CONNECTICUT VETERINARY MEDICAL FOUNDATION INC

Our Programs:

The Companions-in-Crisis Program provides shelter for individual animals caught up in family crises. Examples of such crises include domestic violence related evacuations, a phenomenon which is unfortunately increasing nationwide. The program provides safe, confidential, and most critically, secure temporary shelter for animals when a pet’s owner enters an emergency shelter, residential treatment program, other medical facility or is otherwise temporarily unable to care for their animals.

In Connecticut, a partnership between CVMF and the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV) serves as a bridge, informing victims how to arrange to safeguard their animals for an indeterminate period, while they evacuate to new, safe circumstances.

CCADV is the leading advocacy organization for the victims of domestic violence in Connecticut, and also the membership organization for the 18 agencies that serve domestic violence victims statewide. CCADV and CVMF share a memorandum-of-understanding which outlines CIC program expectations and its basic operating guidelines.

The Companions-in-Crisis program has been described as a “witness protection program” for the animals of domestic violence victims. Domestic violence agency caseworkers, upon request of a victim, access a dedicated 24-hour telephone line, and begin the placement process. Animals are secretly relocated to one of more than 60 participating veterinary hospitals across the state for safekeeping.

The program takes great care to ensure that animals are moved and housed in a way which ensures victim and animal care staff safety. Confidentiality and safety are the paramount concerns. After relocation, all reports on the status of animals in the program are made confidentially. For obvious reasons, there can be no animal visitation during the emergency shelter period.

Animal hospital owners are responsible for the basic costs of boarding and feeding animals and the CVMF provides funding for any necessary veterinary medical care on a case-by-case basis. CVMF donor funds may be used for this purpose.

Each request for shelter presents a unique set of circumstances and animals are accepted on a case-by-case basis. Eligibility requirements include enrollment or active participation in programs or services provided by a participating social service agency, and compliance with all court orders and/or treatment plans in effect at the time CIC services are rendered. Referring agencies can include: victim advocates and judicial personnel, law enforcement, animal control officers, youth & family service organizations, children’s & elderly protective service agencies, and domestic violence or sexual assault crisis service providers. Requests for services by individuals without a referring agent cannot be accepted.

“Rabies Immunization”

The CVMA Low Cost Rabies immunization program is designed to provide minimal cost Rabies immunization to otherwise unvaccinated animals across the state. Created as an effort to support the public health, the CVMA program has provided rabies immunization for tens of thousands of animals since its inception. Operated in cooperation with municipal animal control officers in many communities, CVMA member veterinarians and veterinary technicians donate their time and expertise to help lessen the likelihood people will be exposed to Rabies through their pets. While technically not a CVMF program, the CVMA Rabies clinics supports CVMF by donating a portion of the clinic proceeds to support all CVMF programs.

“CTSART”

The Connecticut State Animal Response Team (CTSART) program is a public-private partnership formed for the purpose of preparing for, and responding to, the needs of domestic animals affected by disasters. Connecticut Public Act 07-11 requires that municipalities take into consideration the needs of animals owned by evacuating citizens during disasters. The CTSART program provides a structure for the purpose of organizing that mechanism.

In each of the 5 Connecticut “Preparedness Regions” animal response is integrated into the overall response mechanism for all hazards and all disciplines. Designated “Emergency Support Function #11” animal protection is considered an essential element to help make people safe, by ensuring the safety of their animals. The inherent principle in this effort is the recognition that people will resist evacuation, or will attempt to re-enter an evacuation zone if they are prevented from evacuating with their animals or if there is no safe place for them to bring their animals to. Such circumstances may lead to unnecessary risks to un-evacuated animal owners, to first responders sent to rescue them and of course to the animals themselves.

The CTSART goal is to facilitate a prompt, effective response when animals are involved in statewide or regional disasters, and to provide technical and equipment support to lesser emergencies at the municipal level, when a municipality is managing their own emergency but has exhausted its own available resources for the animal care mission.

