Manila Bulletin
Philippines
'We're trying to save as many as we can': Vets, volunteers aid horses rescued from Taal Volcano island
Philippines
'We're trying to save as many as we can': Vets, volunteers aid horses rescued from Taal Volcano island
'We're trying to save as many as we can': Vets, volunteers aid horses rescued from Taal Volcano island
Published Jan 20, 2020 12:00 am
By Jenny Ortuoste
Veterinarians from the equine industry and University of the Philippines (UP), along with volunteers, are conducting an ongoing mission in Batangas to assist injured and distressed horses rescued from Taal Volcano island after the phreatic eruption last Jan. 12.
Dr. Arreola treating an eye injury. (Photo courtesy of Dr. Dan Arreola)
Veterinarian Dan Arreola, who works primarily in the horseracing industry, led a team of veterinarians and equestriennes to Talisay, Batangas, on Jan. 15 to conduct cleaning and primary aid on rescued horses in the area.
For ease in treatment and to foster recovery, the horses were first brought via cattle truck to Dr. Arreola’s Horseshoe Hill Farm, where some of the horses were cleaned of ashes and dirt. But because his farm is within the eruption danger zone, they were told to evacuate. They were accommodated at a farm in Malvar, Batangas, owned by the town’s former mayor Albert Lat.
“It is really successful,” Arreola said of the mission. “We were able to restore a sense of normalcy to the horses, they are now able to eat, graze.”
Removing ashes and dirt off a horse. (Photo by Dr Dan Arreola)
Of the 17 horses they treated on Jan. 15 and 16, three were very weak and ill and did not survive their ordeal. Of the 14 remaining, most of them suffered eye injuries, severe burn marks from the ash fall, topical wounds, and wounds on their feet, which the veterinarians treated.
They also administered intravenous fluids and electrolytes to the severely dehydrated horses.
They treated 22 more horses in the succeeding days, as well as six on Sunday and 13 on Monday.
Volunteers cleaning horses. (Photo by Dr. Dan Arreola)
Arreola said the long-term effects of ash exposure on horses are unknown, and warned that the horses were likely to suffer pneumonia.“Most of the horses I saw did not exhibit signs of pneumonia, but meron (there will be) eventually because nakalanghap sila ng (they inhaled) ashes.”
The vets, including Dr. Arreola’s students from the UP College of Veterinary Medicine -- clinicians Clarissa Olarte and Anville de la Cruz --Arreola’s assistant Sam Binaya, equestrienne Alexis Cortez,volunteer Diane Copenhauer, and members of Team Equisport and the UP Alpha Chiron Society, worked together to clean and treat the traumatized horses.
Arreola said the resources they used for the mission came from their own pockets or were donated. “We rented with our own money one of the cattle trucks we used for transport,” he said. “A trailer was lent by Iñigo Zobel.” Drug company Virbac donated lunch for the team on the first day.
“Because of the attention given by media to the plight of the horses,” Arreola said, “we received an outpouring of help and donations, even from as far away as the U.S.”
He says the problem later on will be getting the animals back to their owners. “Unlike in the horseracing industry, where horses are marked with brands, these horses are not. Horse owners claiming their horses must mention an identifying mark, such as a white spot.”
They did not have difficulty with the first batch of horses, Dr. Arreola said, because they came with their owners. He lauded the honesty of the people in the area, who told him, “Hindi naman kami para agawin ang ‘di naminkabayo.” (We’re not the kind to take horses that are not ours.)
He decried, however, unscrupulous traders “taking advantage” of the situation and buying horses at rock-bottom prices. “We’re trying to discourage that, because the prices could be higher. Kawawa ang mga (Pitiful, the) horse owners.”
While many horses were abandoned on the volcano island, Arreola says they expect more horses to arrive at their temporary equine aid center over the next few days, and their ongoing effort is to bring in more cattle trucks for transport. “We’re trying to save as many as we can.”
Other veterinary missions
Other veterinary missions on the Taal horses have been conducted -- among them, by the Philippine Animal Welfare Society, with the help of equine veterinarian Dr. Romulo Modomo, and the Batangas provincial veterinarian.
Vets, volunteers assist horses at the PCEP mission. (Photo from Dr. Ron Lameyra's Facebook page)
Another mission also in Batangas was conducted on Sunday by the Philippine College of Equine Practitioners (PCEP) with transportation and supplies donated by the Manila Jockey Club, Inc. (MJC).
In a Facebook post, PCEP member Dr. Ron Lameyra said their mission was coordinated with Dr. Jommel Lasay of the Office of the Lipa City Veterinarian.
Others who contributed their efforts, Lameyra wrote, were MJC club veterinarians, MJC farrier Dado Hernandez, Philippine Racing Commission’s Dr. Neil Arlegui, Dr. Jay Tolentino, and UP veterinary student Renee Fernandez. The Department of Agriculture provided lunch.
