COLLEGE OF APPLIED & NATURAL SCIENCES
Animal Disaster Recovery
Each year, Louisiana Tech University sponsors the Animal Disaster Recovery workshop. The five-day training program prepares animal responders to work within the infrastructure of community disaster response, focuses on safety for people and animals, teaches skills such as large animal technical emergency rescue, disaster sheltering, slack water rescue techniques, and specific animal handling skills, which increases the overall local community response capabilities in Louisiana and the surrounding communities.
2018 Activities
Dees, Tickel, McConnico, ‘Veterinary Clinics of North America’ Chapter 12: Communication During Natural Disasters and Working with Authorities, VFP 34.2 (Eds. Thomson/Navarre) Responding to Natural Disasters and Emergencies in Beef Production. 2018
RS McConnico1, NH Walker2, C Navarre2, L Gentry1, M Mirza3, Louisiana Tech University1, Ag Center, Louisiana State University2, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University3, Abstract for presentation, Incorporation of experiential learning for disaster response for animal and equine science students, veterinary students, veterinarians, and other animal stake-holder groups strengthens overall community resilience. National Association of Equine Affiliated Academics, June 3, 2018, Tarleton University, Tarleton, TX
McConnico RS 1. Equine Medicine 911; 2. Hot Topics in Equine Infectious Diseases/Role of the Veterinarian in Disease Outbreaks; 3. The Role of the Veterinarian in Equine Cruelty Investigations. Proceedings of the Texas Veterinary Medical Association Annual Winter Meeting, The Woodlands Conference Center, The Woodlands, TX, March 2, 2018
McConnico RS, Invited Commentary, Equine Disease Quarterly, April 2018 issue. University of Kentucky
Texas Veterinary Medical Association Annual Winter Meeting, The Woodlands Conference Center, The Woodlands, TX, March 2, 2018. 4 presentations – Titles: Equine Medicine 911; Hot Topics in Equine Infectious Diseases/Role of the Veterinarian in Disease Outbreaks; The Role of the Veterinarian in Equine Cruelty Investigations.
North LA Ag Expo; Ag-Expo and Forestry Forum; Presentation “Disaster Planning for Agriculture and Animals”, Jan 20, 2018
Keynote Speaker – Come Together! The Community That Trains Together, Stays Together Ranch Readiness Day; Sonoma County, Santa Rosa, CA, May 20, 2018
Presentation, Incorporation of experiential learning for disaster response for animal and equine science students, veterinary students, veterinarians, and other animal stake-holder groups strengthens overall community resilience. RS McConnico1, NH Walker2, C Navarre2, L Gentry1, M Mirza3, Louisiana Tech University1, Ag Center, Louisiana State University2, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University3, National Association of Equine Affiliated Academics, June 3, 2018, Tarleton University, Tarleton, TX
Training Workshop for Arkansas Farm Bureau sponsored community engagement event for First Responder Participants in Northwest Arkansas – 12 contact hours of awareness and operational level large animal technical rescue training and animal handling – Benton County Fairgrounds, Bentonville, AR, August 29-30, 2018 (Keith & McConnico) – $5,000 sponsorship to Louisiana Tech SASF Animal Disaster Training Program.
