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The Moore County Equine
Emergency Response Unit (MCEERU) was created in 1993 when a group of
equine veterinarians and concerned horse people recognized the need to
address the issue of caring for horses in the event of a natural
disaster or the type of emergency that required specialized care.
Moore County has an unusually large equine population.
Many world class equestrians and serious amateurs come to the
area because of the existence of the world famous Walthour - Moss
Foundation in Southern Pines, which consists of more than 5000 acres
of longleaf pine forest that is dedicated only for equestrian use.
This foundation is used for fox hunting, trail riding, and
carriage driving. Many competitions (show jumping, combined training,
dressage, combined driving, hunter pace, and steeplechase racing,
etc.) are held on and around the foundation.
In addition, the historic Pinehurst Harness Track is the winter
training ground for many standardbred racing horses and during the
summer months, the track is used for other types of competitions. The
northern part of Moore County also has a large population of western
type horses and rodeo enthusiasts.
The need for an equine ambulance was first discussed when a horse was
seriously injured at a popular steeplechase race in 1994.
The horse was unable to be moved away from the site and had to
be euthanized and removed from the track in front of a crowd of
thousands. If there had been an ambulance equipped with a sling to
lift the horse and remove him to a treatment facility, the outcome may
have had a better ending. Since that time, there have been other
instances where an ambulance may have made a life and death
difference.
James Hamilton, DVM, is the president of the MCEERU. He is a prominent
local equine veterinarian who is also the head of the Southeastern
Veterinary Medical Assistance Team (VMAT). This is another regional
group of veterinarians and veterinary technicians that is sanctioned
by the American Veterinary Association (AVMA). This group is to be
deployed to travel to disaster torn areas in conjunction with FEMA in
the southeastern region of the United States.
The ambulance is a gooseneck horse trailer designed to provide
treatment to the horse while in transit. There is a sling/winch
apparatus to lift a recumbent horse and to support the horse in the
trailer. Medical supplies can be stored in cabinets and is equipped
with two 100 gallon water tanks with pumps, generator, refrigerator,
microwave, and sufficient lighting so the ambulance will be a clinic
on wheels.
The MCEERU has raised money to purchase the equine ambulance by
hosting horse shows, private donations, and benefits. The ambulance
trailer was built by Hawk Trailer Company and purchased through
EquiSpirit Trailer Company who has donated their profit, McBreyer
Chrysler, Plymouth, Dodge has promised the use of a truck to tow the
ambulance, and The American Equine Insurance has agreed to provide the
required insurance. Through a grant from the IAMS Pet Food Company,
the AVMA has agreed to supply the group with an equine sling for the
ambulance and several other needed pieces of equipment. The ambulance
was completed in September 1999, but still needs to be furnished with
supplies and equipment to be fully operational. Exact operating
expenses are still unknown, but plans are for continued fund raising,
private and public sponsorship, and charges to the customers who
require the use of the ambulance.
The ambulance will be stored at the Veterinary Equine Research Center
in Southern Pines, near horse country as soon as a planned shelter is
constructed. It is available to be parked at any local horse show,
race, or other event on a daily basis just like a human EMS unit. It
is available for any Moore County horse owner, through any
veterinarian, who needs assistance to transport an injured or sick
horse to a clinic or to a state equine hospital. It will also be used
in the event that the VMAT is called into action in a declared
national emergency situation or an emergency situation in the state of
North Carolina. The
ambulance was used for the first time in the Eastern North Carolina
Flood in September 1999.
Update by Neva Shreve:
The
ambulance is not quite ready. It was slated to be ready by October 1,
but we were interrupted by Hurricane Floyd. When we went to Kinston, I
put my own equipment in it and we sort of "winged it". We
still need things like hoses, jack, emergency triangles, tow chain,
buckets, broom and shovel, muck bucket, extra halters and lead ropes,
cross ties...you know, all those things you need in a trailer. We also
need to put in a full supply of emergency medical supplies. It took us
5 years to raise the money to buy the ambulance itself. Now we are
broke again, and we must ask for donations. (We have just recently
received enough to get it rolling soon) We had to cancel the driver
training session, but we have rescheduled it for October 24. As of
now, only 3 people are qualified to drive it.
Because the ambulance is supported by Moore County residents, it is
only available for horses that are sick or injured in the local area.
That area may include as far south as the new Five Points Horse Park
in Hoke county. We do not want it to be out of town in case it is
needed locally. We will, however, make it available for a select
number of events within a 100 mile radius, such as steeplechases, on a
one day basis. The AVMA donated the money for the sling, drag mat,
portable stocks, and portable corral with the condition that the
ambulance may be deployed by FEMA in the event of a national or state
disaster. This would be the only time the ambulance may be away from
Moore County for more than one day.
The ambulance must also be used in conjunction with a veterinarian.
The drivers are not vets and will not be able to treat a horse. Any
vet in the area can request it to be used for a client. For a vet or
client who requests it to be used to transport a horse, the cost will
be $50.00 plus $1.00 per mile. If a show organizer would like for it
to be parked at a show or event, the cost is $50.00 per day with a
driver on call. If the organizer would like
the driver to be on site, $60.00 goes to the driver directly. If the
ambulance is used by a participant, it will be $1.00 per mile (the
$50.00 is already paid by the management.) The MCEERU is a non-profit
organization. These fees are calculated to meet operating expenses.
A county wide animal disaster plan has been developed in Moore County.
It is still to be activated, but enough is in place to deal with a
disaster. There is also
such a plan in Wake County. We would like for other counties to join
in so we can have a state plan, and now that Floyd has been so
devastating, it may be the right time to get people moving. Animal
people have to take the first step, but the county emergency managers
will probably be more willing to incorporate such a plan into their
human plans now.
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