From: jpenovic@encore.com (Jan Penovich)
Subject: South Florida horse/animal relief efforts
Reply-To: jpenovic@encore.com
Organization: Encore Computer Corp., Fort Lauderdale FL
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 12:55:36 GMT

Hi.  I posted the following to rec.pets, but thought that all
the animal lovers in this group would be interested in reading
about what's happening to the animals (including horses) in
South Dade since the hurricane. (The article has a section
dealing specifically with horses.) Here it is:


I read the following article in yesterday's Ft.
Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel.  It's written by Patti Roth and
copied without permission.

I also saw a segment on this morning's news about injured
horses.  There are volunteers helping with the horses from as
far away as Tenn. and Pa.  They've got about 70 horses at the
barns at the old Tropical Park race track.  They don't know
who 50% of the horses belong to.  Many injuries: big
wounds, broken bones.  Foals who's mother's have died.
Lots of horses were killed and wounded (flying debris).

Anyway, here's the article:

       Volunteers make foster homes for pets
	 by Patti Roth staff writer

It wasn't the dog itself that prompted Anne Trosch to take in
a shaggy four-legged hurricane refugee from Dade County. It
was the owner's emotional appeal.

"She said: He's such a good boy, please someone give him a
home," said Trosch, of unincorporated Broward County.  She
heard the words during a television broadcast in the aftermath
of Hurrican Andrew.

And Trosch answered the appeal.  She adopted the Benji
look-alike from Metro-Dade County Animal Services.

Her story is among hundreds involving people helping dogs,
cats, horses, birds, and other animals left homeless and
injured by the storm.

"We're getting calls from all over the country from people who
want to foster-home animals," said Karen Medicus a volunteer
with Animal Services Disaster Relief in Dade county.

The foster home program enables pet owners to give up their
animals until they rebuild or resettle and can take their pets
back.  

"The bond that people develop with their pets is a very
emotional bond, and to have that bond broken or lost when so
much has already been lost would be overwhelming," she said.

While some animals are being cared for amid the hurricane
rubble, others are wandering around dazed and injured.

The hurricane knocked down fences and barns, setting free
hundreds of horses.  Some of the animals have broken legs and
other wounds from flying debris.

A group of representatives from horse-related organizations
and clubs are working to round up the horses treat them and
find homes for them.

"There are a hell of a lot of hurt horses out there," said
Debbie Hoffman, who is affiliated with the Plantation Acres
Saddle Club and South Florida Trail Riders.

The Humane Society of Greater Miami, which is operating
without electricity, has taken in hundreds of dogs and cats
since Hurricane Andrew and adopted out about 125.

"If you want an animval, the best place to go is the Humane
Society," said executive director Patricia Hennings.

"Animals that end up at the Humane Society are wonderful,
loving animals; they only lack one thing - a good home."

Meanwhile, the Humane Society of Broward County is
coordinating an effort to get pet food to south Dade.

Although there is not enough space to store it all, two
companies that sell pet products have offered a total of more
than 500,000 pounds of pet food, said Rick Collord, the Broward 
Humane Society's executive director.

The shelters in Dade County have not reported crowding,
although one of the two shelters run by the Humane Society of
Greater Miami was destroyed in the hurricane.

	       HOW TO HELP (this was also in the paper)

To provide foster homes:
Animal Services Disaster Relief
(407) 287-2822  and (407)287-0053 

To volunteer to help the horses:
(305) 861-0685

To adopt:
Humane Society of Greater Miami
2101 NW 95 St.
Miami
(305) 696-0800

Metro-Dade County Animal Services
7401 NW 74 St.
Miami
(305) 885-0804

The segment on tv also listed the following number:
1-800-USASTRAY (not sure if this is to report strays or help
with strays).

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