Animal rescue costs hundreds of thousands
animals in danger: Firefighters rescue a cow
FIREFIGHTERS have rescued more than 800 animals in five years, at an estimated cost of hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Lancashire Fire and Rescue was called out 854 times, between 2006 and 2010, to help save wild animals and pets in distress.
Crews have rescued a wide range of stricken creatures, including parrots, hamsters, cats and geese. The fire service said it had not totalled up a cost for the call-outs relating to animals, but added it cost around £250 to send out a standard fire engine for an hour.
Other appliances, such as aerial ladders, have variable costs attached depending on their duties, they said.
In total, 1,487 appliances were sent out to help animals over the five-year period.
Based on each appliance being out for at least an hour and costing about £250, that adds up to around £370,000.
The largest rescue mounted was by 11 appliances which were sent to rescue a cow stuck in mud at a riverbank in Wesham. A Lancashire Fire and Rescue spokesman said: “The majority of incidents the crews turn out to are small animals and birds - mostly pets - for which no special training specific to dealing with the situation is required, other than the skills that firefighters already have to release trapped people and handling the tools of the trade necessary to do that.”
A lifesize horse mannequin is used to train firefighters in rescuing larger beasts such as cattle and horses.
Bill Higham, known as Barn Own Bill for his rescue work with birds in Lancashire, said the fire service provided a lifeline to animals in danger.
He said: “I think they do a fantastic job. We try not to bother them because they are busy enough but I would say if we ever needed them, they would be there.
Among the fire service’s more unusual rescues last year was Brian the snake, who became trapped in his owner’s wheelie chair in Morecambe. The 3ft python got stuck in a mechanism at the bottom of the office chair and had to be released with tools and a crowbar. In 2009, firefighters used equipment normally reserved for road collisions to free Dinah the spaniel from railings. The dog became impaled after jumping from a wall in Leyland and a crew had to cut through 2ft of metal fence bars to release her.
Among the animals rescued by Lancashire Fire and Rescue were:
• Three parrots stuck in trees
• Two seagulls trapped behind a gas fire and in a weather vane
• Several hamsters trapped under floorboards and behind freezers or tumble driers
• A donkey trapped by the tide at Blackpool promenade
• A ferret and squirrel jammed in a waste pipe
• Three cats stuck up chimneys
• Four cats trapped in car engines
• A puppy with its head stuck in wine rack
• A horsebox dangling off a bridge with a horse inside
• A calf stuck in a snow drift
• A bull in a slurry pit
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Comments
There are 9 comments to this article
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Herbert Birdsfoot
Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 02:25 PMThe fire brigade done brilliant pulling my orangutan out of his kennel after he fell asleep, drunk, with his chip pan on.
LHolcombe
Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 04:58 AMWhen we stop rescuing animals - what is next? Stop rescuing people? Stop trying to put out fires? Stop trying to hold back flood waters? Animals provide much for our well being - not just as pets but for food - for transportation - they wereare part of history - they are financial investments for farmers - they are loved by our children and fill the voids in life for many senior members of society as well. So, what kind of example would be set for the next generation if value is not put on the welfare of a living and breathing creature? Do we tell our children to watch the animal suffer because it costs too much money to rescue it? Do we devalue a child's pet or an adults companion? My 85 year old father watched as a rescue crew let his dog drown in the icy river. They had the equipment and the boat but decided the dog would drown before they reached it. So, by their own design....the dog died in front of my Dad and my father's heart was broken. But, I'll be a little bit of money was saved ....? That's the goal correct? Not for me.
rebgimenez
Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 12:52 AMWe train firefighters around the world (www.tlaer.org) and what we have seen time and time again is that it is NOT ABOUT THE ANIMALS - it is about LEARNING to handle a victim in weird situations... and being able to apply it to PEOPLE in the NEXT situation. If a firefighter can handle a 2000 pound victim that is totally stressed out, wears steel shoes and can kick your head off, and doesn't understand English - the a human stuck in the mud or the ice or a trailer wreck should be easy! Thank you for the story - but you really need to take a new look at your numbers and the impact on MANY people that could be negative if the fire service wasn't prepared for these eventualities. Dr. Rebecca Gimenez, President, TLAER.org
angryman9
Monday, January 2, 2012 at 06:58 PMHysterical and inaccurate figures. What are the supposed to do? Leave animals to rot?
Shabbagaz
Monday, January 2, 2012 at 06:43 PM"A donkey trapped by the tide at Blackpool promenade" - wish I had seen that!
Diesel10
Monday, January 2, 2012 at 05:19 PMI've never had an animal rescued but certainly don't begrudge anyone else having theirs helped. I would think this is just part of their job anyway so where is the issue? BTW were the ferrett and the squirel together or was that two separate incidents?
Nicole Walukewicz
Monday, January 2, 2012 at 04:29 PMAnimal rescue allows law enforcement to keep their skills honed at very little cost to the department. Further, it keeps civilians who might attempt a rescue and place themselves in harms way from doing so. There are many benefits to the citizens of any country that have trained rescuers. It also keeps good relations between the rescuers and locals by showing they understand the value of a farm animal or pet to the people they serve in their line of work. Bravo!
sid
Monday, January 2, 2012 at 04:17 PMi'd say this story is bordering on b,s,i would take issue with the figure 250,quid above thier rate,unless they are joyriding down to london after they rescue the cat,or a celebratory dinner at the pines after each mission,gas should already be factored in budget,unless they intend to push the engine around,this story is a non starter,800 animals in five years thru out lancashire is not many,i almost get the impression the post is making news instead of reporting it,leave the firebrigade alone they do a fine job,don't have them justifying their existance.
brookss4
Monday, January 2, 2012 at 03:24 PMYet again newspapers misunderstanding allocated costs. There is very little additional costs to rescuing animals, as the firefighters would be paid for whether they were rescuing animals or sat in their firestation nice and cosy. The only variable cost is the cost of petrol getting there, and perhaps the cost to clean their uniforms.
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