Martha's Vineyard Horse Council
ARE YOU HAVING AN EQUINE EMERGENCY?
​
CONTACT AN ISLAND VET ON CALL
Call Communications: (508) 693-1212
to be referred to the Emergency Vet on call
(either Dr. Dave Tuminaro (508) 696-5897 or (508) 560-3332; or Dr. Steve Atwood (508) 693-6515)
​
Or
Call Dr. Corinna Barry: (508) 479-7791
often available for more urgent calls between 7 am and 10 pm. (508) 479-7791
​
IF AN EQUINE NEEDS IMMEDIATE EUTHANASIA
​
Call the Equine Euthanasia Service of Martha's Vineyard:
Between 7:00am and 10pm daily, this number will reach the veterinarian on duty. If no vet is available, the message the caller hears will reflect this.
If you cannot reach a veterinarian and need the Euthanasia Call List, contact Sarah McKay (774) 563-9206, Heather Maciel (508) 696-4209, Laura Plunkett (617) 835-0563, or Vickie Thurber (508) 404-6816. 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.
IF AN EQUINE NEEDS IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
and you are unable to reach the one of the Emergency Vets on call
ISLAND VET TRIAGE:
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.
​
IF AN EQUINE NEEDS EMERGENCY TREATMENT OFF-ISLAND
CONTACT THE STEAMSHIP AUTHORITY:
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.
(508) 693-9130 (reservations)
(508) 693-0367 (Vineyard Haven terminal)
​
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​
​
HORSE HAULERS SERVING THE 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
​
OTHER RESOURCES​
BACKHOE OPERATORS:
Vincent Maciel (508) 989-4175
John Keene (508) 693-5975 (office)
Fred Fisher (508) 221-8861
Oscar Hansen (508) 560-3016
EXPERIENCED HORSE OWNERS WHO ARE WILLING TO HELP IN AN EMERGENCY:
Tracey Olsen (508) 294-7982
Maggie May (508) 317-0480
Vickie Thurber (508) 404-6816
Heather Maciel (508) 696-4209
Grace Guck (203) 910-4261
Jen Rand (774) 563-0162
Vici Surr (508) 693-3882
Shane Fisher (617) 462-7466
Contact us to be added to this list of people willing to help in an equine emergency.
Introducing
Dr. Corinna Barry
Dr. Corinna Barry
Backstretch Veterinary Inc. has announced a new five month pilot program to improve access to veterinary care for Martha's Vineyard's horses and their owners. Starting in May
2025, island resident Dr. Corinna Barry will be joining the Backstretch team. She will be available one day a week for routine scheduled appointments. On days when she is not working at one of the small animal clinics, she will be available for more urgent calls from 7 am to 10 pm. Call (508) 479-7791 if your horse needs veterinary care.
Emergency Veterinary Help on Martha's Vineyard
We would like to introduce a new veterinary service on Martha's Vineyard.
In response to the long standing plea for improved emergency veterinary help from the Horse Council, Dr. Cheryl DeWitt, Dr. Amy DeLisle and Dr. Corinna Barry have formed the Equine Euthanasia Service of Martha's Vineyard. We will share on call duties to address at least this one aspect of equine ER needs.
Our contact number is (508) 906-6010 from 7 am - 10 pm daily. This one number will reach each veterinarian on duty. Occasionally, it may arise that none of us is available and the message the caller hears will reflect this.