Spikey was the subject of a water rescue in the LA river a couple of weeks ago. This story seemed to attract an unusual amount of attention, perhaps because his dramatic rescue from a frightening situation with fast-running water included him biting one of his rescuers, and resulted in a lot of coverage posing and answering the question of why fire departments engage in these rescues. The same list comes out every time: a life is a life, rescuing an animal promptly reduces the risk that a “civilian” will need to be rescued after making an attempt, and staging these rescues keeps the skills sharp for people in an occupation that can have an awful lot of downtime.

The publicity ensured that Spikey’s non-English-speaking owner learned he was alive and well – both of her dogs were lost when they got out of her yard, and the other one was found by animal control. Welcome home, Spikey!

Sources: Google news search, Baltimore Sun blog, video in the related links under the main story here

A horse trapped in a slurry pit being rescued by fire crew—Photo: PA

A survey of fire services across the UK has revealed the dozens of species that have required the aid of crews. Firefighters have been involved in 10,726 animal rescues over the past two years, at a cost of £8.5 million. (18 Oct 2009)

More numbers:
cats: 2,826 call-outs
dogs: 2,277
birds: 2,049 (108 seagulls!)
horses: 1,909
cattle: 955
deer: 244
foxes: 34
squirrels: 21
18 hamsters
badgers and hedgehogs: 10 each
seals: 9
whales: at least 4
dolphins: 4
gerbils, chinchillas and iguanas: 3 each
otter: 1

Other animals: ferrets, rabbits, guinea pigs, a rat, a boa, a buffalo, a raccoon, and even 2 fish!

Dogs often became stuck in household appliances, while cats generally became trapped in trees. Some rescues required lots of equipment, while others were easier:

When firefighters from the Royal Berkshire Fire & Rescue Service were called to an address in Tilehurst, Reading, to assist a squirrel stuck on a roof, their log recorded simply: “Persuaded down by brigade. 1 hour.”

[ Read the whole article for information about costs and other rescue details ]

BIRMINGHAM fireman Mike Jenkins took his work home with him – when he adopted a kitten he rescued from beneath a pile of old wood. Mike, based at Hay Mills station, thought the black and white puss was the cat’s whiskers after saving her in the garden of a house in Sparkbrook. The four-week-old kitten, which has been named Sparkle, came into Mike’s life at just the right time as his family’s cat, Marmalade, was run over and killed a month earlier. Dad-of-two Mike said: “When we moved to the Midlands we got a cat as a sweetener for our nine-year-old daughter, Alisha. Then a month ago, it was run over and Alisha was devastated. “When we rescued the kitten, I told my wife Diane what had happened and she said we should adopt her. Alisha was delighted.” (Oct 21, 2009) —Photo credit not given in article.

[ Source ]

Well, no, but here’s hoping this little orange cutie has already been adopted.

Firefighters from Sacramento Fire Station #30 in North Natomas made an unusual rescue yesterday. A man called and said that he had just driven away from his home, when about three blocks later he heard “a meowing” noise coming from inside the engine area of his car. He immediately pulled over and lifted his hood. He heard what sounded like a cat somewhere inside the engine compartment. Engine #30 responded and to everyone’s surprise, they found this little kitten tucked up under the car’s radiator. Fortunately he was safely removed and uninjured! The Firefighters from Engine #30 took the kitten back to their fire house where they bathed him and gave him some food and water. (September 17, 2009) —Photo credit not given in article

[ Sacramento Firefighters Rescue Kitten ]

Calgary firefighter Dave Murray was involved in the harrowing rescue of Maggie, a St. Bernard dog he found on a cliff near Elkford while hiking with his girlfriend.They saved the dog and paid for his vet bill and now the owner has contacted him and may come out this weekend to claim the dog and thank him. (August 22, 2009) —Photo: Lorraine Hjalte, Calgary Herald

[ Source ]

ST. PETERSBURG — Firefighters rescued a puppy trapped in a drainage pipe Monday afternoon. Gucci, a 3-month-old chow, was reunited with his 8-year-old owner Alissa Davis after firefighters used one of their water hoses — but without the water. Alissa, her twin sisters and brother were taking a walk near the Childs Park Recreation Center at about noon when Gucci bolted into a 15-inch-wide, 50-foot-long drainage pipe. “He didn’t run away,” said the girl. “He just ran in there, playing, and he couldn’t find his way out.” The kids spent 30 minutes trying to lure the puppy out, but to no avail. They called 911 around 1:20 p.m. Firefighters shimmied a water hose into the pipe and filled it with air, “motivating” Gucci to run out the other end, St. Petersburg Fire and Rescue Lt. Joel Granata said. Firefighter Ben Wendell was able to grab the scared puppy and hand him back to his family. (June 30, 2009) —Photo: St. Petersburg Fire & Rescue

[ Source ]

In photo: Caleb Broadway, Carson Broadway and Preshia Broadway hold six puppies found abandoned at the Powers Fire & Rescue fire station on Friday. … “It’s just ridiculous that someone would throw these puppies out just like trash,” noted Broadway. “Fortunately we found them, brought them in the station and gave them some water to drink. They were suffering from the high heat and lack of water, but seemed to bounce right back after a little care.” Powers Assistant Chief Lance Chancellor took all six of the puppies home and they are now under the care of his daughters Kelsi and Daryn, and son Trevor. (July 5, 2009) —Photo: Lance Chancellor

[ Source ]

The smelly operation began just before 11 a.m. Sunday when the Calgary Fire Department was called to the Bonnybrook Water Treatment Facility in southeast Calgary. A three-legged Shephard-cross dog was found clinging to a surface skimming arm, a device used to sweep the surface of the water to remove floating impurities. The waste water pond is about 9-metres deep and 15-metres in diameter…. The fire department’s aquatics rescue specialists worked with the hazardous materials team – which was also dispatched to the scene due to the contaminated water in the pond – to save the canine. () —Photo:

[ Source ]

Dexter the llama helped participants learn how to apply and use a sling in a vertical lift.

In mid-March 2006, back-to-back Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue (TLAER) classes were held at Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) in a partnership with USRider Equestrian Motor Plan (www.usrider.org), which is a nationwide trailering assistance program created for equestrians. From basic dangers of using horses’ legs as handles to helicopter rescue techniques, the course covered a vast amount of information related to large animal rescue, disasters, and even bioterrorism.

[ Source ]

Not a firefighter rescue – although they thought about getting a ladder truck in there to help the bear climb out – but an incredible story I had to include.

Ann Bryant of the Lake Tahoe Bear League said that when she received a call to help, she had a difficult time believing the incident was true. “I wouldn’t have believed it either until I got there,” she said Thursday as she recalled the rescue effort. At first, authorities decided that nothing could be done to help. But when they returned the next morning, they found the bear sound asleep on the ledge. After securing a net under the bridge, the animal was tranquilized, causing it to fall into the net. It was lowered to safety, after which it walked away. (September 2007) —Photo credit not given in article

[ Source - includes newscast video and a slideshow. Learn more about BEAR League. ]