Wyndham horse owner Jess Heffernan and her daughters are spearheading the southern efforts of a group formed to support domestic animals which have been hurt or made homeless in the Blue Mountains fires.
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South Coast horse owners and pet lovers can donate medical supplies, tack, feed and fuel cards for a shipment that will be carted by Bobbins Transport on Wednesday, October 30.
Drop off points have been established at six locations between Eden and Batemans Bay.
By Wednesday morning, 246 horses, ponies and foals had been evacuated from fire areas, some to the Hawkesbury Showgrounds, under a campaign run by Canberra based, not-for-profit, horse rescue group Heavy Horse Heaven (HHH) who are being supported by fire authorities.
Ms Heffernan said volunteers were using a fleet of floats and trucks to take the horses to a range of temporary agistment.
“They are right in the midst of removing horses from dangerous situations and are super busy,” she said on Wednesday morning.
“They have been working around the clock floating horses from danger zones and we just want to help.”
In particular HHH is requesting pre-paid fuel cards along with first aid such as bandages, betadine, fly spray, iodine solution, zinc oxide, cream saline solution along with latex gloves, bandages, vet wrap, cotton wool and gauze.
Tack and feed bins can be for any sized horse, as long as it is in a condition you would use yourself.
Heading the shire’s northern donation drive is Cobargo based dog groomer Lisa Harrington, founder of the Facebook page ‘Anything Horsey Bega Valley and Surrounds’.
She said she was spurred to action when she read of one woman’s personal loss.
“I was reading something on the Heavy Horse Heaven page who had been escorted into the fire area to rescue 40 or so horses and one woman had to put down her horses and dog as they had been burned,” she said.
“It broke my heart and I decided to organise donations for horse and animal gear.”
Charity transport veteran Neville Bobbin urged people to only donate gear for animals.
“It’s the horses and the animals we’re helping at the moment, there’d be plenty of tucker and temporary housing for the people, the rest will come later on,” he said.
“And please, only donate goods of a condition you would use yourself.”
Financial donations can be made to Heavy Horse Heaven Inc BSB 062901 Account: 10183141.
Drop off points are Get Covered at 5 Ben Boyd Road Eden, Bobbins Transport at Mount Darragh Road, South Pambula along with Candelo Stock Feeds, Bega Veterinary Clinic, Cobargo Cooperative and another site at Batemans Bay.
