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Discussion: Brad indicated that his department is working with the Josephine County Health Manager to develop an evacuation plan for small and large animals in case of a disaster. This is in the planning stages, however they want to start building a database of people that would have the facilities to offer temporary housing to either pets, or large animals. There are issues that are being worked on, such as liability and food. Anyone offering housing must be willing to allow access to Animal Control or its delegates into their property for a pre-evaluation to ensure safety. At that time they may need volunteers to help with the safety evaluation.

Brad brought forms that are to be filled by people willing to offer to take one or more animals during a disaster. JCEC, and SOHA will start distributing the questionnaires, so the database can start to take form. He’ll continue to be in touch with us regarding the plan.

Another one of his goals is to have an Animal Fair, sometime in October, inviting Sheriff’s Posse, Canine units, Animal Rescue Organizations, and other animal organizations to participate, so the public can receive information.

A person from the Oregon Horse Welfare Council, which is a statewide coalition of organizations, groups and individuals dedicated to helping struggling horse owners and their horses, contacted Cris and Jim and Sandi to ask if they would agree to be listed on their resource directory. The purpose of the directory is to provide information and responsible options to struggling horse owners seeking help. The OHWC sponsors the Oregon Hay Bank also. The website is www.oregonhorsewelfarecouncil.com

Linda Davis from the Equamore Foundation is going to arrange a meeting with us and a representative of the hay bank, so we can find out how it works. Once we know more, we could help with fundraising. The barn in the Rogue Valley Humane Society would be a good place to store hay. Cris will contact RVHS to ask if it would be possible to use the barn for such purpose. It would be a win win situation if people hurt by the economy would be able to get free hay or buy it discounted until their situation improves or they can find a new home for their animals.

Minutes for July 23, 2009 Meeting held at Sophie's

Meeting was called by Josephine County Equestrian Coalition

Present: Linda Lloyd and June Peterson representing the Rogue Valley Humane Society, Bill Powell and Brad Tally from Animal Protection and Regulation, Jim and Sandi Williford representing Southern Oregon Horse Activities and JCEC, Lynn Meyer and Cris Usher from JCEC.

Meeting Objective: Bring together animal rescue groups, equestrian organizations, and Animal Protection and Regulation with the goal to combine resources that ultimately will benefit equines in need of rescue from neglect or abuse.

Brad Tally, Animal Protection Supervisor explained that his agency’s revenue is running on half a budget, with only 4 out of 7 employees.

His long term vision is to put in place an emergency preparedness plan for small and large animals that can be implemented in case of a natural disaster.
He is applying for a grant from FEMA in order to purchase a truck and horse trailer for such purpose. He is working on developing a list that will include people willing and able to transport and/or house animals during those circumstances.

Brad will contact JCEC to ask for assistance recruiting volunteers for the task. He is also aware that he can contact us or SOHA at the present time for transport of large animals.

Brad other goal is to bring all the local animal groups together in the fall to celebrate “Animal Day”

For the short term and in order to facilitate the removal of a large animal from neglect or abuse, the RVHS has a large barn that it is empty at this time. June Peterson will check with other Board members, and city ordinances to see if JCEC would be allowed to repair the barn, put up fences and corrals in order for Animal Protection to temporarily house farm animals there.

Resolution: June Peterson will contact Cris with Board members resolution and City ordinances regarding barn.

Brad Tally will contact JCEC, and SOHA regarding requests for volunteers for emergency plan. Contact groups regarding Animal Day, will contact JCEC or SOHA in case of needing assistance, including transportation of equine in need.

The group will meet again at a later date.

The JCEC along with the Jackson County Horsemans Assoc. and other concerned citizens got Fish Hatchery Park reopened to horses in December. Carol Crawford is working closely with the park manager and the BLM to see about connecting the Fish Hatchery Park to the new Bolt Mountain trail that will connect these to Elk Lane. This will make a nice local trail with lots of potential enjoyment from Rider, hikers and bikers.

2/15/2007 The JCEC along with Best Motorsports came up the $2500 to put sand in the arena to fix the footing after the January flood. Copeland partially donated 150 yards of sand and delivered it to the fairgrounds on 2/16/2007. The sand was much needed and put the arena back in usable condition.

1/30/2008 The JCEC is teaming up with a group that has plans to save the arena and horse facilities at the fairgrounds. Several members are on this board and are working hard to save the arena and facilities. If you would like to help or would like more info on this project please email cindy@smartack.com or call 541-479-4791

The JCEC raised money from individuals and businesses in our area to update the stalls in barn A. The gorgeous new stall doors that were donated are just a start in renovating and making our horse facilities at the fairgrounds a new and inviting place to host events in our area. The door were only part of this project. We also filled holes in the block in the stalls. We had other plans for the facilities but these plan were put on hold when the race horses were put back into the arena in 2008. More to come soon on this project.

