Our colleagues on the west coast of Florida were struck by Hurricane Ian on Wednesday, September 28. The monster storm made its first U.S. landfall as a powerful Category 4 hurricane, shredding homes with ferocious winds topping 150 mph. According to the Florida Veterinary Medical Association Foundation (FVMA Foundation), Hurricane Ian has severely disrupted the lives of millions of Florida residents in the southwest region of the state, trapping people in flooded homes, knocking out power to more than 2 million people, damaging key infrastructure and causing tremendous suffering and displacement to countless pets and animals.

Just five years ago, Texas was faced with the need for its own relief and recovery efforts after Hurricane Harvey swept through the Gulf Coast. The level of support that the Texas Veterinary Medical Foundation (TVMF) received for the animals and veterinarians impacted by Hurricane Harvey was unprecedented, and our ability to help the animals and veterinarians impacted by this storm would not have been possible without your help and the help of other organizations—including the FVMA Foundation

The Texas Veterinary Medical Foundation (TVMF) would like to return the generosity of the FVMA Foundation by providing relief funds in their time of need, and we are asking for your help as well. TVMF pledges to match donations made by TVMA members and the general public to the FVMA Foundation up to a total of $10,000.

Funds donated above and beyond the $10,000 threshold will be directed to the FVMA Foundation Hurricane Ian Relief and Recovery Fund. Please consider making a contribution through the TVMF website and selecting “Hurricane Ian Disaster Relief.”

For questions, please contact the TVMF office at 512-452-4224.

Thank you for taking the time to share your resources to assist our colleagues in Florida.

Sincerely,

Chad Harris, DVM
TVMF President