·         LSU Emergency Animal Shelter Disaster Response Manual (Guidelines for Establishing a Shelter for Owned Animals During Disasters. Based on the experiences of the District 6 Emergency Animal Shelter at the LSU AgCenter's Parker Coliseum following Hurricane Katrina.)

·         Hurricane preparation tips for pet owners

·         Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Status of Pet Evacuation (update from the State Veterinarian's Office)

·         Hurricane preparation tips for horse owners

·         Disaster Readiness for Horse owners (pdf from LSU AgCenter)

·         Preparing your veterinary practice for a disaster (pdf)

·         Louisiana State Animal Response Team

·         LSU Hurricane Information Center

·         LSU Campus Safety and Health Resources

·         LSU School of Veterinary Medicine Mobile Emergency Response Unit

Katrina and Rita

·         LSU Hurricane Katrina Emergency Animal Shelter, August 31–October 15, 2005

·         Fact Sheet about LSU Animal Relief Efforts Following Hurricane Katrina

·         New books

Molly the Pony by Pam Kaster The story of Molly, a pony rescued after Hurricane Katrina, only to be seriously wounded in an attack by a dog at her rescuer's farm. Pam Kaster tells the amazing and heart-warming story of Molly's courage and determination to live, learning to walk again with a prosthetic device after her right front leg was amputated. See Molly the Pony in action on YouTube More information about Molly on the LSU Highlights page Molly the Pony on snopes.com

Horses of the Storm: The Incredible Rescue of Katrina's Horses by Ky Evan Mortensen Ky Mortensen, director of advancement for the Equine Health Studies Program, has written a book entitled, Horses of the Storm: The Incredible Rescue of Katrina's Horses. The book review states that in the midst of Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005, was born the largest equine rescue ever. Ky presents readers with a collection of gripping and ultimately inspiring first-hand accounts of how the LSU's Equine Rescue Team spearheaded a dedicated group of heroic staff and volunteers that saved hundreds of horses. Horses of the Storm will also contain take-away tips to prepare horse owners before, during and after a disaster. This book is available in paperback on-line at Barnes & Noble (www.bn.com) and Amazon (www.amazon.com) after the publication date of May 1, 2008. A portion of the proceeds goes to the LSU Equine Health Studies Program.

·         Donate to Relief Efforts

·         Pet Owners:                          (click here for printable copy of information sheet)

If an emergency or bad weather forces you and your pets from your home,

Will you know what to do and what to bring?

If you are forced to evacuate your home because of a hurricane or other emergency, don't forget to make preparations for your pets. Pets, just like any other member of your family, have their own special needs. Here are some tips from the Louisiana State Animal Response Team (SART) and LSU School of Veterinary Medicine to help you prepare for an evacuation.

WHAT TO DO:

• Don't leave your pet at home! While most evacuations last only a few days, there are times that you may not be able to return quickly. The safest place for your pet is with you.

• If you are going to a hotel, call ahead and make sure, in advance, that animals are welcome. Many hotels relax their policies during times of crisis, but don't assume that this will be the case. For on-line information about pet-friendly hotels, check out BringYourPet.com, petswelcome.com, or Pets Allowed Hotels.

• If you are staying with friends or family, make sure that your pets are invited as well. If not, ask for recommendations of nearby veterinary hospitals or boarding kennels and make reservations in advance.

• Be sure that your pets are up-to-date on all vaccinations and bring proof of vaccinations with you. It is a good idea to ask your veterinarian now for a copy of your pet's vaccination record. Keep this with your emergency kit.

• If your pet is on medication, bring at least a two week supply.

• Identification of your pet is crucial! The ideal form of identification is a microchip* or a tattoo. At minimum, your pet should have a tag with his name, your name, and your phone number on it. Pictures of your pet that capture identifying features are also a good idea.
  *A microchip is a tiny permanent identification tag, placed under your pet's skin by your veterinarian. By registering your name and address with the microchip company, your pet can be scanned and instantly identified at any animal facility.

