Due to overwhelming response, Equine Guelph’s Large Animal Emergency Rescue awareness level workshops, offered on March 4 and March 11, 2021, are full and a waiting list is available for the next offering (date to be announced). These courses are being offered for the first time virtually, at a price of $50+HST. Up to 30 registrants will receive an introduction to Large Animal Rescue equipment and techniques, as well as livestock behaviour and handling. These 90 minute online sessions provide an introduction to best practices for mitigating both handler and animal risk for successful rescues, and provide a foundation for future hands-on practical training. 

In today’s society, responding to incidents involving animals is both an expectation and an acknowledgement that such incidents will likely involve people putting themselves and others at risk. All large animal incidents regardless of cause or scope present a risk of injury to responders.

“Education, awareness, and planning are key to minimizing risk,” says Victor MacPherson, Lead Instructor, Equine Guelph Large Animal Rescue and Farm & Food Care Ontario Livestock Emergency Response. “These can be achieved by your awareness training of livestock incidents, following the PLAN method, and knowing your resources. Proper use of specialized equipment and positioning of webbing around the body of the animal is so important to the positive outcome of lifting or dragging a large animal to safety.”  

By keeping responders safe, we improve our capacity to keep animals safe.

“Tails, legs, heads and necks are not appropriate handles,” says Equine Guelph Large Animal Rescue program co-ordinator, Dr. Susan Raymond. “it is important to understand how the animal may react to ensure a safe rescue for the animal and for the safety of the responders.”

This virtual workshop is being offered in partnership with Farm & Food Care Ontario. It is intended for first responders, pre-service, law enforcement, animal control officers, veterinarians, vet. technicians, emergency animal response teams, horse owners, livestock producers and associations (note: participants must be minimum of 18 yrs of age).

More workshop information, resource sheets and full bios for the instructors are available on the registration page. Fill out the course update form to receive advance notice of the next offering.

Source: Equine Guelph.