Shropshire firefighters taught how to deal with animals in danger

Tuesday 6th December 2011, 10:59AM GMT.

This young bull was rescued by firefighters at a county farm in 2009 when it fell down a disused well

Shropshire firefighters have been getting to grips with some beastly casualties – so they know how to react when called to rescue animals for real.

Farm animals, including bulls and cows, are often rescued by Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service after becoming trapped on farmland.

Horses and a variety of other animals including geese, ducks, sheep and dogs can also find themselves in need of help from fire crews, a spokesman for Shropshire Fire and Rescue said.

See more pictures in our gallery to your right

Recent rescues include a horse stuck in a gate, sheep trapped on flood-hit islands, livestock tangled in fences and a bull stuck down a disused well.

“It’s important that firefighters know exactly how to behave around animals when we are called to a rescue,” said Andy Griffiths, an assistant group commander based at Wellington.

Tong Farm owner Sarah Bridgman invited White Watch to visit her livery to give firefighters a valuable insight in how to behave around horses.

The firefighters planned to return to learn more handling techniques in the future, she said.

Stuart West, chairman of Shropshire and Wrekin Fire and Rescue Authority, also attended the visit at Tong Farm to watch fire crews in action.

The specialist rescue tender based at Wellington carries equipment including a crane, animal strops and harnesses ready to respond to animal rescues in the county.

Fire crews can find themselves faced with creatures great and small when called out to rescues.

In February this year a huge Shire horse had to be rescued by firefighters after collapsing in stables near Much Wenlock.

Then in October, crews battled for more than three hours to rescue a cow which had fallen 60 feet down a quarry at a farmer’s field near Oswestry then rescued a cygnet that got a fishing hook stuck in its mouth on the River Severn in Shrewsbury.

View more: Shropshire Fire And Rescue Service news.