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Skip Navigation LinksAll Horse Topics > Disaster Management > 2005 Gulf Coast Hurricanes


Articles ( * = TheHorse.com members only )Date Posted
Louisiana State Animal Team Acquires Disaster Response Vehicle  *
The Louisiana State Animal Response Team (LSART), in partnership with the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), has acquired a deluxe custom-designed animal emergency response unit. With support from the ASPCA and IFAW, LSART was able to outfit a heavy-duty truck and ... Read full story
 9/24/2009
Hurricane Katrina Remembered  *
Today marks the fourth anniversary of the horrible destruction caused by Hurricanes Rita and Katrina in Louisiana and Mississippi. (For our cover story from 2005 read "Enduring Chaos".) The Horse and TheHorse.com were active participants in the coverage and animal relief efforts after the hurricanes struck the Gulf Coast. Because of our relationship ... Read full story
 8/29/2009
Katrina Survivor Molly to Visit the Kentucky Horse Park This Weekend  *
Molly the Pony, Katrina survivor and amputee, will be appearing at the United States Equestrian Federation Pony Finals at the Kentucky Horse Park this weekend (Aug. 8-9). Molly grazes while wearing her prosthesis in this April 2006 file photo. Molly was rescued by Kaye and Glenn Harris after Hurricane Katrina. Several months laters she was attacked ... Read full story
 8/6/2009
Louisiana Horses Weather Gustav Well  *
Retired Thoroughbred racehorse Robyn Dancer was in his stall at Shady Lane Farm in Opelousas, La., when Hurricane Gustav swept through on Monday. Gustav's wind ripped the roof off the stallion's stall and demolished the tack room beside it. But Robyn Dancer came through the storm without injury, as did the more than 50 other horses and foals on the ... Read full story
 9/3/2008
Gustav Makes Landfall West of New Orleans   *
A weakened Hurricane Gustav crashed Monday into the flood-prone but nearly deserted coast of Louisiana, making landfall west of New Orleans as a Category 2 storm. Water was splashing over some floodwalls, but city officials were optimistic the levees protecting the city would hold. The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Gustav hit just before ... Read full story
 9/1/2008
Coastal Horse Owners and Veterinarians Get Ready for Gustav  *
On the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, horse owners and veterinarians in the New Orleans area are fleeing ahead of Gustav, a storm the National Weather Service says is likely to become "a large, powerful hurricane as it approaches the northern Gulf Coast." Although it depends on other pressure systems in the area, current predictions put ... Read full story
 8/29/2008
Katrina, Three Years Later: New Orleans Horse Industry Coming Back  *
With preparations for the approaching Hurricane Gustav taking center stage, some of the planned ceremonies to mark the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina were canceled or hurried. But the lasting damage of that storm cannot be forgotten, as it's still clearly visible in many areas, according to Allison Barca, DVM, a veterinarian who serves New ... Read full story
 8/29/2008
New Orleans Remembers Unidentified Katrina Victims  *
As another tropical storm looms, New Orleans residents are marking the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina with a ceremony to remember victims who were never identified. A horse-drawn carriage delivered seven unclaimed bodies to a memorial site Friday and a solemn bell-ringing ceremony marked the hour the city's levees began to give way in 2005. ... Read full story
 8/29/2008
Prepare Plans and Farms for Hurricane Season   *
With the hurricane season upon us, Louisiana State University (LSU) is reminding horse owners of steps they can take to ready themselves in advance for evacuation, as well as other recommended tasks related to hurricane preparedness. Here are some tips from the Louisiana State Animal Response Team and LSU School of Veterinary Medicine for effectively ... Read full story
 8/20/2008
Building Back: Two Years after Katrina   *
After Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005, many coastal Louisiana horse owners said "enough's enough" and moved farther inland, while others stayed behind to reclaim their farms that were battered and drenched by the storm. Either way, most have moved on in their equestrian pursuits with a healthy awareness of what Nature can throw at them and a resolve ... Read full story
 8/31/2007
New Tack, Equipment for the New Orleans Mounted Unit  *
When the levees broke and flooded New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, the city's mounted police unit stables in City Park had been evacuated, but a majority of the unit's tack and equipment was left behind. On Feb. 2, the American Association of Equine Practitioners Foundation (AAEP, Lexington, Ky.), the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association's ... Read full story
 2/19/2007
Chaplaincy Launches Disaster-Aid Response Program  *
The Racetrack Chaplaincy of America has launched "White Horse Riders," a group of specially trained RTCA chaplains who will deploy to assist racing-related victims during disasters in areas where racing workers and racetracks are adversely affected. The program was unveiled Dec. 14 at Fair Grounds in Louisiana, a state hit by two hurricanes in 2005. "From ... Read full story
 12/16/2006
Racing Returns to New Orleans in Fine Style  *
By Brett MartelAP Sports Writer They hauled off soil tainted by Hurricane Katrina's floodwaters and rebuilt a grandstand roof ripped free by the storm's winds. After more than a year of renovations, costing about $16 million, a Thanksgiving tradition--horseracing--returned to New Orleans on Thursday (Nov. 23). The annual winter meet has started ... Read full story
 11/24/2006
Rebuilding Signals Growth for Fair Grounds  *
Of all the challenges that Fair Grounds president Randy Soth has faced over a 25-year career in Thoroughbred racing, none has equaled the experience of rebuilding the New Orleans track following the destruction of Hurricane Katrina. Soth, who was named president of Fair Grounds in October 2004, was preparing for his second meet at the Fair Grounds ... Read full story
 11/24/2006
For Katrina Survivor, Keeping Horses Safe Means Miles of Separation  *
The equine Katrina evacuee snorted and bit into an apple. Her owner, Shelby Wilson of New Orleans, beamed with pride as she related how Fara, a large white Arabian mare, suffered the ravages of the storm one year ago but now has returned to good health and spirits. Wilson climbed onto Fara's bare back. That's how they always have ridden, she said. ... Read full story
 9/18/2006
Katrina Still Affecting Louisiana Racehorse Sales, Breeders  *
One year ago all eyes were on the Gulf of Mississippi and the path of Hurricane Katrina. The category four storm made landfall in New Orleans Aug. 29 while many of Louisiana's breeders and consignors were attending the Fasig-Tipton Texas summer yearling sale at Lone Star Park. Other Louisiana-based owners and breeders missed the 2005 sale entirely ... Read full story
 8/31/2006
Post-Katrina Images from the Gulf Coast   *
Post-Katrina Louisiana and Mississippi images from September 2005 Post-Katrina Louisiana images from April 2006 Post-Katrina Mississippi images from April 2006 ... Read full story
 8/30/2006
Wading Through Katrina's Aftermath  *
Charbonnet Mid-City Carriages' trucks were gassed and ready to evacuate horses and mules yesterday (Aug. 29) from New Orleans, La., as Hurricane Ernesto began its move toward the United States. Fortunately, the storm didn't track toward the still-recovering Gulf Coast. Mid-City Carriages' employee Darnell Stewart and his Paint stallion Brandy made ... Read full story
 8/30/2006
Remembering the Victims, Heroes of Hurricane Katrina  *
One year after Hurricane Katrina pounded the Louisiana and Mississippi coasts, we pause to reflect on what horses and horse owners endured on August 29, 2005, and in the following days, weeks, and months. Katrina scattered buildings and life in her path, and her wrath was punctuated by floodwaters that took weeks to recede. Read all of our coverage ... Read full story
 8/29/2006
"Thank God We Got Out!"  *
One Recovery Story From New Orleans Foresight, planning, and quick action allowed 72 horses to be rushed from Equest Farm in New Orleans, La., to safety before Hurricane Katrina hit on this day last year. Among the stories of distress and watery death, it buoys our spirits to learn of an evacuation plan that worked, a farm that was rebuilt with the ... Read full story
 8/29/2006
Recovery...of Sorts  *
Same storm, starkly different effects. There was a very different disaster area waiting for me in coastal Mississippi than I saw in Louisiana eight months earlier, and recovery has been markedly different. In both regions, all forms of life were at the mercy of Hurricane Katrina's fury. In Mississippi, it was a 40-foot wall of water raging six to 12 ... Read full story
