Ottawa Fire Services (OFS) responded to a dramatic rescue on Tuesday, freeing an injured horse trapped under a collapsed animal shelter after high winds swept through the city. The incident, one of approximately 50 calls OFS handled due to the storm, occurred in the rural east end on Russell Road.
The horse’s owner called emergency services to report the shelter had blown over and landed on the animal. A veterinarian was dispatched to sedate the horse before firefighters could begin their rescue efforts, ensuring the animal remained calm to prevent injury from kicking.
Firefighters then used hydraulic jacks and lift bags to raise the shelter and strategically placed wooden blocks beneath it to prevent it from falling back onto the horse. The rescue operation was completed in under an hour, with Ottawa Fire Services sharing photos of the horse being led away to safety.
The horse was then handed over to its owner and the attending veterinarian for further care.
The storm, which prompted a severe thunderstorm warning from Environment Canada, brought wind gusts of up to 110 kilometers per hour, with the Petawawa weather station recording gusts reaching 94 km/h. By midday Tuesday, approximately 25,000 customers were without power across eastern Ontario and western Quebec.
Source: Swifteradio.com
