ISPCA representatives successfully rescued a horse from a river in Co. Offaly recently, after the animal had reportedly been stuck in the waters for over 24 hours.
ISPCA inspector, Jimmy McCormack, was alerted to the incident after a member of the public raised the alarm.
Upon arrival at the scene, McCormack discovered the horse almost fully submerged in the river, with only its head visible to onlookers, and displaying clear signs of exhaustion from assumed repeated unsuccessful attempts to extract himself.
The inspector feared that the horse may also be suffering from hypothermia due to the length of time having spent in the water, and could thereby succumb to shock and subsequently drown in the river if assistance wasn’t administrated right away.
An urgent call for help was made and local animal welfare volunteers from My Lovely Horse Rescue (MLHR), who arrived with a tractor to assist McCormack with the rescue mission at hand. Together, the team were able to extricate the horse from imminent peril.
The horse’s owner arrived on the scene shortly after the rescue, alongside a local vet to assess the horse’s health and ensure he was fit to travel.
The inspector made a follow up inquiry with the owner, the morning after the rescue operation to assess the recovery progress of the horse, who was found in a a stable condition, tucked into his stable and well on the way to full recuperation.
In a subsequent statement released on their website, the ISPCA offered their thanks to all those who helped on the day:
“The ISPCA would like to thank the numerous volunteers and MLHR who raised the alarm and arrived to assist, without their help, this may not have been such a good outcome for this horse.”
Meanwhile, the ISPCA is also appealing to the public to rehome a number of rescued donkeys currently in their care, residing in several of its centres located across the country.