 7/1/2006
Hurricane Update: Healing Storm Scars  *
The ghastly, distressing images on network television and in newspapers aren't there to haunt our daily lives, but post-Katrina destruction remains a bitter reality for many horse owners in the Gulf Coast region. For some, the wounds of Katrina are deep, whether they have resulted from traumatic experiences during and in the immediate aftermath of ... Read full story
 7/1/2006
Conference Stresses Disaster Planning and Large Animal Rescue  *
The 2006 National Conference on Animals in Disaster (NCAD) was held May 31-June 3 in Arlington, Va. The event was hosted by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and was sponsored by a variety of animal rescue organizations. More than 650 individuals came, including veterinarians, emergency response professionals, and animal care and control ... Read full story
 6/9/2006
Hurricane Pony Receives Prosthetic Limb, Helps Kids  *
Molly, a 15-year-old Appaloosa pony, survived Hurricane Katrina when it hit Louisiana. She was rescued from her pasture near New Orleans after the storm and given a new home with Pony Paradise. However, Molly's storm tragedy didn't end there; a rescued pit bull that had shown no previous aggressive tendencies attacked her and several other ponies, ... Read full story
 5/11/2006
Carriage Company Rebuilds   *
The horses and mules rescued last September from the flooded stables of Charbonnet Mid-City Carriages ushered in Valentine's Day in Baton Rouge and Mardi Gras in New Orleans to the delight of many residents in hurricane-stricken Louisiana. Business is slower than it was before Hurricane Katrina, and the barns are in disrepair, but little successes ... Read full story
 5/1/2006
Permanent Identification  *
Hurricane Katrina taught us many lessons. Serving as the Horse Unit Coordinator for the Louisiana Department of Agriculture's State Veterinarian's Office after Katrina, I received a much-needed education in permanent identification and the benefits for both horses and their owners. A total of 364 horses were rescued and transported to the Lamar-Dixon ... Read full story
 5/1/2006
Bloodhorse.com "Morning Line" Takes You Behind the Scenes at the Kentucky Derby  *
Beginning Monday, May 1, and running daily through Derby Day, Saturday, May 6, bloodhorse.com introduces Morning Line, a new feature designed to bring the horses, people, and places of Thoroughbred racing closer to racing enthusiasts. bloodhorse.com is launching the new feature with a behind-the-scenes journal of Derby Week written by Evan Hammonds, ... Read full story
 4/28/2006
HSUS Announces Additional Katrina Recovery and Rebuilding Grants  *
On April 14, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) announced more than $800,000 in additional grants to organizations working on pet welfare issues in the Gulf Coast. The HSUS is providing $445,000 in recovery and rebuilding grants to animal shelters affected by Hurricane Katrina and to groups that assisted with relief and sheltering of animal ... Read full story
 4/17/2006
Television Program Will Highlight Katrina Recovery  *
Tonight (April 6), "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" will feature the New Orleans' 9th Ward community after the August 2005 devastation of Hurricane Katrina. "After the Storm: New Orleans" will appear at 8:00 p.m. (9:00 p.m. CDT) on ABC. According to the television show's web site, "Striving to heal the hearts of victims of Hurricane Katrina, the ... Read full story
 4/6/2006
Groups Band Together to Provide Hay for Hurricane Victims   *
Five equine organizations joined together in Feburary to provide 6,500 bales of hay to nearly 800 horses in Vermilion Parish, La., that were affected by Hurricane Rita. The United States Equestrian Federation, the American Association of Equine Practitioners Foundation, and the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association (LVMA) Equine Committee Foundation ... Read full story
 4/1/2006
Lessons Learned From the Hurricanes   *
Microchips were helpful in reuniting horses with owners after the 2005 hurricanes, but it was usually because owners had proof of horses' microchip numbers. Since 1994, the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry (LDAF) has required horses' Coggins or equine infectious anemia tests to be linked with permanent identification, including microchips, ... Read full story
 4/1/2006
New Beginnings  *
If you had never been to Louisiana before, you might drive through the southern countryside today, passing sugarcane fields and oil refineries, and across bridge after bridge spanning a seemingly endless swampland, without too heavy of a reminder that just last fall, nearly all seemed lost. While all is not normal or pristine, you can visit the occasional ... Read full story
 4/1/2006
New Orleans Carriage Company Rebuilds  *
The horses and mules rescued last September from the flooded stables of Charbonnet Mid-City Carriages helped usher in Valentine's Day in Baton Rouge and Mardi Gras in New Orleans to the delight of many residents in Katrina- and Rita-stricken Louisiana. Business is much slower for the company than it was before Hurricane Katrina, and the stables aren't ... Read full story
 3/14/2006
Ways to Help Horses and Horse Owners Affected by Katrina and Rita  *
(Note: This was first published online in September 2005 and the article date is continually updated) Rescue teams and officials have said that the best way to help Hurricane Katrina and Rita victims is by making financial contributions to various organizations that are earmarking funds for horses and horse owners. Please see the list below. If you ... Read full story
 3/8/2006
Louisiana Termite/Mulch Rumors Untrue  *
(edited press release) An e-mail warning the public about Formosan termite-infested mulch from southern Louisiana has been circulating online this week. Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry (LDAF) officials are stressing to the public that the e-mail is false and that quarantine measures enacted last fall have kept woody debris from ... Read full story
 3/7/2006
AAEP Foundation Helps Feed Gulf Coast Horses  *
The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Foundation announced on Feb. 22 a donation of more than $26,000 to two relief efforts for horses affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Both efforts are providing hay and other supplies to horses in Mississippi and Louisiana whose pastures have suffered salt water damage. The most recent Foundation ... Read full story
 3/6/2006
Horse Owners' Needs Still Urgent After Hurricanes   *
Salty water drowned pastures in Louisiana and Mississippi months ago, but the needs of horses in areas left incapacitated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita remain critical, say area veterinarians and residents. Most Gulf Coast horse owners need quality square bales of hay and horse feed. If you would like to help Louisiana horses (6,400 bales were needed ... Read full story
 3/1/2006
Making the Most of Microchips  *
ID numbers should be in a searchable database While microchips were helpful in reuniting horses with owners after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, it was generally because owners had proof of horses' microchip numbers. Since 1994, the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) has required Coggins or equine infectious anemia tests to be ... Read full story
 2/22/2006
Equine Groups Band Together to Provide Feed for Hurricane-Affected Areas  *
(Edited press release) Five equine organizations joined together this week to provide 6,500 bales of hay to nearly 800 horses in Vermilion Parish, La., that were affected by Hurricane Rita. The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Foundation, and the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association ... Read full story
 2/17/2006
Equine Program Receives Heroes for Horses Award  *
The faculty, staff and students of the Equine Health Studies Program (EHSP) of the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine (LSU-SVM) were recently nationally recognized for their efforts in assisting horses and horse owners during hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) awarded the inaugural Heroes ... Read full story
 2/1/2006
Horse Owners' Needs Still Urgent after Katrina and Rita  *
It's a common trend--people don't break out the checkbooks months after a disaster event as readily as they do immediately after the crisis. Time passes, other calamities arise, and well-meaning donors change their focus. The salty water drowned pastures in Louisiana and Mississippi months ago, but the needs of horse owners in those areas left incapacitated ... Read full story
 1/12/2006
Veterinarians Watch for Hurricane-Related Illnesses   *
