Animal rescue equipment gives Shropshire fire crews a lift

Now the specialist team of firefighters that deals with animal rescues has got some new equipment to help save horses in need.

Red Watch, which is based at Wellington Fire Station, has shared pictures of its members trying out the new harnesses, which can be used to help horses get back on their feet.

Steve Godfrey, crew manager for Red Watch, said: "It is a piece of equipment that we are trialling at the moment.

"It is a quick release system – basically when we're rescuing a large animal we need to be able to get them out of the system as quickly as possible in case there are any issues with the lift.

"Once the animal is in the lift, in position and ready we want to let them go as soon as possible.

"It is simple: with a pull on one of the lines or pieces of cord, the animal is out of the harness and on the floor.

"At the moment we haven't used it in a proper rescue but we're practising with it and making sure all the guys are used to it."

Red Watch is trialling the equipment for Resquip Ltd, which is based in Welshpool and specialises in building rescue training equipment.

The Telford-based team was called to 77 animal rescues in Shropshire last year, of which 33 were large animals such as sheep, pigs and horses and 34 were small animals such as dogs and cats.

Rescue items include harnesses, strops, halters, hobbles, lines and suction releasing lance.

Pigboards and crooks are available for movement of larger stock.

As the animal rescue team develops, new equipment and training aids are added to the inventory to increase flexibility and skills.

Shropshire Fire and Rescue service has set up the Animal Rescue Fund through which people can help the service to continue through donations.

To find out more contact animalrescue@shropshirefire.gov.uk

The crew at Wellington has also launched its own Twitter feed – @SFRSWellington – to keep people up to date with incidents.