'My first horse rescue': Local veterinarian helps firefighters free trapped horse in Central Saanich
You could call the horse droppings along Willows Way in Central Saanich "mounds of evidence." It’s a trail tracing us back to the scene of a Thursday night rescue.
"That would be my first horse rescue," said deputy chief Stacey Lee of the Central Saanich Fire Department.
A horse, led by its owner, failed to see a deep muddy ditch through some tall grass. The horse fell in and was mired in mud.
"It was a little sketchy," said the deputy fire chief. "The horse, it was spooked, it was tired and it was scared."
The trapped horse is shown. (Central Saanich Fire Department)
The ditch was so steep that Central Saanich Fire called in public works to level out the grade. After that job was done, there was still a problem, the horse's legs were clearly still stuck in the mud and the animal was unable to get out under its own power.
That's when a stranger arrived, sporting a hockey helmet.
"He was a local vet," said Lee.
"He climbed right in there with [the horse] and he was actually manipulating its feet under it," said the deputy fire chief.
The veterinarian, named Tino Martinez, was able to free the horse's legs. However, the horse still needed help getting onto the road because it lacked traction. That's when a team solution was needed.
"We had to make due with what we had," said Lee.
What the department isn’t short on is firehoses. Members doubled up several two-and-a-half inch hoses and built a sling.
(Central Saanich Fire Department)
It took eight firefighters to pull the horse out of the ditch, which was unhurt after the whole ordeal.
One neighbourhood resident told CTV News they think the grass should be cut back so that people and animals can see there's a drop-off.
Late Friday afternoon, public works did just that, which will hopefully prevent a similar situation from happening again.
The horse was uninjured after it was pulled free. (Central Saanich Fire Department)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.