With water pooling everywhere and sharp debris all around, horse owners can't help but wonder if conditions left by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita will cause an increase in illnesses such as tetanus, encephalitis, botulism, and Potomac horse fever (PHF). Area veterinarians say they haven't seen an increase in horses exhibiting these diseases, but they're ... Read full story
 12/22/2005
Microchips Aid Horse Recovery After Katrina   *
Microchip manufacturers report they have experienced recent increased interest in microchips, presumably due to the microchips' help in recovering animals following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Microchipping horses involves the use of transponders about the size of a grain of rice enclosed in a glass vial implanted in the left nuchal ligament (about ... Read full story
 12/22/2005
Growing Grass After the Hurricanes   *
Will grass re-establish in Gulf Coast area pastures that were covered in murky, salty, or contaminated floodwaters for several weeks in September? That is a question agronomy researchers at Louisiana State University (LSU) aim to answer in the coming months. Plant and soil scientists are analyzing how best to manage pastures and hay fields that were ... Read full story
 12/22/2005
LSU and Idaho State Work Together to Reunite Katrina Pets with Owners  *
A group of Louisiana State University and Idaho State University students are volunteering their time to give owners personal help in searching for their pets. If you or someone you know needs assistance in searching the Animal Emergency Response Network (AERN) for a pet lost during the hurricanes, please contact the student team by e-mail at katrinapets1@gmail.com. When ... Read full story
 12/19/2005
Christmas Giving  *
Two months, three hurricanes, five states, hundreds dead, thousands homeless, billions of dollars in damage. How can we understand? More importantly, how can we help? In last month's issue, we devoted many pages to covering what happened in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. We've discussed specific and general needs ... Read full story
 12/1/2005
Publisher Tries to Keep Equine Magazine Going After Hurricanes  *
For more than eight weeks, Bonnie Clark, president of the Louisiana Equine Council (LEC) and publisher of Horseman's Guide of the South Central Region, set her life aside, unpaid, to head up an operation at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales, La. There, she helped reunite 357 rescued horses and mules with their owners following Hurricane Katrina. ... Read full story
 11/11/2005
Reflecting on Katrina: A New Orleans Vet's Perspective
"It's just so amazing to me that in one day, it can all be lost and suddenly you live in a dangerous place," said Allison Barca, DVM, who has served many of the equines in and around New Orleans for years. Barca's home is just north of New Orleans in Harahan, La., and most of her clients were in some way affected by the hurricanes. Since the storm, ... Read full story
 11/9/2005
Enduring Chaos  *
More than 350 Louisiana horses and mules were rescued after Hurricane Katrina devastated parts of the Gulf Coast on August 29. Rescuers dealt daily with images of destruction--such as barns full of trapped horses that didn't survive the storm surge. Some horses simply weren't able touch the ground in the nine feet of sludge that rose around them when ... Read full story
 11/1/2005
Three Days in Louisiana   *
As news editor of The Horse, I had asked myself: How was I to communicate to readers the enormous amount of devastation Hurricane Katrina caused to everything in her path? Her effects on people and property have been extensively covered in the mainstream news media, but her wrath was no easier on animals. And early on, there was precious little information ... Read full story
 11/1/2005
Deworming Strategies and Hurricane Recovery   *
The level of equine parasite transmission should be diminished on pastures evacuated due to flooding, said Craig Reinemeyer, DVM, PhD, president of East Tennessee Clinical Research in Knoxville, Tenn. "Many larvae would get washed away, and others would go down into the soil," he said. "In either case, climatic conditions now (early October) along ... Read full story
 11/1/2005
Katrina Increases Gulf Coast Mosquito Population; WNV Outbreak Not Expected   *
The mosquito population of the Gulf Coast's hurricane-affected areas is expected to increase at a staggering rate, according to Joe Conlon, spokesman of the American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA). However, he added that the possibility of a West Nile virus (WNV) epidemic is unlikely. "We are not looking for a spike in WNV or Eastern equine ... Read full story
 11/1/2005
Heroes Nonetheless   *
Hard to imagine, isn't it? Two severe hurricanes hitting within a month of each other. Striking within miles of each other. People we know, people we've never met--their lives are changed forever. Their stories have touched us and made us cry. They've made us want to do something! And even if you've given until your budget is stretched thin, offered ... Read full story
 11/1/2005
Florida VETS Team Helping Vets and Owners  *
On Friday morning, Oct. 28, John Haven, Director of the Veterinary School at the University of Florida and head of the Veterinary Emergency Treatment Service (VETS) Team, said, "It's been an interesting two days. Got a call this morning from Palm Beach Equine (veterinary clinic), and they are running on a generator and are fine with fuel. They've been ... Read full story
 10/31/2005
Louis Pomes Named White Horse Winner  *
Louis Pomes, who worked tirelessly to find and lead abandoned horses to safety in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, was named the 2005 winner of the White Horse Award Thursday afternoon at Belmont Park. The award was bestowed upon Pomes during the third annual Race Track Chaplaincy of America's White Horse Heroes Luncheon held in the Marquee tent near ... Read full story
 10/28/2005
Calder Race Course Sustains Damage from Hurricane Wilma  *
Calder Race Course sustained damage Monday to its clubhouse facility and parts of its stable area as a result of Hurricane Wilma, which stormed across South Florida Oct. 24. The Miami area racetrack lost power during the storm and has cancelled simulcast wagering for Tuesday. Calder was closed for live racing Monday due to the storm. Calder is currently ... Read full story
 10/25/2005
Hurricane Wilma: First Assessments  *
"The roads into the Keys are basically tide-dependent at this point," described John Haven, Veterinary Emergency Treatment Service (VETS) branch director, from the State Agricultural Response Team (SART) incident command post that is currently set up in Kissimmee, Fla. to offer aid after Hurricane Wilma. "When the tides are down, you can drive…when ... Read full story
 10/25/2005
Wilma Moves Over Southern Florida Peninsula  *
Hurricane Wilma is pounding the southern Florida peninsula after coming ashore as a Category 2 hurricane early this morning (Oct. 24). As of 9 a.m. EDT, the center of Hurricane Wilma was about 45 miles southwest of West Palm Beach, Fla. The National Weather Service (NWS) reported in its latest Public Advisory that maximum sustained winds were near ... Read full story
 10/24/2005
Hurricane Wilma Leads to Calder Cancellation  *
With South Florida under a hurricane warning, Calder Racecourse cancelled live racing and simulcasting Monday (Oct. 24) as the state's southwest coast awaited the arrival of Hurricane Wilma. Track president Ken Dunn also announced that the main track and training track will be closed for exercising as well, as track personnel and horsemen are preparing ... Read full story
 10/23/2005
Growing Grass After the Hurricanes  *
Will grass re-establish in Gulf Coast area pastures that were covered in murky, salty, or contaminated floodwaters for several weeks in September? That is a question agronomy researchers at Louisiana State University (LSU) aim to answer in the coming months. Plant and soil scientists are analyzing how best to manage pastures and hay fields that were ... Read full story
 10/21/2005
Wilma Hits Mexico; Florida Should See Storm Early Next Week  *
Category 4 Hurricane Wilma hit portions of Mexico today (Oct. 21) with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph. Hurricane-force winds extended out from the hurricane up to 85 miles, and tropical storm winds reached outward up to 200 miles. The hurricane is expected to make landfall on the western coast of Florida on Monday. According to a 10 a.m. EDT National ... Read full story
 10/21/2005
Preparing for Wilma: Intrastate Requirements for Animals Lifted in Florida  *
Florida agriculture officials have temporarily suspended intrastate requirements for those animals fleeing areas that could be hit by Hurricane Wilma. Also, "Georgia and Alabama have waived the interstate requirements for those animals fleeing the potential impact areas of the storm," added Michael A. Short, DVM, equine programs manager in Florida's ... Read full story
