Pennsylvania firefighters haul mud-stuck pony from creek
Brecknock Township volunteers used ropes, straps, a board and a bucket truck to free a 700- to 800-pound pony from a muddy creek.
By Poppy Nakagawa · Culture Writer
2 min read
A 700- to 800-pound pony was pulled from a muddy Pennsylvania creek Wednesday evening after firefighters were called to a rescue that was far from the usual firehouse run.
The Brecknock Township Volunteer Fire Company said in a social media post that its crews were sent to what it described as an unusual rescue after the pony was found trapped in deep mud in a creek.
UPI reported that the animal had wandered into the creek before getting stuck. The fire company did not report any fire, vehicle crash or human injury tied to the call.
Ropes, straps and a bucket truck
Photos shared from the scene by the fire company show firefighters working around the creek bank with ropes and a wooden board as they tried to reach the pony safely.
The images also show crews fitting the animal with straps before the final lift. According to the department, firefighters used a bucket truck to raise the pony out of the mud.
The fire company did not identify the pony’s owner in its post and did not provide details on how long the animal had been stuck before emergency crews arrived.
No injury update for the pony was included in the fire company’s account of the rescue. The department’s post focused on the response and the equipment used to free the animal.
A call beyond the usual emergency
The Brecknock Township Volunteer Fire Company said the episode showed the range of calls handled by its volunteers, including situations involving animals.
“Incidents like this remind us that not every emergency involves a fire or vehicle,” the department said in its post. “Our volunteers are ready to respond whenever our community calls, whether it is helping people or animals in need.”
The rescue happened Wednesday evening, according to the department. UPI reported the story Friday.
Animal rescues can require a slower, more controlled approach than many emergency calls because crews must protect both the trapped animal and the people working around it. In this case, the fire company’s account says firefighters used access boards, rigging and the bucket truck rather than trying to drag the pony out by hand.
By the end of the response, the pony had been lifted free from the muddy creek, according to the Brecknock Township Volunteer Fire Company.
This story draws on original reporting from UPI.