Lameyra also wrote: “Other equine practitioners and veterinary medicine students have joined before and are scheduled to join in upcoming activities. Generous NGOs and animal lovers have been donating feeds and medical supplies for horses in coordination with Dr. Lasay.”
Dr. Arreola treating an eye injury. (Photo courtesy of Dr. Dan Arreola)
Veterinarian Dan Arreola, who works primarily in the horseracing industry, led a team of veterinarians and equestriennes to Talisay, Batangas, on Jan. 15 to conduct cleaning and primary aid on rescued horses in the area.
For ease in treatment and to foster recovery, the horses were first brought via cattle truck to Dr. Arreola’s Horseshoe Hill Farm, where some of the horses were cleaned of ashes and dirt. But because his farm is within the eruption danger zone, they were told to evacuate. They were accommodated at a farm in Malvar, Batangas, owned by the town’s former mayor Albert Lat.
“It is really successful,” Arreola said of the mission. “We were able to restore a sense of normalcy to the horses, they are now able to eat, graze.”
Removing ashes and dirt off a horse. (Photo by Dr Dan Arreola)
Of the 17 horses they treated on Jan. 15 and 16, three were very weak and ill and did not survive their ordeal. Of the 14 remaining, most of them suffered eye injuries, severe burn marks from the ash fall, topical wounds, and wounds on their feet, which the veterinarians treated.
They also administered intravenous fluids and electrolytes to the severely dehydrated horses.
They treated 22 more horses in the succeeding days, as well as six on Sunday and 13 on Monday.
Volunteers cleaning horses. (Photo by Dr. Dan Arreola)
Arreola said the long-term effects of ash exposure on horses are unknown, and warned that the horses were likely to suffer pneumonia.“Most of the horses I saw did not exhibit signs of pneumonia, but meron (there will be) eventually because nakalanghap sila ng (they inhaled) ashes.”
The vets, including Dr. Arreola’s students from the UP College of Veterinary Medicine -- clinicians Clarissa Olarte and Anville de la Cruz --Arreola’s assistant Sam Binaya, equestrienne Alexis Cortez,volunteer Diane Copenhauer, and members of Team Equisport and the UP Alpha Chiron Society, worked together to clean and treat the traumatized horses.
Arreola said the resources they used for the mission came from their own pockets or were donated. “We rented with our own money one of the cattle trucks we used for transport,” he said. “A trailer was lent by Iñigo Zobel.” Drug company Virbac donated lunch for the team on the first day.
“Because of the attention given by media to the plight of the horses,” Arreola said, “we received an outpouring of help and donations, even from as far away as the U.S.”
He says the problem later on will be getting the animals back to their owners. “Unlike in the horseracing industry, where horses are marked with brands, these horses are not. Horse owners claiming their horses must mention an identifying mark, such as a white spot.”
They did not have difficulty with the first batch of horses, Dr. Arreola said, because they came with their owners. He lauded the honesty of the people in the area, who told him, “Hindi naman kami para agawin ang ‘di naminkabayo.” (We’re not the kind to take horses that are not ours.)
He decried, however, unscrupulous traders “taking advantage” of the situation and buying horses at rock-bottom prices. “We’re trying to discourage that, because the prices could be higher. Kawawa ang mga (Pitiful, the) horse owners.”
While many horses were abandoned on the volcano island, Arreola says they expect more horses to arrive at their temporary equine aid center over the next few days, and their ongoing effort is to bring in more cattle trucks for transport. “We’re trying to save as many as we can.”
Other veterinary missions
Other veterinary missions on the Taal horses have been conducted -- among them, by the Philippine Animal Welfare Society, with the help of equine veterinarian Dr. Romulo Modomo, and the Batangas provincial veterinarian.
Vets, volunteers assist horses at the PCEP mission. (Photo from Dr. Ron Lameyra's Facebook page)
Another mission also in Batangas was conducted on Sunday by the Philippine College of Equine Practitioners (PCEP) with transportation and supplies donated by the Manila Jockey Club, Inc. (MJC).
In a Facebook post, PCEP member Dr. Ron Lameyra said their mission was coordinated with Dr. Jommel Lasay of the Office of the Lipa City Veterinarian.
Others who contributed their efforts, Lameyra wrote, were MJC club veterinarians, MJC farrier Dado Hernandez, Philippine Racing Commission’s Dr. Neil Arlegui, Dr. Jay Tolentino, and UP veterinary student Renee Fernandez. The Department of Agriculture provided lunch.
Lameyra also wrote: “Other equine practitioners and veterinary medicine students have joined before and are scheduled to join in upcoming activities. Generous NGOs and animal lovers have been donating feeds and medical supplies for horses in coordination with Dr. Lasay.”