 10/20/2005
Hurricane Wilma Heads Toward the Florida Keys  *
Six weeks remain in hurricane season, and Nature isn't wasting any time. According to a public advisory from the National Weather Service (NWS) Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla., Hurricane Wilma is moving toward the Yucatan as a "potentially catastrophic Category 5 hurricane." Yesterday (Oct 18), Wilma strengthened to hurricane level while crossing the ... Read full story
 10/19/2005
Microchip Interest Increases After Hurricanes  *
At least two microchip manufacturers said they experienced recent increased interest in their products, presumably as a result of the animal identification problems following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. These companies said they worked with national disaster relief organizations after the hurricanes to provide scanners and identification methods. Microchipping ... Read full story
 10/18/2005
Kentucky Farmers Help Hurricane Victims  *
This growing season has had its challenges for Kentucky farmers. Some areas have experienced severe drought conditions. Then there are the typical challenges of disease, soil erosion and unpredictable market conditions. Imagine though that you woke up one day and your livestock was scattered, your fences gone, your greenhouse in shambles, your pastures ... Read full story
 10/14/2005
Kentucky Livestock Feed Bound for Louisiana  *
A second load of livestock feed from Kentucky is on its way to hurricane-battered farmers near the Gulf Coast. A truck carrying 23 tons of feed is en route to Louisiana State University's Iberia agriculture research station in Jeanerette in south-central Louisiana. From there it will be distributed to area livestock producers. The feed was loaded ... Read full story
 10/14/2005
LSU 2006 Stallion Service Auction Starts  *
Bidding for the 2006 multiple-breed, internet-based Stallion Service Auction to benefit the Louisiana State University Equine Health Studies Program begins today (Oct. 14). Access the auction page through http://LSUEquine.com and click on the Stallion Service Auction site. LSU is still accepting donations of breedings even as the auction gets underway. The ... Read full story
 10/14/2005
More Louisiana Hurricane Horses Identified  *
A tattoo or a microchip and some good record keeping can go a long way in reuniting horses with their owners. So says Bonnie Clark, president of the Louisiana Equine Council, who has been heading up the horse hurricane relief effort at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center equine staging facility in Gonzales, La. since Sept. 1. A rescued Thoroughbred was quickly ... Read full story
 10/13/2005
Vets Watch for Hurricane-Related Illnesses  *
With water pooling in places that it normally doesn't and sharp debris all around, horse owners can't help but wonder if conditions left by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita will cause an increase in the reports of illnesses such as tetanus, encephalitis, botulism, and Potomac horse fever. Area veterinarians say they haven’t seen an increase of horses exhibiting ... Read full story
 10/12/2005
Event Celebrates Equine Volunteers at Lamar-Dixon  *
The scene at Lamar-Dixon Expo Center during the past five weeks has been all business. Veterinarians, veterinary students, and volunteers have dutifully cared for the facility's residents--Katrina's equine refugees that were rescued from their flooded or storm-torn homes. But for a few hours last night (Oct. 9), the pace slowed and a pair of hulking ... Read full story
 10/10/2005
Days End Report from Louisiana, Oct. 6  *
Allan Schwartz, vice president of Days End Farm Horse Rescue from Lisbon, Md., said there were two things that they wouldn't be able to share with others once they returned home from rescue work following the hurricanes: The smells of rot and death. "The pictures just can't show that," he said. One a brighter note, he said Days' End and other groups ... Read full story
 10/6/2005
Louisiana Animals Still Suffering  *
While much of the focus of the country remains on the areas struck by Hurricane Katrina, the people and animals hit hard by Hurricane Rita are in need. Allan Schwartz, vice president of Days End Farm Horse Rescue (DEFHR) from Lisbon, Md., has been working equine and other animal rescues in Mississippi and Louisiana, and his team is now on the Texas ... Read full story
 10/5/2005
Only Four Rescued Horses Are Unidentified at Lamar-Dixon; Volunteer Appreciation Ceremony to be Held Oct. 9  *
Nearly 400 horses and mules have been processed at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales, La., since post-hurricane rescues began, and according to Bonnie Clark, president of the Louisiana Equine Council, all but four have unique identification (breed association tattoos or microchips). Clark has been heading up equine operations at the staging ... Read full story
 10/5/2005
Texas A&M Vet Hospital Used for Human Patients During Rita  *
The following was a press release on Sept. 28 by Texas A&M President Robert M. Gates. For the second time in three weeks, Texas A&M University on Sept. 20 mobilized to care for evacuees from a major hurricane--Rita. This time was dramatically different than for Katrina because, as of mid-day on Sept. 21, Rita's path was projected to pass ... Read full story
 10/4/2005
Breeders' Cup Gala To Benefit Hurricane Victims  *
Officials of Breeders' Cup Limited and the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) announced that the 2005 Breeders' Cup Charity Celebration will be held on the evening of Friday, Oct. 28, at historic Roseland Ballroom in New York, with proceeds benefiting the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund aiding hurricane victims, the Fund for Public Health in ... Read full story
 10/4/2005
Days End From the Front Lines  *
"We're walking through three feet of human waste and smelling death everywhere; it's not glamorous," described Allan Schwartz, vice president of Days End Farm Horse Rescue (DEFHR) from Lisbon, Md., on Sept. 29 while working to help animals and their owners in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. A Sept. 28th rescue trip was to Lake Charles, ... Read full story
 9/30/2005
Vet on Hurricanes: The Ripples are Impressive  *
Sonny Corley, DVM, of Acadiana Equine Clinic in Lafayette, La., climbed a fence to leave another note Tuesday night on the door of the clinic belonging to Johnny Reina, DVM, in Lake Charles, La. He had visited the hurricane-damaged site three days in a row and hadn't caught up with Reina yet. Interrupted phone services are just one symptom of the general ... Read full story
 9/29/2005
Disaster Response: Top 10 Ways to Make a Real Impact
This article is dedicated to the thousands of hard-working animal response organizations and their volunteers that slept on the concrete, ate MREs, endured the horror of dragging drowned or killed animal carcasses out of buildings, trees, and mud after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and occasionally proclaimed joyfully, “This one’s ALIVE!” The horse ... Read full story
 9/28/2005
Texas: Evacuations Minimized Rita's Impact  *
Early evacuations of the Texas Gulf Coast significantly reduced Hurricane Rita’s impact on the state’s livestock industry. According to the Texas Animal Health Commission, more than 10,000 head of livestock, mostly horses, were evacuated to designated shelter areas before the brunt of Hurricane Rita hit the Texas shores. "Generally, the hurricane’s ... Read full story
 9/27/2005
Updated Supplies Needed List for Rita-Affected Horses and Other Animals  *
Veterinary and medical supplies are needed immediately in Southwest Louisiana for Hurricane Rita victims. Below is the current list; it will be updated as information becomes available. Please contact those listed if you are able to donate any of these supplies. Medical Supplies Anything to treat cuts (i.e., Silvadine ointment or triple antibiotic ... Read full story
 9/27/2005
Recovering from Rita's Wrath  *
Initial assessments of storm-torn areas in southwestern Louisiana showed that many horse owners were able to get out of Hurricane Rita's way before it battered the coast as a Category 4 storm on Saturday, Sept. 24. Veterinarians said that while many cattle perished as a result of Rita, only a handful of horses have been found dead, mainly due to the ... Read full story
 9/27/2005
AHJF Helps Katrina Victims  *
A press release from the board of the American Hunter-Jumper Foundation (AHJF) expressed their sadness over the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. As the need for emergency recovery assistance declines, the board of the AHJF stated they are preparing for financial requests from those in the hunter and jumper sport. "The recovery from this disaster ... Read full story
 9/26/2005
Texas Addresses Hurricane Rita's Animal Issues  *
