BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – Louisiana families are used to preparing themselves for hurricane season, but experts say those plans should also include pets and livestock.
Ginger Guttner, assistant director of communications at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, said livestock owners should prepare before storms threaten.
If animals are staying in a barn, Guttner said owners should have extra hay, water and medications on hand.
She said evacuation plans should also include where animals will go.
“If you really think evacuation is the way to go, you might want to do that 72 hours before a storm comes in, and you should know in advance where you’re going to take them,” Guttner said.
The LSU School of Veterinary Medicine team rescued thousands of livestock during Hurricane Katrina.
“Most animals aren’t going to stand around when the water comes up; they’re going to go to higher ground,” Guttner said.
LSU’s mobile outreach clinic carries rescue and medical supplies, including a rescue glide. The rescue glide looks like a sled and is designed to secure horses so they can be pulled to a boat, truck or trailer.
Experts say families should also plan for pets at home.
Michael Block, assistant professor of community practice at LSU, said pet owners should prepare before they need to evacuate.
“It’s helpful if you look ahead of time for different hotels, shelters, and even friends’ houses to see if they take pets,” Block said.
Block recommends having two weeks’ worth of pet food, identification and medical information ready during hurricane season.
Pet owners should also bring familiar items, such as toys, blankets or bedding, to help ease stress for dogs and cats during a storm evacuation.
Experts said the best time to make a plan is before a storm is in the Gulf.
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