|
Articles: Press Release
Generators, Grants and Gas Fuel Efforts for Animals Affected by Rita
Contact:
Texas Animal Health Commission
Box l2966
Austin, Texas 78711
(800) 550-8242 FAX (512) 719-071
Bob Hillman, DVM • Executive Director
For info, contact Carla Everett, information officer, at 1-800-550-8242,
ext. 710, or ceverett@tahc.state.tx.us
Ironically, this spring Beaumont’s Ford Center was the host site of Texas’
Hurricane Conference for emergency management professionals and local
officials. Four months later, the Center, surrounded by the destruction
wrought by Hurricane Rita, is one of two staging centers for animals
rescued from the wreckage. Although animal health officials estimate that
more than 30,000 Texas pets and livestock were evacuated prior to the
storm’s strike, many more were left behind, and their owners are unable to
retrieve or house them immediately.
More than 12 agricultural-related agencies and associations are working
cooperatively to address pet and livestock issues regarding rescue, water,
feed, veterinary care or carcass disposal, to support the Governor’s
Division of Emergency Management and local governments coping with the
havoc from Hurricane Rita. “By working together, we draw on each other’s
equipment, expertise, experience and capabilities,” said Dr. Dee Ellis,
assistant executive director for the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC),
the state’s livestock and poultry health regulatory agency.
“As a small agency, we can’t do it all by ourselves,” Dr. Ellis
noted. “We need the partnership of other state and federal agencies, and
animal care and protection organizations. One of the big issues now is
animal rescue. We have notified affected counties that assistance is
available at their request.”
“Owners who have left animals behind should register on the
www.petfinder.com web site, where their address
and other requested information may be accessed only by team members, who
will attempt to retrieve or care for the animals. When possible, we’ll
leave animals in their homes and feed and water them,” said Karen Medicus,
project director with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals (ASPCA), a partner with the TAHC. She urged owners seeking lost
animals or needing pet foster care, and volunteers wanting to provide
foster homes, livestock or pet feed also to register on the national
www.petfinder.com web site.
The Houston SPCA is working from Beaumont’s Ford Center to evaluate rescued
animals before transferring them to their facilities in Houston. The
animals will be held to give owners time to reunite with their pets.
Currently the Houston team has authorization to provide animal rescue in
Hardin, Orange, Harris, Jefferson, Galveston, Brazoria and Liberty
counties. Harris County Rabies/Animal also is assisting in some counties.
The animal rescue team in these counties can be reached 713-802-0555.
Medicus said the Houston SPCA evacuated 85 dogs and cats from the Southeast
Texas Humane Society in Jefferson, which sustained damaged and was without
power. These animals are being sheltered in the Houston SPCA facilities,”
reported Medicus
“Evacuated horses are being held at the Nacogdoches Expo Center, and
companion animals are being moved to the Angelina Expo Center in Lufkin.
This site will be able to respond to requests from officials in Tyler,
north Newton County, Nacogdoches, Jasper, Sabine, San Augustine, Angelina
and Polk counties,” said Medicus. She said Cathy Clark, with the Texas
Animal Control Association, is working with team members from the United
Animal Nations, Humane Society of the United States, and ASPCA. The animal
rescue team can be reached at 936-366-0128.
The ASPCA on Tuesday provided a $25,000 grant to the Texas Veterinary
Medical Association (TVMA) for emergency response supplies for
veterinarians. Dr. Elbert Hutchins, TVMA executive director, purchased and
arranged delivery of generators and emergency response supplies for
veterinarians in Winnie, Beaumont and Jasper without power to run essential
medical equipment. Veterinarians in the hurricane-stricken counties who
need support should alert the TVMA at
1-800-489-7347.
Since the storm, Fain and Smathers Veterinary Clinic in Jasper has run fans
and dehumidifiers on generator power, while caring for 45 dogs and 15 cats,
most from Galveston and Houston. “Any hotter, and we’d be in hell,” said
Dr. David Fain. “We’ve nearly lost a couple of veterinarians, but the pets
have made it fine, and about half of them now have been picked up by their
owners.”
Dr. Fain reported that, early on, Houston and Galveston pet owners headed
west to avoid the hurricane. “When the storm turned east and headed toward
us, we couldn’t get in touch with owners. We knew we’d have to ride it out
with the animals.” Dr. Royce Smathers hunkered down in the clinic, while
hurricane winds drove in a clinic wall more than a foot from the
foundation, and tore shingles from the roof. Aside from being frightened,
the animals –and veterinarian made it through the storm without injury.
“Gasoline shortages at first were a big problem for TAHC field staff trying
to assess livestock damage; a problem that now has been eased somewhat. We
have 33 TAHC staff working on response and also are relying on reports from
county agents and area ranchers,” commented Dr. Ellis. “TAHC inspectors
are checking with county officials to offer help with livestock evacuation,
feeding or carcass disposal issues. Fortunately, to date, we do not have
large numbers of cattle losses reported in Texas.”
“We have had sporadic requests for livestock feed or hay, and these
requests were quickly accommodated,” said Dr. Ellis. He asked that
livestock feed and hay donations be coordinated through the TAHC at
1-800-550-8242, so the supplies can be properly distributed in the hard-hit
counties.
The Texas Department of Agriculture’s Hay and Grazing hotline also can help
producers locate hay for sale and lease pastures. Information can be
obtained from the TDA toll-free at 877-429-1998, or on the TDA’s web site
at http://www.agr.state.tx.us in the ‘Producer
Information’ section. The TAHC also maintains a list of emergency
evacuation holding facilities, if producers need a temporary site for
livestock moved from storm-damaged pastures. All sites are subject to
availability and should be contacted prior to moving animals. Information
can be obtained on the TAHC web page at
http://www.tahc.state.tx.us or by
calling
1-800-550-8242.
|