INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Harvey, like any large-scale natural or manmade disaster, did not discriminate when it tore through Texas – for every farmer devastated by the hurricane, there are ruined crops, destroyed barns or drowned livestock left behind.

 

It’s not always a hurricane causing disaster for livestock, though. Animals get caught in barn fires, road accidents, chemical spills, collapsed buildings, severe flooding and other disasters. Jodi Lovejoy, an animal welfare specialist and veterinarian with the Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH), says it is the responsibility of the owners to plan and prepare for such situations.

“We expect and strongly encourage animal owners to prepare for disasters with their animals in mind,” she said. “This includes creating plans ahead of time for transportation, housing and care of animals away from the owner’s property, if necessary, or some method to house and care for animals in place.

“People or businesses who transport animals should have backup plans in case of incidents on the road.”

However, in such crises, the owner may not be present to take care of their livestock or make judgments on how animals should be handled. “This may lead to situations where law enforcement and other first responders have to address the animals’ needs in order to help the animals, their owners and possibly the general public.”

It is for this reason that BOAH encourages animal rescue training for first responders to disasters. When humans are injured in car accidents, police are called to handle the situation and EMTs are on the scene in minutes. But if a livestock trailer overturns injuring the cattle in it or causing animals to run through traffic, officials are not always formally trained on how to resolve the situation.

“First responder training helps keep the animals and the responders safe in stressful situations,” Lovejoy explained. “It provides best practices for dealing with a variety of scenarios.”

An animal health advisory BOAH released in July specifies what first responders should do in case of a disaster involving livestock. If animals are mildly injured, BOAH standard operating guidelines state they should be salvaged when possible and provided treatment.

The livestock owner is responsible for making those arrangements, if present. If they are not present or cannot be reached, the responsibility falls to the Incident Commander assigned to the scene.

When animals are severely injured and in pain, field euthanasia may be the most humane way to cease their suffering.

BOAH especially recommends first responders be trained in field euthanasia, because judgments must be made relatively quickly to avoid undue suffering of injured livestock.

The animal’s owner should give permission for the euthanasia, or a veterinarian should verify the severity of the animal’s condition. If neither of those options are available, first responders or police may have to make that call themselves. An animal health advisory BOAH released in May states euthanasia may be indicated by animals in the following conditions:

•Fractures of legs, hip or spine that are not repairable

•Emergency medical conditions that result in excruciating pain that cannot be relieved by treatment (such as terminal colic in horses or trauma associated with disasters)

•Debilitation from disease of injury that may result in an animal being too weak to be transported

•Paralysis from traumatic injuries that result in immobility

•The animal is behaving in a way that poses a significant human threat If it is decided that euthanasia is the best option for an animal due to a disaster, the deed must be carried out humanely.

Formal training is most helpful in this situation, as the responder must know the correct method and technique to perform euthanasia. Typically this is done by gunshot to the head, but there are other options available. Lovejoy said questions about livestock involved in accidents should be directed to BOAH at 317-544-2400 or, toll free, 877-747-3038.

Though formal animal rescue training is usually not required for police or first responders, Lovejoy said there are options for those wanting to learn. The Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue (TLAER) at www.tlaer.org and Code 3 Associates at www.code3associates.org are both national organizations that provide training. 

 

In October, TLAER is providing large animal rescue trainings in Franklin, Ind. Contact the Morgantown Fire Department for more information.

Nature’s Way Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation at www.nwart.org as well as BOAH can provide training in emergency animal rescue in Indiana. Though human  ife should always be the first priority when it comes to disaster rescue, Lovejoy saysproperty, including livestock, should come second.

“Effective response is based on pre-planning, understanding the types of disasters possible, developing resource lists and practicing,” she said. “This is true for both government agencies and individuals. This makes for a much more effective response regarding the care of animals in disasters.

“Training is always an important part of preparing to respond. Training and planning for emergencies, whether providing for people or animals, should be an ongoing endeavor for agencies and for individuals.”