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(Austin, TX) – The Texas Animal Health Commission has set up an emergency hotline to provide pet owners with information on available shelters by county.

The number is: 800-550-8242 and operates Monday-Friday, 8 am to 5 pm

(Photo at the left: Hurricane Rita as of September 22, 2005 Photo Credit: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Climatic Data Center.)

Pre-selected shelters are currently open and have been receiving evacuating horses and other animals. Lists of available shelters/stabling are also available thru local emergency management and the Texas Animal Health Commission. These are published on their web site http://www.tahc.state.tx.us. This link can also be accessed in the Hurricane Equine Relief area of the USEF website. Additional information is available on this web site as well. More information will be available if necessary following the storm.

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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USEF Hurricane Equine Relief Fund Will Assist Rita Victims

(Lexington, KY) – All donations made to the USEF Equine Relief Fund from today, September 23, 2005, forward will be used to assist victims of any 2005 hurricane including Katrina, Rita or any others that could occur.

The Fund will assist those agencies working directly with the equine victims and refugees from hurricanes. Every dollar of the money donated to the fund will be used to support efforts to deliver food, veterinary services, and shelter for horses and ponies in the stricken areas. All donations are tax deductible. Donations can be made online at www.usef.org or by check made out to the USEF Hurricane Equine Relief Fund and sent to:

The United States Equestrian Federation
4047 Iron Works Parkway
Lexington, KY 40511

To Donate by Fax: 859-231-6662

ENDS

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Hurricane Horses - Preparing for Rita in Louisiana

LSU Hotline Reinstated (225) 578-9501

(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.

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