Horses Saved; Rescuers Live the Highs and Lows
by: Stephanie L. Church, News Editor
September 2005 Article # 6096

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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 for
information to Dennis French, DVM, professor of farm animal management at the
LSU veterinary school. Every equine refugee at the facility is currently
medically stable. But, the serenity is sometimes broken. There is a surge of
activity after each new trailer arrives, with the team working quickly and
steadily to assess every animal's medical needs. Feelings of triumph, or loss,
wash over the staff depending on how severely injured the animal is upon arrival
and whether it can be saved.

Then there is the occasional tidal wave of emotion when an owner who
was forced to evacuate and has lost everything sees that her horse is alive and
well.

The Latest Arrivals
Nineteen of the evacuees are horse and mule survivors from Mid-City
Carriage's herd that were extracted yesterday (Sept. 4) from New Orleans by the
company's owner, drivers, and grooms, said French this evening (Sept. 5). He
said one man identified only as Lucian, braved the storm and stayed for nearly a
week without food or water at the stables, refusing to leave the animals in his
care. They all lived through the water rising and barn flooding.

Lucian told French the story of how one of the mules at one point
"decided that she was tired of being there and took off and drug him six blocks
through water that was at times over his head, and he felt like he was skiing
behind the mule. I imagine it was absolutely terrifying for the guy. He's sort
of a slender young fellow, how he made it that long without anything to eat, I
don't know."

There was no way for the owners or caretakers to contact the
carriage company to check on the animals, but colleagues knew Lucian had
probably stayed behind. New Orleans has been nearly impossible to navigate
because of high water, lost street and building signs, and debris. But when they
finally were able to gain access to the area, French said, all rescuers had to
do was to go to the general area of the carriage barn and shout "Lucian," to
locate him.

While 19 of the animals survived, 21 were transported to the Expo
Center. One horse died en route (a Paint with a history of health problems), and
another had to be put down shortly after arrival because it was suffering from
severe shock. That horse was a gray Arabian cross that was a favorite of the
carriage company owner's daughter.

When the carriage animals arrived at the Expo Center last night
after a three-hour trailer ride, the veterinary students, technicians, and
volunteers immediately set to work. "They got the standing ones unloaded while
we were dealing with this down horse," described French. "One of the other
personnel that had volunteered at the stables took the guy (Lucian) over to the
human medical services and fed him and tended to him.

French said, "We have about five of them that have some pretty
significant diarrhea, sort of blood-tinged. But they're bright and alert, and
their problems are just because of the salt water and contaminated water they
were forced to drink for the week that they were stranded in the French Quarter.
We're slowly introducing them back to some grain rations, and they're responding
pretty well."

As French was talking to The Horse, he checked on the five sick
carriage animals and happily reported that three had formed feces in their
stalls. "I know that's something odd to be excited about, but it means they're
doing better," he said.

"As sad as it was to lose those two horses, the evening was pretty
exciting.the teamwork that went on was pretty special, and I was really proud of
all the students and people here volunteering."

The carriage animals were in addition to 63 that were evacuated from
the New Orleans area on Thursday (Sept. 1). All 63 arrived "remarkably healthy,"
even though they were standing in about three feet of water when they were
found. "They had very minimal trauma from the trailer ride up here and they have
done just fabulously," said French. An additional seven miniature horses rescued
from the Fulsom area of Louisiana arrived at the Expo Center on Saturday.

"We've got some minimal bandage changes, some minor cuts and
scrapes, but the rest has been really simple," French said of the other horses.

French told The Horse that another three horses had been rescued
from the Fulsom/Covington area of Louisiana and would be on their way to the
Expo Center soon. The aid workers who found these animals were tracking two
loose Thoroughbred mares that were stabled with the others. "They can see the
mares' tracks, but they haven't found them yet," he added.


Learning As We Go
"While the VMAT (Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams) teams have
experienced events like this before, we haven't," said French. "What I'd like
your readers to know and what I'm most proud of is how the students of the LSU
School of Veterinary Medicine have responded to this challenge. The five senior
students that I have on this service right now, I couldn't have asked for
anything better--they are way beyond (the level of) senior veterinary services
right now. Also, the Cantering Cajun and River Riders Pony Clubs have been very
instrumental in helping us walk the horses and keep the stalls clean."

He knows there is a lot of work left to do, however, and it's
difficult to know how many horses have yet to be rescued and how bad the
injuries will be. "The sad, but true part of any disaster is that communications
that you think are in place tend to fall apart. That's been our biggest
challenge--communicating the wishes of state police, rescue groups, etc."

He said that LSU veterinarians, techs, and students have been able
to help with small animals as well, with treatment centers at LSU and
surrounding areas. "They've been challenged by small animal hospitals that have
been flooded and have been recovering 200 dogs out of hospitals that are still
living, but heat stressed and compromised, and so there are a number of vets
there.

"From the equine side of things our biggest challenge is getting
into places where we know are pockets of horses to get them feed and
water.that's the big challenge because of the civil unrest and state police
being more concerned about (getting in and finding) human life," he continued.
French said he is split over the issue. "There's half of me that understands
that, but then the other half I think it's just as important to get some of
these animals out. I don't think (with our efforts to rescue animals) we've
impacted their ability to (reach humans)."

Along with all of the frustration, there are poignant moments when
French and his team are reminded of why they're there. A group of horse owners
came in over the weekend after seeing a piece published in the Baton Rouge
Advocate about horses that had been evacuated from their New Orleans-area stable
on Sept. 1. "Some of the folks that had horses in New Orleans that tried to go
back and get them and were turned away by the state police," said French. "They
were coming back to Baton Rouge and saw the newspaper of the people they were
staying with. They were just beside themselves that the horses were safe and
sound. The look on their faces and knowing that they have nothing left except
these horses.it was pretty special."

French said he hit his emotional wall on Saturday morning, and found
himself driving down the road in tears. "It's so devastating to imagine that
these people have nothing left except these animals."


If you have information about where horses might be still stranded
in areas of Louisiana, please contact 225/578-9501 (LSU Horse Hurricane Hotline)
or send a message to Stephanie Church, news editor, at schurch@....




"To know a Thoroughbred is to be lifted up to a place of unparalleled passion,
exhilaration and transcendence. Look into the eyes of a Thoroughbred and feel
his supreme power and spirit, and you'll be lifted up to a special place of
beauty, passion, possibility and freedom." - Unknown

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