Veterinarians and Students Care for Sheep Injured in Barn Fire

NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release

Contact: Jan Williams, College of Veterinary Medicine, 612-624-6228

U of M College of Veterinary Medicine Veterinarians and Students Care for Sheep Injured in Barn Fire

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL (Feb. 2, 2005) - Within two hours of learning about the fire at Shepherd's Way Farms in Nerstrand, Minn., early Monday, Jan. 24, a team of veterinarians and students from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine was at the farm helping treat the critically injured sheep.

"Their first task was to examine the approximately 300 survivors to decide which could be treated," said Jen Johnson, D.V.M., who led the team. At mid-day, the group was joined by an additional two veterinarians and three students from the college. The group was back at the farm on Tuesday, applying antibiotic ointments to the eyes and skin of the ewes and using anti-inflammatory drugs to treat the lung damage caused by smoke inhalation. Veterinarians cautioned that smoke inhalation often causes long-term damage to animals' respiratory systems, so the survivors aren't out of the woods yet.

Nevertheless, these animals were the lucky ones. Hundreds of sheep and lambs were killed in the blaze. While the students found the loss of life to be tragic, they also realized that it was a tremendous learning experience.

"Veterinary medicine is a helping profession," said Susan McClanahan, D.V.M., an assistant clinical professor who specializes in small ruminant and beef herd health. "We don't go out there to be heroes. Dealing with disasters like this is part of our job as veterinarians. We want to be there to help at any moment, and it's also valuable training for our students."

In addition to Johnson and McClanahan, the other U of M veterinarians who were involved in treating the sheep were Luanne Hunt, D.V.M., internal medicine resident, and Jaime Zarda, D.V.M., large animal intern.

The students who helped treat the sheep were members of the class of 2005 who were on two-week small ruminant and large animal medicine rotations at the college. They included Robyn Ball, Duluth, Minn.; Andrea DiBartolo, a St. George's University student from Chicago, Ill.; Jessica Dinham, Alexandria, Minn.; Shayna Gotvaslee, Buffalo, Minn.; Rachel Hedlin, Farwell, Minn.; Kathy Maudal, Battle Lake, Minn.; Lindsay Raygor, Rochester, Minn., and Siddharth Ranade, a Ross University student from India who was on clinical rotation at the college.

Shepherd's Way Farm is the largest farm in North America that makes cheese from the milk of its sheep, and is well known in the nation's small sheep cheese industry. While no dollar value has been put on the loss, farm owner Steve Read initially estimated that 550 sheep were killed. At a replacement cost of about $350 each, the financial impact from the loss of the sheep alone would come to $192,500.

State and county investigators have determined that the fire was arson. Anyone with information about the fire is asked to call the Minnesota Arson Hot Line at 1-800-723-2020. A reward of up to $2,500 is being offered.

A fund for Shepherd's Way Farm has also been established. Donations may be sent to SWF Fire Relief, First National Bank of Northfield, 329 Division Street, Northfield, MN 55057. The College of Veterinary Medicine is also accepting donations to help with the animals' treatment costs. Tribute fund donations may be sent to College of Veterinary Medicine, 1365 Gortner Ave., Attn: Sue Greeder, St. Paul, MN 55108.

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