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North Routt firefighters acknowledged by PETA for rescuing horse

Routt County Sheriff’s Office animal control officer Sarah Longchamps holds the reins of a horse that was rescued Wednesday in North Routt County. Courtesy photo.

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — A local fire department has received some kudos from an animal advocacy group for saving the life of a horse in North Routt County.

On Nov. 8, a horse, which had wandered away from a hunting camp, was discovered stuck in a cattle guard in the Routt National Forest near Seedhouse Road.

One of the horse’s legs was waist deep in the cattle guard, and it took a couple hours to free it.



North Routt Fire Protection District firefighters used hydraulic equipment to spread the bars and also cut out an 18-inch section of the cattle guard.

Other emergency responders and horse experts helped to free the horse, which was tired but otherwise uninjured.



Ingrid Newkirk, president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, heard about the rescue and wrote the fire department a thank you letter.

“Thanks to the compassionate actions of your team, this animal was able to escape from a situation that could have led to an agonizing death,” Newkirk wrote. “Members of your community — both two-legged and four-legged — are lucky to have such kind first responders who don’t hesitate to help humans or other animals in need.”

Fire Chief Mike Swinsick said the story about the horse rescue reached a lot of people on social media.

“That’s the first time I’ve gotten a letter from an animal rescue,” Swinsick said.

To reach Matt Stensland, call 970-871-4247, email mstensland@SteamboatToday.com or follow him on Twitter @SBTStensland.


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