Animals in the Flood

Oakville and farmland were flooded. Livestock was also affect. The farms had over 40,000 hogs in the area. Nearly 37,000 were moved in less than a week. Some were sold at market while others were trucked up to 400 miles away to other farms. Semi-trucks were moving night and day transporting livestock and grain.

The hog confinement below was emptied of animals before being inundated by the water.

Not all of the animals were able to be moved. If a sow had piglets, they would fight moving. Many farmers opened pens to allow the ones they could not move a chance at survival. In this PBS video (warning, graphic video), a local farmer goes back to see his farm and animals he had to leave behind. While some survived, most drowned in the disaster.

Below is a picture that my nephew, who raises hogs, contends are pig tracks in the yard. More were found in various sheds on the property.

There were several animal rescue groups that arrived on scene and captured animals. Over 60 pigs were taken to other states and given refuge on a sanctuary farm.

Other animal groups focused on pets.

Most people had little problems with the groups and thanked them for rescuing pets they had left behind in their haste to leave when the levee broke. Some reported a few rescuers were using subterfuge to try to enter properties.

I was also told an organization is looking to sue farmers whose animals died in the floods for not getting all of them out in time. I would only want to know why this organization didn't bring trucks to assist farmers before the flood occurred to save the animals.