Animal response team programs were first developed in states more frequently affected by disasters than Connecticut, where private and governmental agencies worked together to preserve animal life and minimize avoidable risks to people. In its operation the Connecticut State Animal Response Team does not usurp authority from any state or local agency, but rather creates a resource development and training network that complements existing government and private response mechanisms. CTSART is in the unique position of working with all stakeholders across the state to ensure that Connecticut has ther resources necessary to effectively respond when disaster strikes.

CTSART has assisted all 5 of Connecticut's Preparedness Regions in developing Regional Animal Response Teams. Working within the overall response mechanisms established for the 5 regions and the state, CTSART provides
training and support across Connecticut. Learn more about CTSART at www.ctsart.org

“Big Fix”

The “Connecticut Big Fix” program, run intermittently in cooperation with other agencies, provides subsidized access to the surgery necessary to control reproduction in pets owned by people with significant financial constraints. The goals are to prevent unplanned or unwanted pet births for which waiting homes are unavailable, and to improve the health and well-being of adult pets that might benefit from such surgery. The overall objective is to reduce the euthanasia of healthy, but homeless, animals and to one day ensure that only animals for which there are homes are born.

The first Connecticut Big Fix event was held during an entire week in February 2012. At the event 300 pets were surgically sterilized with the cost to each needy family just $20.12. Donations of materials from pharmaceutical and veterinary supply companies also allowed us to vaccinate and apply a topical flea treatment and for dogs to test for heartworm. Many CVMA member veterinarians across the state generously donated their time, and expertise, as well as the use of their facilities to accomplish the event. Finally, all the proceeds were put directly back into the program.

For information contact: Big Fix Director- Dr. Gayle Block at BigFix@petsafetyct.org

“Blue Star”

Blue Star, under development, is a practice-level program conceived to recognize and benefit military veterans and their families. CVMF and the member veterinarians of the CVMA recognize the sacrifices of our military veterans and the importance of the work they volunteered to do. It is that work, at the most basic of levels, which allows us all the freedom and security to pursue our livelihoods and care for our families.

Once implemented, Blue Star will provide member-owned animal hospitals which wish to participate with the promotional and administrative tools necessary to successfully conduct a Blue Star program in their animal hospital. Discounts on goods and services for veterans and their families is expected to be a central aspect of the program, limited only by the imagination of animal hospital participants. CVMFs role will be to provide the support necessary to ensure a successful Blue Star program.

Participation in Blue Star is one way for hospital owners to show support for our military veterans and for the often difficult work they commit themselves to do. It’s one small way for us to say “Thank you for your service!”

Vision Statement: The Connecticut Veterinary Medical Foundation aspires to be a safety net for Connecticut's domestic animals.

Mission Statement: CVMF strives to:
-promote disaster preparedness and response for domestic animals;
-promote the human - companion animal bond;
-promote the profession of veterinary medicine in Connecticut;

Disaster preparedness and response promotion is conceived broadly and is served by both the CTSART and Companions-in-Crisis programs. Through the provision of leadership and support to these programs, CVMF in partnership with public and private agencies develops, administers and promotes animal welfare activities throughout Connecticut.

CVMF promotes the Human-Companion Animal Bond through all its programs. We build our programs with the intention to serve both people and animals in celebration of their special partnership. We also promote recognition of individual animals, particularly those particularly those animals which save lives, prevent injury, or enrich the human spirit through therapy or service programs.

CVMF promotes the veterinary medical profession through support of academic institutions engaged in research as well as through educational outreach to the public and the profession. The CVMF publicizes the profession's leadership activities in these areas..

For more information or to make a donation, contact CVMF at (860) 635-7770 or cvmf@ctvet.org. You may also donate to CVMF at the “Donate” tab in this web site. CVMF is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit foundation and your contributions are fully tax-deductible.