Built by a Responder, for Responders
IRVN was created by Leigh J. Mack, MD, PhD a clinical research physician, emergency medical technician (EMT), and volunteer firefighter with the Blue Grass Fire Department in Scott County, Iowa. Dr. Mack did not approach this problem as an outside consultant or academic observer. The idea for FRVN came directly from working emergency scenes — responding to calls where animals complicated access, increased risk, delayed care, and placed responders in situations they were never formally trained to manage.
As both a medical professional and a frontline responder, Dr. Mack repeatedly saw the same pattern: animals on scene were not the primary emergency, but they often became the problem that stalled the response.
A gap identified on real calls
Animals are frequently encountered on emergency scenes, yet responders often find themselves unsupported when these interactions reach critical thresholds. Common friction points include:
- Pets blocking access to patients
- Injured animals creating safety risks
- Livestock incidents escalating scene complexity
- Crews delaying care because “we don’t know what to do with the animal”
Despite the frequency of these incidents, there has historically been no formal, dispatchable veterinary support model to assist civilian responders in the field.
Experience that bridges medicine, technology, and operations
Our approach is informed by years of leadership and implementation in:
- Clinical medicine and healthcare systems
- Emergency operations and incident command environments
- Designing scalable, real-world systems that improve safety and efficiency
That combined background shaped FRVN into a model that is practical for volunteer and combination departments, cost-conscious for counties, and focused on measurable operational benefits.
A practical solution rooted in emergency response culture
FRVN is modeled after the specialized support structures responders already use and trust. We believe veterinary integration should be as seamless as calling for:
- Hazmat specialists
- Technical rescue teams
- EMS medical direction
A responder-led mission
FRVN exists because responders deserve better tools when animals are involved, and animals deserve professional care that does not compromise human life safety. This is not a theoretical solution. It is a response capability designed by someone who has stood on the scene, worn the gear, and understood the risks — and decided we could do better.