State lifts animal transport rules during wildfires
In an effort to speed the movement of animals to safer locations as wildfires burn in Florida and Georgia, the states have agreed to lift the rules normally applied to intrastate and interstate movements of horses and livestock.
Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles Bronson said Thursday he was temporarily suspending the rules if animals are involved in evacuations related to wildfires, including waving their requirements for interstate movement of livestock, Bronson noted.
“We need to help people get out of harm’s way as quickly as possible because these wildfires can spread quickly and we have new fires breaking out in many areas of the state each day,” Bronson said. “This temporary suspension of these requirements is critical for people who need to move out of an area quickly and want to protect their animals.'
Anyone transporting livestock during this emergency situation must continue to stop at the Florida agricultural interdiction stations. If the proper paperwork does not accompany the shipment, the transporter will be issued an ALE-5, Livestock Truck Passing Report. This movement report must accompany the livestock during transport within Florida, Georgia and Alabama until the owners return home when it is deemed safe.
