On Thursday September 12, 2024, at approximately 2:00 p.m., Cornell University Veterinary Specialists (CUVS) received word that Stamford Fire Department had multiple animals unconscious and in critical condition on scene at a house fire in the area. Within moments of the call, Stamford Fire and EMS arrived by ambulance actively treating nine dogs and cats. It was clear that this tragedy would be anything but standard. Nine animals were admitted to CUVS’ ICU in critical condition.
 

As the ambulances and owners of animals arrived to CUVS they were met by Board-certified emergency and critical care specialists, Megan Murray, VMD, DACVECC and Kate Buriko, DVM, DACVECC. The pets were triaged and rushed by their teams of specialty trained nurses to the hospital’s Emergency and Critical Care department for immediate and intensive
treatment.
 

Emergency and Critical Care Service Head, Bridget Lyons, VMD, DACVECC and Director of Nursing, Jessica Troy, AAS, CVT orchestrated a brilliant, collaborative effort involving multiple CUVS specialty teams, including Emergency, Critical Care, Internal Medicine, Ophthalmology, Cardiology, and Diagnostic Imaging. The teams worked tirelessly through the night to stabilize the 8 dogs and 1 cat.
 

“As the area's only VECCS Level 1 Emergency & Critical Care facility, we are staffed and equipped to take on the most critical of patients. In this case, we were able to take on 9. The heroic efforts of Stamford Fire to provide oxygen on the scene and to get these animals to our hospital where they would have access to our incredible expertise and equipment, is what saved the lives of these animals. I am so proud to be a member of such an  amazing team” said Dr. Megan Murray, one of the CUVS criticalists involved.
 

While the pets were receiving life-saving care, the hospital’s Clinical Operations team was also busy at work! One family was on site late into the evening in the privacy of the hospital's Care and Comfort room where they were able to receive updates and care plans from specialists and grieve the loss of those pets that had not made it in time to CUVS. “Our in-house Veterinary Social Worker, Katherine Velez, LCSW, our Emergency Services Liaison, Carol Orellano, and myself were, and remain, fully available to the families impacted by this tragedy. We are here to ensure that families have the best possible experience; in a situation  like this that means making sure they are comfortable, informed and supported” said Cimmaron Valier, FACHE, the CUVS's Director of Operations.
 

Given the magnitude of the care and costs in caring for these pets, and the tragic circumstances of the owners, we are requesting support from the community. Please use the form below to contribute to the animals care or send an email to communitystrong@cuvs.org for more information on how to sponsor one of the animals.

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Cornell University Veterinary Specialists (CUVS) in Stamford is certified by the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society as the highest-level facility in veterinary emergency and critical care - one of only five such facilities in the tri-state area. Six board-certified critical care specialists, experienced internship-trained emergency clinicians and an exceptional veterinary nursing team, working collaboratively with other specialty departments, enable unparalleled care and optimized outcomes.