Horse Release and Refuge Program
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Horse Release Program
Important Information
Horse owners in hurricane prone areas have a large responsibility to be sure that their animals are provided for in the event a hurricane threatens their area. The Town of Davie provides temporary housing for horses of residents and horses boarded in Davie.
In a Category 1 or Category 2 storm, horses will be safer in a strong, secure barn or stable.
In a Category 3 or Category 4 storm, they may be safer outside with adequate space and safe environment. Hurricane warnings indicate that hurricane conditions (sustained winds of 74 mph or higher) are expected somewhere within the specified area. Hurricane preparedness activities become difficult once winds reach tropical storm force (sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph), the hurricane warning is issued 36 hours in advance of the anticipated onset of tropical-storm-force winds to allow for important preparation.
Local Hurricane Turn-Out
You are encouraged to visit the site for yourself before completing your registration form to determine whether you feel it is safer than your current situation.
Once a hurricane warning has been issued, Robbins Preserve Park Lodge site for horses owned by Davie residents or for horses that live in Davie will open. This site will reopen to retrieve your horses when the winds have subsided to a minimum of 40 mph, or when it is deemed safe by emergency personnel.
Horse Identification
Identifying your animals well is a crucial part of getting them returned to you in the event that they get loose during the disaster. There are a number of recommended ways of clearly identifying your horse(s):
- Spray paint your telephone number, including area code, on the side of your animal(s) with a contrasting shade of acrylic paint.
- Braid luggage tags into the mane and/or tail of your horse(s) with your name, address, telephone numbers, and possibly with the numbers of out of area contacts. Be sure the information is written in waterproof ink, and tape the tags to waterproof them further.
- Fetlock or mare bands with the appropriate information in waterproof ink.
- Include your Equine’s micro-chip Identification number on your application.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Gary Snelling at (954)797-1181 or [email protected]. In order to save a place for your horse, please complete the following forms and mail them back with your payment. We ask that you call with questions now as opposed to when the storm warning is issued.
Horse Microchipping
We have acquired a Hero Advanced Microchip Reader, which is a universal chip reader. Microchipping makes it easier to identify your horse, especially in an area that can get crowded. It’s quick, reliable, and safe for your horse. Here are a couple of benefits to having your horse chipped:
- It is read-only and provides only the horse’s identification number.
- Helps prevent theft and aid in recovery during disasters.
- It is permanent and lasts at least 25 years.
- Provides an online mobile link for access to your horse’s health certificates and medical records.
- Are very small and easily implanted.
Your horse can be microchipped at your local Equine Veterinarian. It is recommended that you invest in microchipping your horse because it will help assist the Town in keeping better track of your horses and handle check-in/check-out in an efficient manner.
Broward County: Large Animal Disaster Plan
Broward County already has in place the “Large Animal Disaster Plan” which identifies all post-hurricane needs for horses. The Broward County plan is adequate in addressing the vital issues in case of injury of horses, as well as facilities to hold them after the storm, in case a horse is injured or cannot be immediately claimed by the owner. Please visit their website here or contact the Broward Emergency Management Division at (954) 831-3900.