Another Work Party at Lake Selmac ~ Horse Camp. Scheduled to be October 12^th. Make addtional 18 wire cages for new trees. Water new trees. Need post drivers, wire cutters. Also will be spraying or brushing on a preservative on corrals. Will have a BBQ Sun afternoon. JCEC to provide Dogs & Burgers. Bring a side dish to share. BOD. RESVP required. Contact Jim W. at sandcreekacres2@grantspass.net or 479-5019. Only five showed up in September - Had chicken & tater salad plus fruit some of the girls brought. Will have the same if not enough volunteers call up..

The horse rescuers

Couple teaches emergency techniques for large animals; local organizations hope to launch rescue team

If Cris Usher and some of the other responders had had large-animal rescue training a year earlier, a horse that was stuck might still be around.

"Last year, the Applegate Fire District had a situation where a horse was in a pond," said Usher, of Applegate Fire District 9, the Josephine County Sheriff's Posse and Josephine County Equestrian Coalition. She said no one knew what to do and techniques she learned Saturday would have come in handy. "The horse ... did not make it."

There's no system in place to prevent the scene from happening again.

"Right now we can't expect to call 9-1-1 and have people respond," to a large-animal emergency, she said.

Usher is among the participants in a two-day large animal rescue clinic held Saturday and today. Local organizers hope to put together a team of responders in Jackson and Josephine counties.

Firefighters from Ashland and Grants Pass as well as California fire districts are attending the clinic held at Eden Farm in Ashland, as are employees of Josephine County Animal Control and local horse owners. The clinic is sponsored by the Josephine County Equestrian Coalition.

John and Deb Fox, firefighter volunteers with the Felton, Calif., Fire Protection District, have developed a training curriculum and manual on large-animal rescue techniques.

John Fox said he looked nationwide for information on equipment firefighters needed to rescue large animals and found nothing, so 12 years ago he and his wife took the initiative. Whether animals are trapped in a trailer wreck, a ditch, the mud, a lake or river, a ravine, a collapsed barn or a show ring, the clinic teaches skills to assist in saving them.

From making a rescue strap and strapping it around a horse's girth to flipping over a 450-pound recumbent manikin, the Foxes demonstrated numerous techniques, often done with standard fire engine equipment such as hoses, utility ropes and pike poles.

A large part of the clinic involves education on anatomy and behavior of a horse, said Deb Fox.

"Firefighters have a tendency to rush in," she said. "That doesn't work with these guys."

The Foxes also taught tips on how to stay out of danger, such as how to organize the ropes so they don't become entangled around the rescuer's legs, which would pose a risk if the horse suddenly took off. They also suggest rescuers keep their mouths closed and teeth together to avoid biting off their tongue should the horse suddenly jerk.

Jannalee Smithey, president of the Equamore Foundation, a nonprofit rescue organization in Ashland, is among the clinic organizers.

"We are forming a committee for equine rescue solutions," she said. In addition to encouraging firefighter and law enforcement training, she hopes to create a list of citizens available to help because rescues can require a large team of people.

The techniques can apply to cows, llamas and pigs, too.

We are still looking into making a trail out at 4 mile lake. We are gathering information at this time and more to come soon.

We represent the Josephine County Equestrian Coalition (JCEC), a non-profit organization formed in 2001. We represent a majority of the Horse Clubs and individual owners in Josephine County. Our purpose is to promote and enhance horse activities in Josephine County. In our short history we have, with cooperation of the Josephine County Parks Dept. built the horse camp at Lake Selmac, and in conjunction with BLM helped with improvements of Cathedral Hill Park. April 2007 will be our third year of Equifair at the Josephine County Fairgrounds, a free event for the general public. 5000-10000 people are expected to attend the 2007 Equifair, which has grown to a 2-day event.

We would like to discuss the possibility of helping to develop a public multi-use facility on the undeveloped District 7 lands on the southwest side of Stringer Gap Road (37-06-03 tax lot 2100 & 37-06-10 tax lot 100). We believe that this would be an ideal setting for an Equine/Multi-use trail project including: improvement of the existing roads, development of an arena, stalls and parking areas and miles of trails (this land is adjacent to BLM land). This would benefit the High School Equestrian teams, 4H, and the general public. The trails would be developed to serve hikers as well as equestrians.

We will seek support from local businesses to help with the construction and financing of the project. At this time, we are prepared to finance an aerial mapping project to develop a base map which will be a fundamental part of the overall project plan. We are also prepared to take care of the up-keep and insurance for this proposed park.

We are an established non-profit organization and hope you will join us in making a contribution and gift to the youth and general public of Josephine County. This is a proposed project that will make a difference.