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MVHC EQUINE EMERGENCY PREPARATION

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MVHC CREATED THE FOLLOWING GUIDE TO HELP ISLAND HORSE OWNERS BETTER PREPARE FOR AND NAVIGATE EMERGENCY SITUATIONS INVOLVING THEIR HORSE(S). IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH HORSE OWNER TO FORMULATE THEIR OWN EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN IN THE EVENT OF AN EQUINE HEALTH EMERGENCY OR ACCIDENT.

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NOTIFY TOWN ANIMAL CONTROL of your horse property so that it’s on the radar of emergency officials:

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​SUBMIT MVHC HORSE IDENTIFICATION FORM & PHOTOS to the Martha’s Vineyard Horse Council so that your horse is included in a centralized Island Equine Database accessible in event of emergency, loose horse, etc. (MVHC HORSE IDENTIFICATION FORM can be found at https://www.mvhorsecouncil.com/forms)


CREATE AN EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN. We are on an island. You need to have a plan. And a back-up plan. MVHC

recommends speaking with your Vet(s) when creating your action plan.

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  • VETERINARIAN
    Consult your regular Vet re: emergency plan/ back-up Vet/emergency First Aid Kit. MVHC strongly encourages

    everyone to engage an Island Vet in addition to any off-island vets you may have.

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  • TRANSPORT (trailer & ferry)

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  • Familiarize yourself with Steamship Protocols for equine emergencies. If you do not have a trailer, have a list of commercial haulers or friends that will trailer for you in the event of an emergency. Finding a trailer last minute can be difficult to impossible. If you do have a trailer, make sure it’s maintained and paperwork is in order for unexpected emergency trips.

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  • EQUINE EMERGENCY HOSPITALS
    know the phone, location and route to emergency hospitals off-Island.

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  • BACK-UP PLAN
    Prepare yourself as best you can for SELF HELP if transport is not an option. This includes having a basic first aid

    kit and knowledge of how to use it.

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  • EUTHANASIA PLAN

    Discuss emergency options with your vet and have a plan for what you want, where you want it, and who you’ll need to call to help make it happen.​ If you cannot reach a veterinarian and need the Euthanasia Call List call Heather Maciel 508-696-4209, Vickie Thurber 508-404-6816, or Sarah McKay 774-563-9206. The Euthanasia Call List is a list of people on the island who have a firearm permit and the knowledge to use a firearm to euthanize an equine.

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ISLAND RESOURCES

 

ISLAND COMMUNICATIONS CENTER: (508) 693-1212 to report emergency or reach ACO on duty

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ISLAND VET TRIAGE:

Phone Triage: (702) 483-8533
Video Triage: www.urgentvetcaremv.com

24/7 video & telehealth services. for a small fee, will triage your pet on live video or over the phone to assess if you are facing an emergency that requires an immediate visit to the on-call veterinarian or referral to an Off Island veterinary emergency hospital. Must have credit card to connect.

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STEAMSHIP AUTHORITY:

508-693-9130 (reservations)

508-693-0367 (Vineyard Haven terminal)

STEAMSHIP AUTHORITY PROTOCOL (per SSA)
In the case of an equine emergency requiring off-Island transport, the vet must call 508-693-0367, press “0”, and ask to be put through to Mashpee – who will then tell the agent to put you on the boat.

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EQUINE EMERGENCY HOSPITALS:

TUFTS HOSPITAL FOR LARGE ANIMALS

53 Willard Street, North Grafton, MA
(508) 839-7926

SOUTH SHORE EQUINE CLINIC

151 Palmer Road, Plympton, MA
(781) 585-2611

OCEAN STATE EQUINE ASSOCIATES

11 Winsor Avenue, North Scituate, RI
(401) 766-6578

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HORSE HAULERS SERVICING ISLAND:

VAUGHN EQUINE TRANSPORT (855) 483-8462

emergencies and general transport, familiar with SSA

JR HUDSON TRANSPORT (800) 826-1099

emergencies and general transport

EAST COAST TRANSPORT (925) 705-0640

emergencies and general transport NOTE: they come from Cape Elizabeth, ME & charge $1.50/mile from there - 3 hrs to Woods Hole

BRADY HAULIN (781) 422-2224

emergencies and general transport

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