Bills Mount For Animals Injured In Storms
Group Works To Identify Owners Of Livestock
POSTED: 11:46 am CST February 18,
2008
UPDATED: 11:55 am CST February 18,
2008
LAFAYETTE, Tenn. -- As people affected by the tornados are taking the first steps to rebuilding their lives, many of their animals injured in the storm are also on the road to recovery.
Video: Livestock Severely Affected By Deadly TornadoesLocal rescue groups stepped in to get those animals the care they needed, but the bills are mounting.After the tornados hit Sumner County, deputies found Simon the horse badly injured wandering along Highway 25."He was in pretty bad shape. He was in shock, his gums were gray," said Jamie Clifton of Volunteer Equine Advocates.Dozens of animals, mostly livestock, were affected by the tornados when the storms hit on Feb. 5."These animals were standing out in the open, so the debris from all of those buildings flew past the animals," said Clifton.Many of those animals died.The ones that survived in Macon County were taken and treated at the livestock auction, others required immediate attention to their injuries."We had no idea who the animals belonged to. They were all running around at-large of course. The fences were gone.The buildings were gone, so we had to do the best we could to get the care they needed immediately," said Clifton.After the storms hit, Volunteer Equine Advocates picked up dogs, horses, mules and goats. The group got them the help they needed and had most of the animals’ owners identified.However, the vet bills aren't cheap, and they know the owners can't pay."We can't expect the owners to pay for that when they don't even know how they are going to get through the next week without a place to live so donations are the only way we are able to take care of those vet bills," said Clifton.In Macon County, there was an estimated $10 million of damage to livestock, horses and timber.At the middle of last week in Macon County, there were still about 30 unidentified animals there in state care.Those who would like to donate to volunteer equine advocates. Can send checks to P.O. Box 112, Gallatin 37066. Please specify that the check is for the VEA Disaster Fund.
Video: Livestock Severely Affected By Deadly TornadoesLocal rescue groups stepped in to get those animals the care they needed, but the bills are mounting.After the tornados hit Sumner County, deputies found Simon the horse badly injured wandering along Highway 25."He was in pretty bad shape. He was in shock, his gums were gray," said Jamie Clifton of Volunteer Equine Advocates.Dozens of animals, mostly livestock, were affected by the tornados when the storms hit on Feb. 5."These animals were standing out in the open, so the debris from all of those buildings flew past the animals," said Clifton.Many of those animals died.The ones that survived in Macon County were taken and treated at the livestock auction, others required immediate attention to their injuries."We had no idea who the animals belonged to. They were all running around at-large of course. The fences were gone.The buildings were gone, so we had to do the best we could to get the care they needed immediately," said Clifton.After the storms hit, Volunteer Equine Advocates picked up dogs, horses, mules and goats. The group got them the help they needed and had most of the animals’ owners identified.However, the vet bills aren't cheap, and they know the owners can't pay."We can't expect the owners to pay for that when they don't even know how they are going to get through the next week without a place to live so donations are the only way we are able to take care of those vet bills," said Clifton.In Macon County, there was an estimated $10 million of damage to livestock, horses and timber.At the middle of last week in Macon County, there were still about 30 unidentified animals there in state care.Those who would like to donate to volunteer equine advocates. Can send checks to P.O. Box 112, Gallatin 37066. Please specify that the check is for the VEA Disaster Fund. Copyright 2008 by WSMV.com. All rights reserved.
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