Valley City Fire Department, Medina County EMA assists horse to its feet

LIVERPOOL TWP. — The Valley City Fire Department was asked to assist with a horse that had an injured rear leg and was unable to stand on Sunday. At 5:12 p.m., firefighters were contacted by a local veterinarian regarding a horse with an injured leg, the Valley City Fire Department reported. The horse was lying on its side in a stall. After three hours of unsuccessful attempts to help the animal stand safely, the veterinarian contacted the Valley City Fire Department to request specialized assistance. Upon arrival, the firefighters assessed the situation and requested additional resources from the Medina County Emergency Management Agency's All Hazards Rope Rescue Team. The first responders implemented a rope rescue system designed to safely lift and support the horse. Using the rope system, crews raised the rear of the horse while it attempted to stand. Eventually, the effort was successful, and the horse regained its footing and remained standing on its own, the Valley City Fire Department reported. The veterinarian at the scene said the horse is expected to make a full recovery. "This was a challenging incident that required patience, teamwork and careful coordination to ensure the safety of both the animal and responders," Valley City Fire Assistant Chief Ben Nau said. "Thanks to the strong cooperation between the fire departments, the rope rescue team, the veterinarian on scene and the horse owners, we were able to achieve a positive outcome." In addition to the Valley City Fire Department and Medina County EMA's All Hazards Rope Rescue Team, the Erhart Fire Department also assisted with the call. Sunday's call marks the fifth horse rescue the Medina County EMA's All Hazards Rope Rescue Team has assisted with in the last two years. Due to the increasing demand, the Rope Rescue Team has conducted specialized training in the techniques used to lift large animals.