UPDATED: Horse Community Swings Into Action For Flood Affected Owners

{mosimage}Local Queenslander’s have set up donation points and bank accounts to receive donations to assist horse owners affected by the devastating Queensland floods. UPDATED: New info added for a Lost Horse Register and Donation Collections for Ispwich and Gatton!

“Although we are getting flooded in SE Qld now a lot of people in Rockhampton have been flooded out of their homes for nearly three weeks now,” says Katy Driver of Caboonbah Stud. “The water has only dropped about 6 inches in last week so still a long time before they can get back to their houses to start the clean up as most are still under water.” Katy herself is surrounded by water, cut off on all sides, but says she is “safe on a hill”. In an online post she writes about most of her town being underwater and tremendous stock losses. “Major flash flooding, lot of people I (have) not been able to get hold of and only had short notice they had to evacuate, lots of families and children missing. Big wall of water coming through at the moment wiping out most things. Lot of livestock lost.” Despite her own predicament Katy’s attention has turned to helping others. Katy has organised ROCKY FEED AND SEED in Rockhampton to get whatever feed required out to the Rockhampton showgrounds for horse owners stranded by the floods. “There are alot of people stranded still at the showgrounds with their horses and (they) have lost most of their things,” she says. “These are the people I am wanting to get help for. Even when they can get home they will have no grass and lost all their feed supplies. They haven’t been able to work so have no income to help cover the costs of their lives let alone their horses, but all of them have their horses as their first priority. Some are eligible for government help but that doesn't cover their horses and would only barely help them survive.” Katy says donations can be made directly to the ROCKY FEED AND SEED bank account. She has a friend working at the Showground end to make sure donated feed is distributed evenly amongst horses stranded there. “All we need to do is put the money in their bank account,” she says. “Even if you can only afford $25-$30 that is a bag of feed or at least few bales of hay to help.” SE QLD Horse Rescue have also set up donation points to help horse owners affected by the floods. They have a SE QLD Horse Rescue FaceBook page with regular updates and are asking people to donate what they can, feed, agistment, transport, vet care etc. Donations And Contacts: To help horses owners stranded at Rockhampton you can make a donation directly to Rocky Feed And Seed:
WESTPAC BANK
ACC NAME: ROCKY FEED AND SEED
BSB: 034 210
ACC#: 219110 Once a donation has been made please email Katy at caboonbahstud@gmail.com and let her know how much has been paid into the account. Katy will update Rocky Feed And Seed daily to let them know how much feed can be taken out to the showgrounds. Her contact at the grounds will ensure the distribution. Donations of goods and services can also be made at the following two locations. These are being managed by SE QLD Horse Rescue. 838 MUNDOOLU-CONNECTION RD
TAMBORINE
4270 QLD 60 - 66 SUNDOWN COURT
TAMBORINE
4270 QLD Contact Jess (SE QLD Horse Rescue) at:
- 07 5543 8724
- 0488071493
- hoofprints_on_my_heart@hotmail.com RSPCA QLD also have a flood crisis appeal. They say “RSPCA Qld is calling for donations that can be used to purchase pet, livestock and wildlife supplies in areas affected by the current flood crisis. We're urging people to donate financially rather than dropping off supplies because of the logistics involved in moving those much need items throughout the State. Money that could otherwise be used to help animals would be taken up in transportation and packaging costs.” To donate please visit the RSPCA QLD website. Queensland Horse Council LOST HORSE REGISTER
The Qld Horse Council will be handling the lost horse register, contact point for lost horses, found horses and found dead horses. Until Monday 17/1/2011, possibly Tuesday calls direct to Debbie Dekker 07 54646785 mob 0420926281 or Fiona Thompson 0434182721 or email president@qldhorsecouncil.com From Tuesday Biosecurity Qld will also be taking info and forwarding it to us – that number is 132523. As many identifying features are required even on dead animals – we want to be able to bring some closure to owners who have lost horses and also have accurate figures of lost horses at the end of this.

FEED TO ISPWICH AND GATTON
Emergency Feed – The Qld Horse Council will have a truckload of hay arriving at the Ipswich Showground possibly on Monday if roads are clear. There will be more hay trucks coming with the next one being sent to the Gatton area if roads are clear. Please contact Debbie Dekker on the above phone numbers or email for details. If you have a need in your area please contact Debbie and we will see what we can arrange. Debbie Dekker
President
Qld Horse Council Inc.
Ph 54646785
email: president@qldhorsecouncil.com
Queensland Horse Council Quest Equine Welfare
Quest has launched a fundraising appeal to provide assistance for the welfare of equines in flood affected areas. Recent news has shown footage of the devastation in many areas, caused by severe and widespread flooding. The situation is dire, with many lives having already been lost in Queensland, and many thousands of families currently displaced from their homes. Horse owners affected by this overwhelming natural disaster are facing many difficult challenges. Quest hopes to alleviate some of the personal burden of these owners and provide assistance for the welfare of their horses. Quest, in conjunction with Horseland, one of Australia’s leading horse supply retailers, aims to provide aid in the form of dry feed and essential horse supplies to owners in need. If you would like to help in any way, Quest would be very appreciative of any support for this appeal. Visit Quest