Before Hurricane Rita passed through Texas, agricultural-related agencies and associations teamed up in support of the Division of Emergency Management to address animal and livestock rescue, and recovery and disposal of carcasses. "In preparation for Hurricane Rita, hundreds of sites, such as livestock markets, arenas, fairgrounds, kennels, individuals, ... Read full story
 9/26/2005
Subscription Delivery Hampered by Gulf Coast Hurricanes
While delivery of a magazine subscription is probably the last thing on the minds of people living in areas devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, The Horse would like to assure our readers in these areas that they won't lose their magazines. We are putting on hold subscriptions delivering to several zip codes, as the U.S. Postal Service has currently ... Read full story
 9/26/2005
Equine Rescue and Relief in Louisiana  *
The following is a report from the Larmar Dixon Expo Center in Louisiana. The horse rescue and relief efforts for victims of Hurricane Katrina are still ongoing and have been a resounding success. A total of 381 animals (approximately 15 goats, two pot bellied pigs, and the balance of horses/mules) have been processed by the Horse Unit staged at Lamar ... Read full story
 9/25/2005
Texas Horses Evacuate  *
As Hurricane Rita begins to make landfall, evacuees are stuck in gridlock traffic. In some areas traveling a single mile can take up to four hours. And these folks are seeking shelter for their animals. "The traffic is maddening," said Jean Cook with the Texas Racing Commission. According to her, volunteers workers from a shelter who were trying ... Read full story
 9/24/2005
Texas Prepares for Rita  *
With the Hurricane Rita preparing to make landfall, many pet owners are scrambling to find refuge for their animals. The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) in response has placed a list of holding areas for those evacuating the Hurricane's path. "We started out with a listing of 180 sites, and now I think it is well over 200 that will accept ... Read full story
 9/24/2005
USEF Hurricane Equine Relief Fund Will Assist Rita Victims  *
All donations made to the USEF Equine Relief Fund from Sept. 23, 2005, forward will be used to assist victims of any 2005 hurricane, including Katrina, Rita, or any others that could occur. The Fund will assist those agencies working directly with the equine victims and refugees from hurricanes. Every dollar of the money donated to the fund will be ... Read full story
 9/24/2005
Hurricane Rita Texas Preparations: TAHC  *
The Texas Animal Health Commission has set up an emergency hotline to provide pet owners with information on available shelters by county. The number is: 800-550-8242 and operates Monday-Friday, 8 am to 5 pm Pre-selected shelters are currently open and have been receiving evacuating horses and other animals. Lists of available shelters/stabling are ... Read full story
 9/23/2005
Preparing for Rita in Louisiana  *
BATON ROUGE— Still recovering from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Southern Louisiana braces for the oncoming power of Hurricane Rita. In anticipation of this Category 4 Hurricane, the Louisiana State University Hurricane Equine Rescue Operation has reinstated the horse rescue hotline at (225) 578 - 9501. Anyone having knowledge of horses in ... Read full story
 9/23/2005
Louisiana Rescue Horse Shoeing Task Force  *
The American Farrier's Association (AFA) President Craig Trnka, CJF announced the formation of the Louisiana Rescue Horse Shoeing Task Force created to provide care for the horses affected by the recent hurricanes, according to a press release. In charge of the special task force is Ron Kramedjian of Lynnville, Tennessee. The AFA's objective ... Read full story
 9/23/2005
ETI To Match Funds For Equine Hurricane Victims  *
At the September meeting, the Equestrian Trails Inc. (ETI) board of directors voted to make a contribution to Hurricane Katrina's equine victims hoping to raise $25,000. The board voted unanimously to contribute up to $5,000 in matching funds for any contribution by individual ETI members, friends, Corrals (regions), or feed/tack stores. The group ... Read full story
 9/21/2005
Making Horses Eligible for Federal Emergency Funds  *
Language making horses eligible for federal disaster assistance is now included in the USDA FY 2006 appropriations bill. The provision was added as an amendment offered by Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY). It was passed by voice vote. Its effective date would be July 28 in order to cover losses suffered because of Hurricane Katrina. The full 2006 USDA ... Read full story
 9/21/2005
Disaster Training for Veterinarians Pays Off  *
So how do veterinarians who teach school, give dogs rabies shots, and work on lame horses get ready for something like Hurricane Katrina? These folks don’t work in HAZMAT suits in their normal jobs. Most have never been in situations where there are contaminants that could affect their lives. As in all other aspects of their lives, veterinarians who ... Read full story
 9/20/2005
Animal Rescue--Two Weeks in Mississippi   *
Tomas Gimenez, Dr.Med.Vet, is a professor of animal and veterinary sciences at Clemson University, an instructor in emergency and disaster planning and rescue (along with his wife, Rebecca, PhD, a Major in the US Army Reserves mobilized to Active Duty this year), and a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Veterinary Medical ... Read full story
 9/20/2005
TheHorse.com Database Aids In Cat Rescue   *
Thanks to the rescue efforts of Shawn Alladio, owner of K38 Rescue, and the list of animals stranded in the wake of Hurricane Katrina featured on TheHorse.com (www.TheHorse.com/Rescue/RescueLocationList.aspx), two cats were saved last Tuesday (Sept. 13) and reunited with their owner. Cherie Holton was forced to evacuate her home in New Orleans when ... Read full story
 9/20/2005
Louisiana Convoy Put on Hold  *
With Hurricane Rita heading for the Gulf Coast, a convoy of feed, hay, and medical supplies from Shreveport, La., destined for Tangipahoa Parish and Plaquemine Parish, has been put on hold until further notice. The convoy of 15-20 trucks and trailers, organized by Hopeful Haven Equine Rescue (HHERO), was scheduled to leave Saturday, Sept. 24, but will ... Read full story
 9/20/2005
Katrina Increases Mosquito Population  *
Katrina Increases Mosquito Population; WNV Outbreak Not Expected The mosquito population of the Hurricane Katrina-affected areas is expected to increase at a staggering rate, according to Joe Conlon, American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA) technical advisor. However, he added the possibility of a West Nile virus (WNV) epidemic is unlikely. "We ... Read full story
 9/19/2005
LSU Hurricane Equine Rescue Operation (HERO)  *
The Louisiana State University (LSU) School of Veterinary Medicine Equine Clinic established the Horse Hurricane Helpline on Thursday, Sept. 1, and faculty, staff, and students began fielding countless calls around the clock from people reporting horses in need of rescue. We set up a "Central Command" in conjunction with the Helpline wherein we mapped ... Read full story
 9/19/2005
Mississippi Horse Slaughter Rumors Untrue  *
Officials working with the official horse rescue organizations in Mississippi say that rumors that 5,000 horses have been abandoned and/or shipped to slaughter is untrue. According to official reports, there are very few horses in the hands of rescue organizations or the state or federal government; most are on farms. Feed, water, and supplies are ... Read full story
 9/16/2005
Mississippi Animal Relief Fund  *
Anyone wishing to help horses, horse owners, veterinarians, or small animals in Mississippi should contact the Mississippi Animal Relief Fund toll-free at 888/722-3106. Mississippi State Veterinarian Dr. Jim Watson said today (Sept. 16) that while there still is a need for feed, baled hay, general supplies, and veterinary supplies in his state, he ... Read full story
 9/16/2005
Churchill Downs Incorporated Twin Spires Club to Sponsor 'Racing to the Rescue Drive' For Members  *
Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) is offering a unique and easy way for racing fans to contribute to the relief efforts in Louisiana and other states affected by Hurricane Katrina. Through its customer-rewards program, the Twin Spires Club (TSC), CDI will allow patrons to donate the monetary value of TSC points they have earned to the NTRA's "Racing ... Read full story
 9/15/2005
Louisiana State University Equine Rescue Operations  *
Whereas the needs of horses and local equine facilities have changed somewhat in the two weeks following Hurricane Katrina, the rescue efforts of the Louisiana State University (LSU) team continue on a daily basis. Horses continue to be brought in, although on a much smaller scale. Horses and mules are now being claimed by their owners, and feed and ... Read full story
