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Hillsborough Animal Control Preps To Rein In Storm Frazzled Horses

Tribune photo by NEIL JOHNSON

Hillsborough County animal control officer Carla Thigpen learns how to harness Winston. The county’s animal services workers are learning about handling horses they may encounter after a hurricane.

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By NEIL JOHNSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 11, 2008

TAMPA - For animal control officers more accustomed to dogs or cats, a pony -- not even a full-grown horse -- is a bit larger than the critters they normally encounter.

But today. , the field officers for Hillsborough County's Animal Services got some tips on how to handle horses they might encounter after a hurricane.

One tip offered by Vicky Lawry of Affiliated Horse Owners of Florida, which until this year was called the Sunshine State Horse Council: no eye contact. Horses will think you're trying to establish dominance.

Another tip: The closer you are to the horse, the safer you are if it tries to kick.

Lawry also showed where identification microchips generally are implanted.

Animal control officers usually do not have to handle horses. That task normally is left to the sheriff's office agricultural unit.

But after a disaster such as a hurricane, those officers are sheriff's deputies first and agricultural officers second, said Dennis McCullough, acting director of animal services. The deputies could have other duties in an emergency.

With 18,000 to 20,000 horses in Hillsborough County, there's a good chance of workers encountering one after a hurricane.

McCullough said today's session is just the start of the horse training.

His field officers were learning how to harness, walk and lead Winston, a 22-year-old pony, into a trailer.

Lawry said people trained and certified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to handle horses will respond after a hurricane and may reach horses before other emergency agencies.

After Hurricane Andrew struck South Florida in 1992, thousands of horses were loose, and many never were reunited with their owners. Others died during the storm, killed by flying debris, collapsing barns or electrocution.

Lawry said that if horse owners can't evacuate, they should let their animals out of their barns. Exposure to debris is less a threat than a collapsed roof. Even if the storm knocks down fences, most horses won't wander far.

Owners should have enough hay and grain for seven days, kept in a place that will remain dry, Lawry said.

If possible, owners should implant a microchip in their horse. In addition, a horse should have an identification collar with all necessary contact information.

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