WHAT TO BRING:

• Enough pet food for one week

• Food bowl

• Water bowl

• Bottled water

• Leash

• Collar

• Proof of vaccinations

• Rabies tag

• Portable kennel

• Litter box and litter for cats

• Trash bags for stool disposal

• Newspaper or towels for crate lining

• Heartworm preventative

• Flea and tick protection

• All medications

• For exotic pets, bring their entire habitat, including heat lamps and extension cords

• Your pet's kennel should be large enough for him to stand and turn around. Collapsible wire crates are best if your pets might be in a non-air conditioned environment for an extended period. Molded plastic airline-approved crates make for easier transport and are best for animals that don't travel well in the car.
   

(click here for printable copy)

Selected Tips for Horse Owners to Prepare for the Hurricane Season    
Rebecca S. McConnico, DVM, PhD, DACVIM
Associate Professor, Equine Internal Medicine
Equine Health Studies Program, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University

With the hurricane season upon us, it is important for horse owners to ready themselves in advance for evacuation and other recommended tasks related to hurricane preparedness. The list below contains some selected recommendations for effectively preparing horse owners in areas prone to hurricane damage: 

·         Be sure your horse is current regarding vaccinations for tetanus and the encephalitis viruses (Eastern, Western, and West Nile).

·         Network a "plan" with the horse or farm animal-owning neighbors in your parish (get to know your neighbors, plan a meeting, talk through different scenarios, and identify the local resources for dealing with disaster situations) and be prepared to help one another.

·         Be sure that your horse has two forms of identification: (1) Permanent identification such as a microchip, tattoo or brand, and (2) Luggage-type tag secured to the tail and halter (be sure to use a leather halter for break-away purposes). Fetlock tags are useful and can be acquired on-line or from a local farm supply store. Be sure to place your name, address, and phone number (phone # of someone out of state is best in the event of phone outages) legibly on the tags.

·         Be sure to store the record for the microchip number (i.e., Coggins form) in an accessible location (it is recommended to keep a second copy of this information with a family member or friend in a distant location but where it will be easily accessible).

·         If you plan to evacuate (and you should ALWAYS do this if possible) in the event of a storm, have a destination and route(s) mapped out well in advance. It is important to evacuate your horses a sufficient distance from the coast and a good general guideline is north of Interstate 10. January to March would be good months to prepare this plan. Arrange to leave a minimum of 72 hours before the arrival of the storm. The worst thing that can happen to you is to get stuck in traffic with a trailer full of horses and a hurricane approaching. Provide your neighbors with your evacuation contact information.

·         Prepare a waterproof emergency animal care kit with all the items you normally use, including medications, salves or ointments, vetwrap, bandages, tape, etc. Place the kit in a safe place where you can easily access it after a storm.

·         Start early to clean up your property and remove all debris that may be tossed around by storm and hurricane force winds. Be careful of down power lines which can be "live" and represent a danger to people and animals.

·         If you plan to weather the storm at home (this is not usually recommended), there are some general guidelines to follow:

·         The choice of keeping your horse in a barn or an open field is up to you. Use common sense, taking into consideration barn structure, trees, power lines, condition of surrounding properties and the likelihood of the property and structure to flood. Farms subject to storm surge or flash flooding should turn their horses out so horses are not trapped and thus drown.

·         Remove all items from the barn aisle and walls, and store them in a safe place.

·         Have at least a two to three week supply of hay (wrapped in plastic or waterproof tarp) and feed (stored in plastic water-tight containers).

·         Place these supplies in the highest (out of reach of flood waters) and driest area possible.

·         Fill clean plastic garbage cans with water, secure the tops, and place them in the barn for use after the storm.

·         Have an emergency barn kit containing a chain saw and fuel, hammer(s), saw, nails, screws and fencing materials. Place this kit in a secure area before the storm hits so that it is easily accessible after the storm.

·         Be sure to have an ample supply of flashlights and batteries and other non-perishable items.

·         Listen to local radio stations in your area. If Internet access is available, access state-run websites that contain accurate status information (i.e., State Police, State University, State Dept. of Agriculture) and take all cautions/warning serious and act accordingly.

·         Visit www.LSUEquine.com for more detailed information regarding horse hurricane preparations and other emergency and health-related information.