Hurricane Isaac Equine Rescues Chronicled

The Louisiana State Animal Response Team rescued numerous of horses from the storm and its aftermath.
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Hurricane Isaac struck the Louisiana coast on Aug. 28, and the Louisiana State Animal Response Team (LSART) quickly responded to help horses and other animals affected by the storm. Over 50 LSART responders participated in the response, including veterinarians from the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association; veterinarians, students and staff from the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine (LSU SVM, about 25 people); veterinarians and veterinary technician students from Baton Rouge Community College; animal control officers from the Louisiana Animal Control Association; Calcasieu Parish animal control; East Baton Rouge Parish animal control and rescue center; Louisiana Horse Rescue Association; and LSART responders trained in slack water rescue, technical large animal rescue, and pet sheltering.

Even before the storm, Aug. 27, LSART contacted the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) to request pre-storm support. Dick Green, ASPCA director of disaster response, arrived in Baton Rouge on that day and on Aug.28 began working with the LSART water rescue team to prepare their boat and to provide the funding to purchase a second boat. Equipment was checked and staged at the LSU SVM in preparation for the storm.

The  Louisiana State Animal Response Team helped dozens of companion small animals in addition to rescuing numerous of horses from the storm and its aftermath.

Livingston Parish

On Sept. 1, a Livingston Parish resident contacted Livingston Parish animal control and the parish Emergency Operations Center because a 16-year-old mare owned by a Baton Rouge police officer needed rescuing due to rising floodwaters in her pasture. A LSART rescue team from the LSU SVM was deployed. The mare was led through floodwaters and transported to the LSU SVM’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital. The horse was examined to determine veterinary needs, and the mare was housed and maintained at LSU and for four days until the owner was able to retrieve her

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