Report from the Hurricane Zone by Victoria Dennis

Five Flags AHA, Pensacola , Florida

Grassroots Services
Karen Pate of Singing River Ranch, 228-826-5827, 12201 Seaman Road , Vancleave , MS 39565 , has opened up her barn to be a staging area for feed and hay. She has turned what was left of her covered riding arena into storage and serves the local community with limited supplies. "The biggest need is hay because all the fields have been ruined," she says. She is dispensing over 30 bales a day to folks in need plus the feed.

Janet McCarroll is coordinating the feed and hay along with other supplies at the Harrison County Fairgrounds. 228-832-3691 (office), or 228-669-2687 (cell), 15321 County Farm Road , Gulf Port , MS 39503 . This is the most central location and staging area at this time. She has had folks drive over 2 hours one way just to pick up hay and feed for their equines. This facility is currently serving folks from Jackson , Harrison , Pearl River , Lamar and Hancock counties. They are housing equines, pets and cattle at this facility. Need include: Feed, Fencing for equines such as electro braid, etc., fence post either steel "T" kind or wooden, insulators, solar powered chargers, wormers and fly spray

Shipments must be at this facility before 4 P.M. central so that the loading crews have time to get it unloaded and sorted out.

There is an account being set up at a local feed store where those in need will be able to purchase supplies. It will be handled by Janet McCarroll who reports that as the outlying facilities close down, they will probably be the last ones to close. The economy is demolished. She is trying to 'buy' what she can from a local feed store so that they don't go out of business. She also realizes that soon the hay and feed donations are going to stop. Folks just don't realize that these animals will have to be supported thru May of next year when farmers can make the first cutting of hay. We have already had a bad year with hay production along the Gulf Coast . It's just been too wet to get quality hay. What was put up in barns is now gone along with the barn to put it in. Hay was lost in the southeast due to Hurricane Dennis, Tropical Storms Arlene and Cindy and then Katrina and Rita.

501 (c)(3) Organizations
Make your donation to either of these groups:

· MS Hunter Jumper Association, P.O. Box 13904 , Jackson , MS 39236-3904

· Panhandle Equine Rescue, www.panhandleequinerescue.org
Hay hotlines are being established; however they will probably be geared more for cattle than equines.

I do urge that if someone can donate any item or a monetary gift to please do so. This is not the first hurricane nor will it be the last. Nearly all of the recovery effort for the equine community is done solely by donations. Many of the organizations that have been helping with rescue and rehab depend on donations. They have spent thousands of hours and money trying to save these animals that have been someone's beloved friend. For many, they are all that is left.

If anyone has any questions, please feel free to contact me:
Victoria Dennis
850-492-1783
Five Flags Arabian Association, www.ffaha.org
Panhandle Equine Rescue, www.panhandleequinerescue.org
lddfarms@granis.net
www.loopdouble-d.com
Next month I should have more information on hay hot lines and facility closings.

Thank you to the Purebred Arabian Trust, Arabian Racing Association and Middle Tennessee Arabian Club for their donations. This is going to be a long haul for everyone involved.