Veterinary medicine professor launches emergency rescue team

In the summer of 2016, a slow-moving storm devastated southern Louisiana. Unleashing more rainfall than historic Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the unnamed storm mercilessly killed 13 people and left behind a staggering $10 billion in damage. Among those caught in its path was Dr. Chance Armstrong. Although today he is an associate clinical professor in Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, in 2016, he was in the eye of the storm as a faculty member at Louisiana State University’s School of Veterinary Medicine.

The floods overwhelmed communities and changed more than just the landscape — they reshaped the course of Armstrong’s life.

Launching a rescue

As the storm hovered over the beleaguered state, Armstrong and a student launched a boat into the floodwaters from an underwater Chili’s restaurant parking lot. They set course for Denham Springs, Louisiana, to find a group of horses stranded by the storm. Instead, they encountered a wheelchair-bound woman in water up to her shins. She was in shock, clutching her dog and wedding photo album — the only items she could save from the destruction.

His plans quickly changed from assessing horses miles away to saving the woman and her dog who were right in front of them.

Animal and human health are often intertwined, and Armstrong witnessed firsthand the devastation a natural disaster leaves behind for people and animals. This not only prompted him to volunteer during the disaster but also changed the trajectory of his career.

“I’ll never forget that day and all the things we saw,” he said. “I don’t think I have ever done anything in veterinary medicine more profound than what we did that day. And that’s when I said, ‘I need to get more training because I want to do this with my life.’”

Reshaping the veterinarian journey

The lessons forged in the 2016 Louisiana flood crisis continue to shape his work and mission. Since then, the three-time Auburn graduate has acquired FEMA Incident Command System certification and trained in slack and swift water rescue scenarios, meaning he can assist in varying levels of water from a still water pond to more dangerous floodwater conditions like those seen in the summer 2025 tragedy in Kerrville, Texas. He is also building Auburn’s Veterinary Emergency Response Team (AVERT) to operate tactically and strategically during natural disasters. The 45-member team includes Auburn faculty and students as well as veterinarians throughout the Southeast. 

Founding AVERT member Dr. Buddy Bruce is a friend and mentor to Armstrong, and he also earned a bachelor’s, master’s and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Auburn. He owns Animal Health Center in Opelika and serves on the executive board of the Alabama Veterinary Medical Association.

“We’ve been working to get AVERT established for years,” he said. “We’re still in our infancy, but we’re making progress.”

Bruce’s experience in the field is vast. He provides emergency animal rescue assistance throughout Lee County, the state and region, and was an emergency responder following the violent tornado that killed 23 people and countless animals in Beauregard, Alabama, in 2019. He hopes to see Auburn’s team lead in veterinary emergency response.

“I believe one day we will be a top-tier emergency response program, not just in Alabama but throughout the Southeast and the rest of the country, too,” he said.

One of the primary roles for emergency rescue veterinarians like Armstrong and Bruce is to support human search efforts by caring for search and rescue dogs. Armstrong places providing veterinary support for the dogs and their handlers at the center of the team’s focus and mission.

“The ultimate goal for our team is to provide hope in hopeless situations,” Armstrong said. “This is the true essence of being a veterinarian and serving.”

Rising above the storm

According to the Animal Welfare Institute, millions of animals die each year because of natural disasters. During this year’s Tiger Giving Day, Auburn University’s 24-hour online fundraising event, the Auburn Family gave $59,400 to equip AVERT to have a lifesaving impact in these dire situations. Gifts from 354 donors made it possible for AVERT to purchase a trailer and supplies to help rescue animals, and often, people, too, when disaster strikes.

“We’re a Gulf Coast state, so inevitably, we’ll be hit by a hurricane, tornado, ice storm or some other type of natural disaster,” Armstrong said. “Thanks to the generosity of the Auburn Family, we can be a beacon for those who need our help.”

AVERT already provides supplies and deploys to sites when requested, assisting veterinarians, state and local governments, and organizations committed to helping affected people and animals. Armstrong and his team have sent supplies and team members to help during previous storms in Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, and Tennessee.

And with the Auburn Family’s continued support, they will do even more.

“People see these disasters and immediately think, ‘What can I do to help?” he said. “We know not everyone can go to the site and help with the recovery effort, but by supporting those who are, the Auburn Family can be there.”