 9/14/2005
New Orleans Carriage Horse Update  *
Seventeen carriage horses and two carriage mules from New Orleans' Charbonnet Mid-City Carriage Company are living at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzalez, La. The rest of the company's animals have been moved from Louisiana to a farm in Nashville, Tenn., said Darnell Stewart, one of the men who stayed behind with the animals after Hurricane Katrina ... Read full story
 9/13/2005
Deworming Strategies and Hurricane Recovery  *
The level of equine parasite transmission should be diminished on pastures that were so flooded they had to be evacuated, said Craig Reinemeyer, DVM, PhD, president of East Tennessee Clinical Research in Knoxville, Tenn. "Many larvae would get washed away, and others would go down into the soil," he said. "In either case, climatic conditions right ... Read full story
 9/13/2005
LSU Reports Good News for Horses  *
"We have lots of horses that are in fresh, clean stalls," reported Rustin Moore, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVS, direcotr of the Equine Health Studies Program at the Louisiana State Univerity College of Veterinary Medicine the evening of Tuesday, Sept. 13. "We have had about 350 horses rescued, but thankfully we have release 80 or more to their owners. Our rescued ... Read full story
 9/13/2005
North Carolina Horse Refugee Plan  *
This plan was organized by the State Animal Response Team, North Carolina Department of Agriculture, and the North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine. If any horses are requested from states affected by Hurricane Katrina are to be sent to North Carolina, it is hoped that no sick or injured horses are asked to make the long trip. Healthy ... Read full story
 9/12/2005
Evangeline Downs Helps Hurricane Victims  *
The Hurricane Katrina relief benefit initiated by Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino in Opelousas, La., has been added to a growing list of U.S. companies who are successfully raising large sums of money and providing relief for hurricane survivors. The racing operation donated 100% of its revenues from its Sept. 4 racing program to the Acadiana ... Read full story
 9/12/2005
Notes from the Field, VMAT-2, Sept. 10, evening  *
Following is a report from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Veterinary Medical Assistance Team 2 (VMAT-2) now working in Gulfport, Miss. Team members, Army personnel, and Humane Society volunteers have spent the last couple of days building, equipping, and setting up the field veterinary hospital. Today is the first day of accepting ... Read full story
 9/10/2005
Louisiana Animal Update, Sept. 10  *
Companion animal rescue teams composed of the Humane Society of the United States and Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals personnel are dispatched daily to New Orleans from the Lamar Dixon Expo Center to rescue animals that have been abandoned or are stranded in houses. Rescue teams returned with 350 animals yesterday (Sept. ... Read full story
 9/10/2005
Mississippi Animal Update, Sept. 10  *
Companion animal rescue, sheltering, and care operations are being conducted from four staging areas in Mississippi. The staging areas are located at the Mississippi State Fairground in Jackson, the Forest County Multipurpose Complex in Hattiesburg, the Jackson County Animal Shelter in Gautier, and the Human Society of Southern Mississippi complex ... Read full story
 9/10/2005
VCA Offers Free Shelter  *
The Veterinary Centers of America (VCA) has agreed to board companion animals needing shelter due to Hurricane Katrina at no cost. VCA operates over 370 animal hospitals in 38 States across the nation. These hospitals are staffed by over 1,300 fully qualified veterinarians and provide a full range of general medical and surgical services as well as ... Read full story
 9/10/2005
Helping Louisiana Horse Victims of Hurricane Katrina   *
There has been a tremendous outpouring of sympathy and concern for the horse victims of Hurricane Katrina. In Louisian, veterinarians and staff of the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, stepped up in the immediate aftermath of the storm to start assiting animals and their owners. Rustin Moore, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVS, Director ... Read full story
 9/10/2005
Veterinary Team (VMAT-2) Update Sept. 9, Morning  *
Today the Veterinary Medical Assistance Team 2 (VMAT2) is building a field hospital in Gulfport, Miss., area about 40 minutes away from Keasler Air Base where it is staying. We've seen very few cases of acute trauma in the Mississippi area. Skin problems are the most common ailment. All surgeries are referred to local clinics to prevent VMAT from ... Read full story
 9/9/2005
A Day in the Life of a Hurricane Rescue Team From LSU  *
"There are hundreds of little interest stories that have or will come out of this thing" said Ky Mortensen, Director of Advancement for the Equine Program at Louisiana State University College of Veterinary Medicine. "Some will be remembered for a long time, written down, and shared nationwide. Others will only live in the memories of those immediately ... Read full story
 9/9/2005
The Jockey Club Foundation Donates $100,000 To Hurricane Relief  *
The Jockey Club Foundation, which assists needy individuals throughout the Thoroughbred racing industry, has made a $100,000 contribution to the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts being spearheaded by two industry organizations. A check for $75,000 was sent to the National Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association's Hurricane Katrina Relief ... Read full story
 9/9/2005
Expo Center Crowded; Equine Evacuees Doing Well  *
The continual sound of dogs barking and an occasional worried whinny was audible in the background as Dennis French, DVM, MS, Dipl. ABVP, of Louisiana State University's (LSU) veterinary school, gave an update on the equine evacuees at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales, La. There have been a handful of equine veterinary emergencies over the past ... Read full story
 9/9/2005
Vet Students Help Out  *
The veterinary students in attendance at the Opportunities in Equine Practice Seminar (OEPS, Sept. 2-4) at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky., wanted to help the relief efforts of their fellow vet students at Louisiana State and Mississippi State. In response to this desire, a box was set out for donations to go to animal rescue efforts ... Read full story
 9/8/2005
USEF Operating New Equine Emergency Hotline for Mississippi  *
Equine Supply Depots in Mississippi Now Operational Mississippi horse owners affected by Hurricane Katrina now have a new lifeline to help through the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF). As of today, USEF has a dedicated phone line to take emergency calls from Mississippians in need of emergency assistance for their horses. The USEF Mississippi ... Read full story
 9/8/2005
Veterinarians Allocate $500,000 For Hurricane Relief  *
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Executive Board announced Sept. 7 that it has allocated $500,000 in matching funds to solicit monetary donations for a fund established by the American Veterinary Medical Foundation to go toward disaster relief efforts in the Gulf States ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. Board members unanimously approved ... Read full story
 9/8/2005
AVMA Disaster Update # 13  *
The evening of Sept. 7, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) posted the following report. To donate to the AVMA's Foundation and Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams (VMATs), visit www.avmf.org. Contact Numbers for Louisiana Animal Rescue Needs For Hurricane Katrina information, questions, donations, etc., Contact: Katrina@ldaf.louisiana.gov. ... Read full story
 9/8/2005
St. Bernard Parish Horses Rescued  *
A report from Louisiana State University Veterinary School this morning stated that about 40 horses were rescued out of St. Bernard Parish in Louisiana yesterday, and about 10 the day before. They are sending five tucks with large trailers down there today for more horses. There was no injury or casualty report given. ... Read full story
 9/8/2005
Warning To Pet/Horse Owners In Stricken Areas  *
Allan Schwartz, vice president of Days End Farm Horse Rescue (DEFHR) in Lisbon, Md., who is doing animal rescue in Mississippi, warns pet and horse owners in stricken areas to ask for identification before they allow their animals to be taken by anyone. He said stories are growing of people who turned their animals over to "rescue" workers and never ... Read full story
 9/8/2005
Louisiana Animal Evacuee Update  *
The Louisiana State University (LSU) School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM) has posted information on its web site regarding animal evacuees. They noted that animals from the following veterinary clinics are being housed at the John M. Parker Coliseum on the LSU Campus: Belle Chasse Animal Hospital; Causeway Animal Hospital (some pets); Metairie Small ... Read full story
