Emergency animal response program in Florida | 02.06.2007 | 07:07:09 | Views: 5870 | ID: February 6 '07: The Miami Herald reported recently that emergency managers from several Florida communities participated in a four-day class designed to teach large animal emergency response. The class included "water rescue, mud rescue, trailer accident simulations, and search and rescue," the Herald reported. The training course was sponsored by the Southwest Ranches Volunteer Fire rescue in cooperation with the Broward County Extension Education Division. In addition to the several types of rescue training, the participants learned "how to remove a horse from an isolated area without a vehicle, strictly by using human power. Trained horses were used to help teach the responders. Training responders in animal care during disasters is an important tool, officials told the Herald. According to Lt. Leslie Kastner from Southwest Ranches Volunteer Fire Rescue, "Animals are pets now. They are part of the family. ... You can tell a person to get under a (decontamination) shower, but you can't tell a horse, or a dog, or a cat to shower off. People aren't going to leave their animals behind, so first responders have to be trained." Kastner told the Herald that the class helped those participating learn "how to rescue an animal without hurting it."
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