Tanya Wildt
Detroit Free Press
The Oxford Fire Department was called to an usual rescue Friday night, according to a Facebook post by the department.
At about 7:30 p.m., the department was called to help Eli, a horse, that was stuck in a ditch on North Coats Road.
Rescuers found the horse on its side in a creek with one leg trapped under ice. The horse was in hypothermia, according to the department.
Firefighters and Oakland County Sheriff’s Deputies entered the water and used tow straps to remove the horse from the ice, but it couldn’t stand or make its way up the embankment after being freed.
The Pan Equus Animal Sanctuary confirmed to rescuers the horse was in dire need.
While the rescuers struggled with steep terrain, community members joined the mission, bringing blankets, feed and a skid-steer loader.
Together, they were able to get the horse up the embankment, into a pasture and finally into a barn to warm up.
“These neighbors simply responded from a knock on their door and came out into the cold without hesitation,” the department wrote in its post. “We are so proud to serve this community!!”
https://www.facebook.com/peanimalsanctuary/photos/a.859308237516817/2372199382894354/?type=3&theater
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