HORSES PRESENT SPECIAL CHALLENGES IN EMERGENCIES!

Immediate hurricane updates:

LSART is in need for funds to provide horse and cattle hay to
animals affected by Ike and Gustav.
The Walter J Ernst Foundation has already donated $10,000 to the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry for cattle hay drops.  Additional funding is needed for equine hay.

BREC Farr Park no longer has spaces for boarding horses displaced by the hurricane.  Please check the Message Board or the list below for other Facilities. (9/4/08/12:30 p.m.)
Possible equine boarding sites (updated 9/4/08)

NEW Message Board - Read and contribute hurricane information.


FYI - Texas has temporarily waived the entry requirement of a health certificate and current EIA test for horses evacuating ahead of the hurricane Gustav. We are not waiving entry requirements on cattle at this time because there was immediate abuse of the situation after Katrina/Rita by dairy traders. But if the hurricane does affect your dairy operations or other animals that need consideration, let us know, and we could quickly do the same for them. These waivers will be rescinded as soon as they are no longer necessary. Call if you have any questions. (8/31/08)


Assistance for horse evacuation:  John Brown, Montpelier, LA has 10-horse stock trailer and 4-horse trailer and is willing to assist in evacuations to Amite and Denham Springs.  225-931-9210 (8/30/08 5:00 p.m.)

Animal Evacuation Updates through the LSU Ag Center (8/29/2008)

LSART reminds horse owners that is their responsibility to have an emergency disaster plan that includes a plan for trailering/transport, location agreement (with proposed evacuation site), and current Coggins test on all horses under their care.

LSART DOES NOT NEED NEW VOLUNTEERS AT THIS TIME.  PLEASE CHECK BACK AFTER OUR POST-STORM ASSESSMENT.


Emergency resouces:

REMINDER: Horse/livestock owners must register their emergency evacuation plan with their parish office of emergency preparedness and the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry