The Foundation for the Horse is accepting aid through its Disaster Relief Fund to support veterinarians working with wildlife, horses and other livestock affected by the Australia wildfires, which have taken an unimaginable toll on the nation and its animals.

The Foundation, whose mission is to improve the welfare of horses, will match the first $10,000 in donations. All contributions will be distributed to the Australia Veterinary Association’s Benevolent Fund to support the many veterinarians impacted by the fires or providing charitable care to affected animals.

“The sheer scope of this catastrophe and the gallant veterinary response, which undoubtedly includes many equine veterinarians pulled from their traditional practice to provide emergency care for all species, compels The Foundation in this instance to reach out beyond its horse-centric mission,” said Lisa Metcalf, DVM, MS, DACT, chair of The Foundation’s Disaster Medicine Subcommittee. “We are all vets first, before being equine vets, and although our dollars may be needed in the future for rebuilding or for another disaster, this is now.”

To support the needs of the affected veterinarians and those on the front lines in Australia, please donate online at foundationforthehorse.org/impact/disaster-relief.

Donations are also accepted by mail at The Foundation for the Horse, Disaster Relief Fund, 4033 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, KY 40511; and by phone at (800) 433-0177 (U.S. only) or (859) 233-0147.

The Foundation for the Horse (formerly AAEP Foundation) is a 501(c)(3) organization established in 1994 that serves as the charitable arm of the American Association of Equine Practitioners to improve the welfare of horses. Since its inception, The Foundation has distributed more than $6 million to fulfill its vital mission. For more information, visit foundationforthehorse.org.