Last Sunday, the Rixeyville-based company responded to Stafford County with its Technical Large Animal Rescue Team to assist on a call for a horse trapped on the ice of an area waterway. Prior to arrival, according to Little Fork Chief Doug Monaco, they requested a water rescue team, veterinarian, animal control officer and a tractor to lift the animal.
"Upon arrival, we found that George had gone out on the ice and fell on his side. Exposure time was unknown," he said.
Stafford fire and rescue units extricated the horse from the water and he was covered with blankets and towels to maintain body temperature. The veterinarian determined the horse's temperature had dropped to 95 degrees (normal is 99 to 101 degrees), and immediately began administering warm IVs and medicine.
The Little Fork team proceeded to move George away from the water, but the horse made no attempts to stand even after several words of encouragement. This became a major concern, according to Monaco.
"After moving him we turned him over onto his 'favorite' side to stand up and waited ... Just as we began to gather our equipment to leave, George rallied himself and stood on his own!" he said. "As we left, George was drinking, eating and standing."
Little Fork is the only volunteer unit in Virginia that specializes in technical rescues of horses and cows, according to the company web site.
(Daily Progress - Jan 18, 2015)
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