
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, March 21, 1995                   TAG: 9503210094
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY ERIC 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

A TOUGH ANIMAL TO CONTROL

The "Large Animal First Aid and Trailer Rescue Seminar" was held in response to the increasing number of vehicle accidents involving large animals. Transporting horses and other stock in trailers for breeding, exhibition and marketing purposes is common, but along with the cumbersome trailers comes increasing risks.

The weekend seminar was held to help rescuers better meet the needs of animals. Roger Marcum, a captain with the Botetourt Mounted Search and Rescue Service, which with the vet school co-sponsored the seminar, said the idea behind the conference came after an accident in September 1992 in Troutville. In that accident, a Blacksburg man died and three Thoroughbred horses were killed when a truck towing a horse trailer swerved to avoid a camper and went over a bank. Marcum said that incident and accounts from rescuers across the state showed how little rescuers know what to do when confronted with large animals that have been involved in accidents.

More than 80 people attended the seminars and heard medical and legal perspectives on treatment of wounds, fractures and shock suffered by horses and cattle. Other issues addressed were the transportation, psychology, extrication and restraint of such animals. "There is a specific void of information on this subject," said Dascanio. "There are not many places you can go to get information like this."

by CNB