Continuing Education Seminar to Northeast Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association, West Monroe, LA, Disaster Planning and Response: Where are we? October 23, 2018
Husted R, McConnico RS, How to Develop an Equine Veterinary Facility Plan for All-Hazards Evacuation and Sheltering. American Association of Equine Practitioners Annual Convention and Tradeshow, San Francisco California, San Francisco, CA, December 1-5, 2018
Publications
Book Chapters
McConnico, RS. Flood Injuries in Horses. In: Orsini, J., Divers, T. (Ed.), Equine Emergencies: Treatment and Procedures (4th ed.), 2013, Elsevier Health Sciences. St. Louis, MO
McConnico RS. Equine Sheltering. In: Wingfield WE and Palmer SB, eds., Veterinary Disaster Response, 1st ed., Blackwell Publishing, Ames, IA, 2009, Ch 1.2, pp. 325-334
Hubert JD, McConnico RS. Maintenance of Horses in Slings. In: Robinson NE, ed., Current Therapy in Equine Medicine. 6th ed., WB Saunders Co., Philadelphia, PA, 2008, pp. 918-921
McConnico RS. Flood Injury in Horses. In: Sullivan EK ed., Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract. Trauma and Emergency Care, 2007, 23(1) pp.1-17
McConnico RS. Emergency preparedness guide. In: Mortensen KE, ed., Horses of the Storm: The Incredible Rescue of Katrina’s Horses, Blood-Horse Publications, Lexington, KY, 2008, pp. 175-217
Journal Articles
Freeman, C., Mirza, M. H., Pescosolido, K., McConnico, RS, Injuries and outcome of three horses hospitalized in the aftermath of Hurricane Isaac. Eq Vet Edu, 2015, 27;6:308–315
McConnico RS, French DD, Clark B, Mortensen KE, Littlefield M, Moore RM. Equine rescue and response activities in Louisiana in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2007, 231:384-392
Ishihara AK, Madigan JE, Hubert J D, McConnico RS. Full body support sling in horses. Part 1: Equipment, case selection and application procedure. Eq Vet Edu. 2006, 18:219-222
Ishihara AK, Madigan JE, Hubert JD, McConnico RS. Full body support sling in horses. Part 2. Indications. Eq Vet Edu. 2006, 18:273-280
McConnico RS, Clem MF, DeBowes RM. Supportive medical care of recumbent horses. Compend Contin Educ Pract Vet. 1991, 13:1287-1295
Training Modules
McConnico RS. Training modules in large animal emergency sheltering in compliance with international standards on Livestock Emergency Guidelines & Standards (LEGS) and World Organization of Animal Health (OIE) guidelines, World Society of the Protection of Animals, January 2011
Lay Publications (selected)
McConnico, RS Taking Care of Horses After the Storm: Three practitioners share advice on how to best care for your horses following a disaster https://thehorse.com/158776/taking-care-of-horses-after-the-storm/ 2019
McConnico RS What’s in your horse’s water, https://thehorse.com/160075/whats-in-your-horses-water/ 2018
McConnico RS, Horse Owners: Are You Prepared for Natural Disasters? https://thehorse.com/157043/horse-owners-are-you-prepared-for-natural-disasters/
McConnico RS, Benefits of Microchipping Horses. https://thehorse.com/136783/benefits-of-microchipping-horses/
Davis E & McConnico RS. How to Collect Your Lost Horse After a Natural Disaster: Learn what you’ll need to ID and get your horse back after a disaster. Drs. Eric Davis and Becky McConnico explain. https://thehorse.com/138495/how-to-collect-your-lost-horse-after-a-natural-disaster/ Podcast
Davis E & McConnico RS Surviving natural Disasters you’re your horse. https://thehorse.com/138489/surviving-natural-disasters-with-your-horse/
McConnico, R. S. 20 Disaster planning questions (29417th ed.). The Horse. www.thehorse.com/articles/29417/20-disaster-planning-questions, 2012
McConnico RS. Commentary: Disaster planning and mitigation. Equine Disease Quarterly, Gluck Equine Research Center, Dept. of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, July 2011, 20:1
McConnico RS. Enduring Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. Sante De Cheval, Horse Health publication of the LSU-Equine Health Studies Program, 2009, 2:8-9
McConnico RS. Commentary: Preparing an equine practice for a natural disaster DVM: The news magazine of veterinary medicine. 2008, 39:2E-4E
McConnico RS. Our responsibility and disaster preparedness: Fighting the “It won’t ever happen to me” attitude. Newsletter for the American Association of Human Animal Bond Veterinarians, 2008, Spring: pp. 7-8
McConnico RS. Statewide agriculture emergency preparedness effort in place. Sante De Cheval. 2007, 1:27-28
McConnico RS. Horse owners encouraged to have evacuation plan. DVM Magazine, veterinary news 360, September, 2006, 1:22
News
Training underway teaching locals how to save animals during severe weather
From KNOE
An Animal Responder Boot Camp is underway at the Outdoor Wilderness Learning Center in Dubach and on the South Campus of Louisiana Tech University in Ruston.
The course is training first responders and veterinarians how to safely and effectively save animal lives without compromising human life. Eric Thompson with Animal Search and rescue said they “have learned from many past disasters in many states that people will risk their lives to save their pets.”
Louisiana Tech Hosts Animal Responder Boot Camp
From Today’s Veterinary Nurse
When natural disasters strike, first responders need to be prepared to respond to rescue situations – even when those in need of rescue have four legs. Louisiana Tech University’s School of Agricultural Sciences and Forestry Animal Disaster Project hosted the 2019 Louisiana Animal Responder Boot Camp recently at the Outdoor Wilderness Learning Center in Dubach and on the Tech campus.