Colorado’s risk landscape is changing.
We are experiencing warmer winters, reduced snowpack, prolonged drought cycles, and increasingly dry, windy conditions. Wildfires at the wildland–urban interface are no longer rare or seasonal — they are becoming more frequent, more intense, and more unpredictable.
Communities along the Front Range are especially vulnerable, where open space meets dense residential neighborhoods and livestock operations. When disasters strike in these areas, animals are deeply impacted:
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Companion animals needing evacuation and sheltering
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Livestock requiring coordinated relocation and medical care
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Working animals and service animals affected by displacement
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Families forced to make urgent decisions about their pets
At the same time, we continue to see flooding, extreme weather events, and emerging infectious disease threats that require coordinated veterinary and public health response.
The Front Range Veterinary MRC exists because disasters affect both ends of the human–animal bond.
As climate pressures increase, so does the need for organized, trained veterinary volunteers who understand both animal care and emergency systems, beyond sheltering.
We are building sustainable leadership structures, functional response teams, stronger coordination with public health and emergency management, and community education initiatives that empower families to prepare now
There is urgency in this work — but also tremendous opportunity.
Colorado’s future will require collaboration, preparedness, and adaptability.
We are committed to being part of that solution.
Why our Work Matters
Our History & Structure
The Front Range Veterinary Medical Reserve Corps (FRVMRC) was established in 2007 as a nonprofit, volunteer-driven unit dedicated to supporting animal-related emergency response and public health efforts in Colorado.
Over the years, the unit has evolved through several leadership transitions and organizational homes, continuing to grow and adapt alongside Colorado’s changing risk landscape. Today, FRVMRC remains an entirely volunteer-powered organization — built by veterinary professionals and community members committed to preparedness, response, and resilience.
While the Front Range Veterinary MRC is not a direct division of the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE), we serve as a specialized veterinary volunteer component within Colorado’s broader CDPHE-managed disaster and public health response framework — particularly during animal-related and public health emergencies.
Part of a National Network
FRVMRC is part of the larger Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) network, a national system of community-based volunteer units coordinated through the Office of the Medical Reserve Corps (OMRC).
Nationwide, the MRC network includes more than 268,000 volunteers across over 700 units throughout the United States and its territories. These units organize local volunteers who donate their time and expertise to:
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Prepare for and respond to emergencies
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Strengthen public health systems
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Support community resilience initiatives
MRC volunteers include medical, veterinary, radiation, and other public health professionals, as well as community members without healthcare backgrounds who share a commitment to improving the safety and well-being of their communities. All states maintain MRC units with varying specialties and capabilities. The Front Range Veterinary MRC fills a unique role by focusing specifically on veterinary response, animal sheltering, and the human–animal bond within disaster and public health contexts.
Nationally, the Medical Reserve Corps is housed within the Office of the Medical Reserve Corps (OMRC), under the Center for Preparedness (CP), Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Although MRC units are formally part of this federal framework, many MRC units and specifically, the Front Range Veterinary MRC does not receive direct government funding and operates as nonprofit, volunteer-driven organization. Our strength comes from our volunteers, our partnerships, and our shared commitment to protecting the human–animal bond in times of need. We are truly a unit of community members supporting other community members.
Local Initiatives
Our team currently includes approximately 40 volunteers, with a core group of active members including:
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Small and large animal veterinarians
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Credentialed and non-credentialed veterinary technicians
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Biosecurity and research-focused professionals
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Animal Control Officers
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Animal support volunteers and community members
We operate primarily along Colorado’s Front Range, while collaborating across jurisdictions and maintaining strong relationships with:
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Public Health departments
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Offices of Emergency Management
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Health Care Coalitions
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Mass Care and Resiliency Committees
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Colorado Department of Agriculture
We are a veterinary unit built to support public health, emergency response, and community resilience. See our volunteer page to find out how you can join or support the unit!
