Baton Rouge, LA (September 1, 2012) - The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) continues to coordinate efforts with the Louisiana Air National Guard to drop hay to stranded cattle in Plaquemines Parish. On Friday, LDAF delivered 53 round bales of hay by truck. The hay was donated by the Louisiana Cattlemen's Association. LDAF is also supplying portable corral panels and water troughs.
"Our work is not finished as we are now in the recovery phase of this storm. We will continue to assist Louisiana residents in getting their lives back to normal as soon as possible. Right now, we're trying to ensure that the stranded livestock are safely returned to their owners," said Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M.
LDAF is in communication with Louisiana Search and Rescue Teams (LSART) and other national humane groups that are working with local animal control to conduct search and rescue efforts for pets. LSART currently has six teams working on this rescue mission. The LDAF forestry division is also conducting aerial assessments of timber damage in Livingston, St. Helena, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington parishes.
Fuel update: So far, 212,639 gallons of diesel fuel and 138,846 gallons of unleaded fuel have been requested by hospitals, law enforcement agencies and other emergency operators.
Pet evacuation update: Alexandria has a total of 92 pets:
-91 dogs
-1 cat
Haughton has a total of 52 pets:
-44 dogs
-5 cats
-2 birds
-1 ferret
Pet evacuation numbers continue to decrease as people leave the human shelter.
Hill's Pet Food Company donated dog and cat food to LDAF for the pet shelters.