 9/8/2005
Assistant State Vet: Louisiana Horse Rescues Underway, Donations Needed  *
"Horses are being pulled out as we speak," said Martha Littlefield, assistant state veterinarian for the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry. The Horse spoke with Littlefield yesterday (Sept. 6) about the state of Louisiana's equine rescue activities in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Littlefield has been fielding hundreds--if not thousands--of ... Read full story
 9/7/2005
Rescuing the Horses of St. Bernard Parish  *
Jay Addison, DVM, of New Orleans, La., hasn't been able to see if his home withstood Hurricane Katrina, and the house of one of his partners in veterinary practice, Ronald Giardina, DVM, was completely destroyed. Regardless of their situations, Addison, Giardina, and other area veterinarians, technicians, and volunteers are making their number one ... Read full story
 9/7/2005
TheHorse.com Creates Emergency Database to Report Animals Stranded By Hurricane Katrina  *
In response to a request from the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams (VMATs), www.TheHorse.com has created a database for citizens to report stranded animals in Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi. This list will be used by the VMATs to direct their searches for large and small animals for rescue. If you ... Read full story
 9/7/2005
Veterinarians Rescue and Reunite Animals and Owners  *
For the past week, wall-to-wall television coverage of the Gulf Coast disaster has shown countless stories of people who have lost everything yet are willing to trade what little they may have left to save their pets. "Veterinarians know how unique the human-animal bond is, especially during a crisis," said Dr. Cindy Lovern, assistant director, scientific ... Read full story
 9/7/2005
Katrina Refugee Animals Welcome in Kentucky; State's Livestock Will Be Protected  *
Kentucky State Veterinarian Robert C. Stout, DVM, has established procedures for movement of equine and livestock into Kentucky from Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi that were evacuated, displaced, or abandoned as a result of Hurricane Katrina. The procedures will speed up the process of relocating rescued animals into the state while at the same ... Read full story
 9/7/2005
Update From the Field, Mississippi, Sept. 7, afternoon  *
Allan Schwartz, vice president of Days End Farm Horse Rescue (DEFHR) from Lisbon, Md., was reached by cell phone this afternoon (Sept. 7) in Mississippi. While service was spotty, he managed to give a brief account of what had been happening with his rescue team. “It’s devastation like I’ve never seen,” he said. “It’s beyond words. We are winding ... Read full story
 9/7/2005
Notes From the Field, Sept. 6 morning  *
Veterinary Medical Assistance Team 2 (VMAT 2) is currently commanded in the field by Karen Iovino, DVM, of Virginia. The Team Commander is Patrice Klein, VMD, in Maryland working issues from the rear. The team has been doing assessments for the last four days focusing in Hancock and Harrison Counties in Mississippi. We have completed a few missions ... Read full story
 9/6/2005
AVMA Vet Teams At Work  *
For the first time in their 11- year history, four complete Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams (VMAT) have been simultaneously deployed. Staged in neighboring communities since Aug. 30, all four teams have now moved in to Katrina-ravaged areas to provide assistance. Two teams, VMAT-1 and VMAT-5 of 25 members each, have arrived in Baton Rouge. They ... Read full story
 9/6/2005
Thoroughbred Industry Supports Hurricane Relief  *
Individuals in the Thoroughbred industry are teaming up with Starquine and Brisnet to host a Thoroughbred stallion season auction to benefit the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Live bidding will take place Sept. 26 thru Sept. 29th at www.Starquine.com. All proceeds go directly to help in the hurricane relief efforts. To donate a stallion season or ... Read full story
 9/6/2005
Keeneland To Accept Donations For Disaster Relief; Casners Commit $1 Million  *
Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) chairman and WinStar Farm co-owner Bill Casner and his wife, Susan, have made a commitment to match up to $1 million raised during the Keeneland September Thoroughbred Yearing Sale at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky., which begins Monday Sept. 12. Keeneland, in partnership with the TOBA and Thoroughbred ... Read full story
 9/6/2005
Pfizer Commits $2 Million and Healthcare Products  *
The colleagues of Pfizer express our sympathy and support for the people of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and other states whose lives and communities have been devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Since the first hours of disaster, we have been in contact with local, state, and federal officials to assess how our company can best respond to the ... Read full story
 9/6/2005
Notes from the field – Sept. 5, morning  *
Editor's Note: The following is from veterinary emergency personnel assigned to duty in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. If veterinary personnel are deployed they should take their captive bolts; there is minimal euthanasia solution available for all the horrific injury and infectious cases that need to be put down. Emergency veterinary volunteers ... Read full story
 9/5/2005
Churchill Downs' Louisiana Safe List Names Grow  *
Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) has located approximately 40% of its Louisiana workforce displaced by Hurricane Katrina. As of Sept. 5, 203 employees had been located through the company’s toll-free CDI Louisiana Employee Hotline 877/244-5536 or through Fair Grounds’ Web site, www.fgno.com. Members of CDI’s corporate human resources staff are providing ... Read full story
 9/5/2005
Horses Saved; Rescuers Live the Highs and Lows  *
Eighty-nine equines rescued from areas ravaged by Hurricane Katrina are alive and well and staying at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales, La. They are being cared for by a dedicated team of Louisiana State University (LSU) veterinarians, veterinary students, technicians, and other volunteers. The center was quiet when The Horse finally got through ... Read full story
 9/5/2005
Hurricane Horses Being Reached  *
As southern Louisiana reaches the one week anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, rescue efforts continue on a large scale for horses affected by the storm and subsequent flooding. Lamar-Dixon Expo Center, the central staging area for horses recently retrieved from the New Orleans area currently houses 90 horses and mules yet to be claimed by their owners. ... Read full story
 9/5/2005
Animal Evacuation and Recovery Plan for New Orleans  *
The Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (LA/SPCA), the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association (LVMA), the Louisiana Animal Control Association (LACA), and the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM) are managing animal evacuations and recovery plans for New Orleans pets and displaced animals. Pets Traveling With Owners The ... Read full story
 9/4/2005
More Ways to Help  *
Louisiana SPCA The LA SPCA will coordinate all animal rescue from affected areas to the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales, La. This will be the primary staging area. Donations of food, kennels, etc are needed. Please donate through the LVMA (see below). Contact: Kathyrn Destriza 504\329-5209 or Lorretta Lambertson, 504\329-0701 Lamar-Dixon Expo ... Read full story
 9/4/2005
Racing Revenues for Victims  *
Responding to the dire need for help and resources for the Louisiana citizens became a top priority for Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino. In an unprecedented move, the racing operation is donating 100% of its revenues from Sunday's (Sept. 4) racing program to the Acadiana Chapter of the Red Cross Relief Fund. The racetrack is hosting a special ... Read full story
 9/4/2005
Word From the Field  *
The Humane Society of the United States Situation Report: Friday, Sept. 2, 2005Filed from reports by Laura Bevan, HSUS Southeast Regional Office Director and HSUS Animal Response Branch Director for Mississippi; and Lou Guyton, HSUS Southwest Regional Office Director and HSUS Animal Response Branch Director for Louisiana; compiled by Anne Culver, ... Read full story
 9/4/2005
$27.25 Million in Emergency Energy Assistance Released  *
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Mike Leavitt today announced $27.25 million in emergency energy assistance to assist states hit hardest by Hurricane Katrina. This release of funds reflects initial requests from the affected states and their current ability to distribute the funds. Further releases are anticipated when additional ... Read full story
