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Articles: Press Release
Hurricane Horses - Preparing for Rita in Louisiana
LSU Hotline Reinstated (225) 578-9501
Contact:
United States Equestrian Federation, Inc.
4047 Iron Works Parkway
Lexington, KY 40511-8483
Tel: (859) 258-2472
Fax (859) 231-6662
Web site: www.usef.org
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 22, 2005
(BATON ROUGE-, LA) - Still recovering from the aftermath of Hurricane
Katrina, Southern Louisiana braces for the oncoming power of Hurricane
Rita. In anticipation of this Category 5 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 need of evacuation or rescue due to
the hurricane is encouraged to contact a Hurricane Equine Rescue
Operation representative at this number. This helpline will be in effect
on a 24 hour basis beginning this evening at 6:00 pm.
Horse owners concerned for the welfare of their animals are encouraged
to evacuate them if possible. Those unable to evacuate their animals are
encouraged to open stall doors and pasture gates, allowing animals to
flee the storm as necessary. Having tattoo or microchip numbers, photos
and other evidence of ownership will be helpful and necessary for owners
to claim their horses in the future. Helpful tips to become reunited
with displaced horses following the storm include painting your
telephone number on the side of your horse and/or fastening ownership
identification materials to its mane. Following the storm, the Hurricane
Equine Rescue Operation team and volunteers will begin attempts to
retrieve injured and/or stranded animals as soon as possible and
re-unite them with their owners.
This hotline is provided exclusively for horses in need of
evacuation/rescue. Those wishing to volunteer their time or services or
provide supplies and/or equipment should visit the website of the LSU
School of Veterinary Medicine at
www.vetmed.lsu.edu or the Louisiana
Veterinary Medical
Association at www.lvma.org . Persons wishing
to provide monetary to assist the Louisiana Horse Victims of Hurricane
Katrina and Rita, are encouraged to forward their contributions to "LVMA
Equine Committee Foundation" (write "Horse Hurricane Relief" on the memo
line) and mail to Dr. Sonny Corley, LVMA Equine Committee, 121 E. Gloria
Switch, Lafayette, LA70507 or call 337-235-9945.
ENDS
For more information, please contact Maria Partlow, Senior Vice
President of Marketing and Communications on (859) 225-6941 or via email
at mpartlow@usef.org . USEF press releases
are available on our web site - www.usef.org .
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