areas.

Dr. Sandra Faeh was elected President-Elect, marking the first time in history that women have occupied the roles of Immediate Past President, President, and President-Elect. We are seeing more BIPOC candidates and officers as well. This change means that AVMA’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion isn’t just idle talk, and that your AVMA is ready to evolve with our profession into a new era with expanded opportunities for people of varied backgrounds and identities.

As always, if you have any questions or comments, or requests for more detail on any of these matters, feel free to reach out to your delegates!

Carolyn Naun, DVM, CHPV cnaun@armsofaloha.com
Jenee Odani, DVM, DACVP

Maui Wildfire Disaster Response

October 8, 2023 – The Maui Humane Society continues to coordinate ongoing relief efforts to the people and animals impacted by the Maui Wildfires. Thank you to all those who have already volunteered your time and finances to support these efforts. There is still a need for veterinarians and veterinary technicians/assistants, so please sign up for volunteer shifts here.

Additionally, the HVMA has received a grant from the AVMF to provide reimbursements for airfare for volunteers traveling inter-island to assist the Maui Humane Society. To qualify for this reimbursement, you will need to sign up for your volunteer shift(s) through HVMA and submit your airfare receipts to us. Reimbursement will be made by check after your shift(s) are completed and you have submitted at least 2 pictures taken during your shift(s) for use by AVMF.

8/19/2023 Update Meeting Minutes (members only access)

August 27, 2023 – The Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association would like to thank Adjutant General Kenneth Hara and Brigadier General Steve Logan with the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency for their efforts working with MEMA (Maui Emergency Management Agency) and Maui Humane Society to help Animal Search and Rescue teams gain access to previously restricted areas on Saturday August 26th. We acknowledge that efforts to search for pet animal survivors are necessarily secondary to ensuring the safety of personnel entering the burn zone and safely securing human remains.

It is important to clarify that steps to provide for animal survivors in the burn zone were taken even when Animal Search & Rescue teams were not allowed access. A FEMA veterinarian has been stationed in the burn zone supporting the canine search teams, and she oversees the delivery of any animals found alive by first responders to the Maui Humane Society for medical care. Food and water were left in various areas throughout the burn zone for any other animals that were hiding from the response teams.

We encourage all who want to provide care to animals in this or future disasters to complete the free FEMA training (ICS 100/200 & IS 700/800) and Community Emergency Response training so they can understand how to best participate in response situations and help their communities.

Our hearts go out to the people and animals affected by the fires on Maui and Big Island. In addition to government efforts, the Maui Humane Society, HVMA, and local vets are organizing the veterinary emergency response.

We are so grateful for the mass outpouring of support to the Maui community. Veterinary professional volunteers are needed to assist Maui Humane Society efforts to serve the people and animals affected by the wildfires. Please sign up here if you are interested, and we will contact you as shifts become available.

Monetary donations are always welcome. Here are a few of the organizations working on the ground:
https://www.mauihumanesociety.org/donate-olx/
https://hawaii.salvationarmy.org/hawaii_2/maui-location/
https://www.redcross.org/local/hawaii.html
AVMA American Veterinary Medical Fund
https://www.hirangelandstewardship.org/

If you would like to support our veterinary colleagues who lost their practices in the fire:
Dr. Leo Murakami, Lahaina Veterinary Clinic
West Maui Animal Clinic

Help foster a pet! Home to home is helping connect people in need looking for temporary housing for their pet while they are displaced from their homes.

Maui Humane Society has reported they may have a need for feed for large animals including horses, cattle, goats, and pigs. If you are interested in donating any large animal feed or supplies, please contact public_relations@hawaiivetmed.org. For cattle feed/supply donations, please contact the Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council.

Updates on Pet Transport Off Maui

Please join our Facebook page for the most up to date communication among the vet community (Hawaii vets only but HVMA membership not required)

Contact HVMA if you have other questions, concerns, or suggestions at public_relations@hawaiivetmed.org.

Additional information from our AVMA colleagues:

There are AVMF disaster grants that may be of help to some members.

Disaster reimbursement grants for veterinary medical care, up to $5,000 may be issued per grantee for out-of-pocket expenses incurred by veterinarians providing emergency veterinary medical care to animal victims of disasters.
Disaster relief grants for veterinarians & veterinary students, up to $2,000 may be issued per grantee for out-of-pocket expenses incurred immediately following a disaster. Copies of receipts or other approved documentation must be submitted along with the application form.

AVMA has several resources on disaster preparation, including:

Disaster Preparedness

Disaster Business Continuity Certificate Program

Veterinary First Responder Certificate Program

Last updated October 8, 2023