 9/3/2005
Equine Rescue: A Group Effort in Louisiana  *
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, many horses in the New Orleans area are currently in need of relief and evacuation. The human response to this need has been overwhelming, and the ability to effectively approach the situation is increasing in strength by the minute. Due to the incredible number of difficulties presented as a result of the flooding ... Read full story
 9/3/2005
CNN Airs Clip of Mini Horse Owners Impacted by Hurricane Katrina  *
Following the airing of a live Anderson Cooper CNN broadcast from Waveland, Miss., the American Miniature Horse Association (AMHA) has been flooded with offers of help and support for some of its members featured on air who are trapped in this area. Drs. William and Judith Bradford and their three children have survived Hurricane Katrina, but are ... Read full story
 9/2/2005
LSU Veterinary School Sets Up Horse Hurricane Helpline  *
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine has set up a Horse Hurricane Helpline to help those horse owners with questions regarding rescue, shelter, and veterinary care. Please call 225/578-9501 for your horse-related questions. ... Read full story
 9/2/2005
AAEP Foundation Fund Established to Aid Hurricane Victims  *
The American Association of Equine Practitioners Foundation (AAEPF) today announced the creation of an Equine Disaster Relief Fund to help with recovery and rebuilding efforts that are to follow from Hurricane Katrina and future disasters that may occur. These funds will only be used to benefit the welfare of horses affected by disasters. "The AAEP ... Read full story
 9/2/2005
AVMA Relief Update: Missions Beginning  *
Mission assignments were falling into place last night when the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) sent its seventh disaster update in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. As of 11:30 pm CDT yesterday (Sept. 1), here were the locations and assignments of the Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams (VMAT) in Mississippi and Louisiana, which were ... Read full story
 9/2/2005
Reaching the Equine Victims of Katrina Slowly, but Surely  *
Rescuers have begun to successfully access areas with horses trapped in flooded stalls and paddocks and the horses are being shipped out for veterinary medical attention. This afternoon The Horse received an update on rescued horses from Rustin Moore, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVS, director of the Equine Health Studies Program at Louisiana State University's ... Read full story
 9/2/2005
Equine Hurricane Evacuation   *
Prepared by the AAEP Emergency & Disaster Preparedness Committee Head for the hills! When hurricane winds blow along the Gulf and Eastern shores of the United States, horse owners must decide whether to "shelter in place" or load horses, gear, and pretty much everything but the kitchen sink, and head inland, away from the greatest storm danger. ... Read full story
 9/1/2005
Animal Aid Worker on Katrina:   *
The macabre images flashing on our television screens don't even begin to capture the grief, the chaos, and the stench that is being experienced by individuals in several Gulf Coast states as a result of deadly Hurricane Katrina. Thousands of horses have probably been impacted, but the current reality is that human welfare must be tended to first, ... Read full story
 9/1/2005
Horse Rescue Groups Mobilizing Hurricane Relief Effort  *
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, horse rescue groups are mobilizing to provide assistance to horses and livestock impacted by the devastating storm and are seeking financial support for the effort. The National Horse Protection Coalition, along with Texas based Habitat for Horses and the Louisiana Equine Council have joined forces to assemble ... Read full story
 9/1/2005
Texas Equine Rescue Group Helping Louisiana's Horses  *
Habitat for Horses/Lone Star Equine Rescue is organizing a massive relief and rescue effort to help the equines of southern Louisiana after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina forced millions to evacuate. A large number of horses, mules, and donkeys are now in danger of starvation, injury, and death if relief efforts are not immediately taken. The ... Read full story
 9/1/2005
AVMA: Teams Ready to Assess Hurricane Damage  *
According to the latest Hurricane Katrina disaster update from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) at 9:00 pm CDT on Aug. 31, four Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams (VMAT) were deployed and awaiting mission assignments for various devastated areas. The VMAT teams were to begin with "overall assessments of veterinary facilities, animal ... Read full story
 9/1/2005
Fair Grounds Race Course Sustains Hurricane Damage  *
Hurricane Katrina, which ravaged the Gulf Coast of the United States with damaging winds, rains, and flood waters, caused damage to Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, La. Fair Grounds and its affiliated off-track betting facilities and video poker operations are owned and operated by Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI). "We have much work to ... Read full story
 8/31/2005
Safe Havens and Veterinary Services Needed for Hurricane Katrina's Equine Refugees  *
Place Your Facility on the USEF Hurricane Equine Relief List (Lexington, KY) – As Americans view the newscasts of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina it is clear that both humans and animals require immediate emergency relief from not only official agencies but from the generosity of individuals. If you have a facility or pasture which you ... Read full story
 8/31/2005
Katrina Strands Many; Rescuers Wait for Evaluation of Worst Hit Areas  *
Katrina's fury has been felt widespread in Louisiana and Mississippi, scattering storms and high winds across hundreds of square miles. Many horse owners are likely stranded in the storm's wake, says Bonnie Clark, publisher of the Horseman's Guide of the South Central Region, who is currently stuck at her farm north of Baton Rouge, La. She thinks Katrina's ... Read full story
 8/30/2005
Fair Grounds Racetrack Damage Unknown; Track Used as Staging Area  *
As Hurricane Katrina moved through New Orleans, La., Monday, the Fair Grounds racetrack sustained some structural damage and the track's parking lot was being used as a staging area from which rescue vehicles and personnel could work. Julie Koenig-Loignon, a spokeswoman for Churchill Downs Incorporated, said there were some security personnel at the ... Read full story
 8/30/2005
Damage on Louisiana Thoroughbred Farms Not as Bad as Expected  *
The damage of Hurricane Katrina on south Louisiana Thoroughbred farms wasn't as bad as originally feared, but it will take time to repair and replace fencing and barns, as well as remove debris and tree limbs. "It's not as bad as I thought it would be," said Val Murrell, general manager of Clear Creek Stud near Folsom, La., located about 50 miles ... Read full story
 8/30/2005
Katrina's Damage Minor at Florida Tracks  *
For the fourth time in less than a year, a hurricane has disrupted Calder Race Course's racing schedule and track president Ken Dunn says he has seen enough. "Making plans for a storm is an expertise I wish I didn't have," Dunn said after Hurricane Katrina blew through South Florida as a category one storm on Aug. 25, causing cancellation of the Aug. ... Read full story
 8/29/2005
In Wait for Hurricane Katrina  *
Hurricane Katrina made landfall again this morning (Aug. 29) as a Category 4 storm, striking the Louisiana coastline days after damaging parts of south Florida, particularly Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. Florida and Louisiana equine organizations had prepared information on evacuation stabling, while at least one equine disaster response team waited ... Read full story
 8/29/2005
Hurricane Evacuation Information for Louisiana Horse Owners  *
The Horseman's Guide of the South Central Region has joined efforts with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Office of Animal Health Studies, State Veterinarian's Office in compiling information for a evacuation site database specifically for horse owners of the coastal states (especially the New Orleans area) wishing to evacuate ... Read full story
 8/29/2005
A New Orleans Vet's Perspective   *
"It's just so amazing to me that in one day, it can all be lost and suddenly you live in a dangerous place," said Allison Barca, DVM, who has served many of the horses in and around New Orleans for years. Most of Barca's clients were affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Since the storms, she said she's been living a sort of hell, seeing clients ... Read full story
 1/1/2005




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