Dr. Rebecca Gimenez and Dr. Tomas Gimenez are preparing a book on technical large animal ermergency rescue for Blackwell Publishing in Oxford that is scheduled for publication in 2007. This book will reflect the increasing demand for proper techniques and standardized procedures for use by veterinarians, horse owners and professional emergency responders on equine incident scenes, both in emergencies and disasters. Throughout the book, emphasis will be on understanding prey animal behavior and safety when handling large animals, pointing out practical advice for maintaining responder safety and preventing iatrogenic injury to the victim.

The best way to learn is by learning from the practical experience of others, and the Gimenez’s want your stories about wrecks, trapped animals, accidents, and moreover, how you freed the trapped animals.

A particular feature of the book will be practical advice and learning from past rescues shared by professionals and lay persons. Scenarios will include actual response to trailer wrecks, removing animals in ravines, wells, ditches, mud or septic tanks. Vertical lift methods will be discussed in depth, while helicopter rescue as a last resort will also be covered. The first standardized protocols for dealing with common large animal rescue scenarios, together with case studies, various appendices and an extensive bibliography, will be available in this book.

The authors are inviting the horse owning public, horse industry professionals, veterinarians, firefighters, police, animal control and humane officers to contribute their stories for this book by June 1, 2006. Copies of rescue methods in historical literature, videos or photographs of rescues, and written descriptions of accidents, wrecks and rescues (successful or not) and material about rescue organizations are welcome; it is intended to include information about related organizations and lists of important contacts.

If you feel that you could contribute to this or, indeed, assist in any other way, please contact:

Rebecca M. Gimenez, PhD
2472 Six and Twenty Road
Pendleton, SC 29679 USA
(864) 222-9513
[email protected]

Tomas Gimenez, MVZ, DMV
Clemson University
Department of Animal Veterinary Sciences
Attn: Dr. Tomas Gimenez
Clemson, SC 29634
[email protected]


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