Emergency responders in Colorado recently rescued a horse that was found with the back half of its body stuck in a septic tank. The Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office, along with other agencies and a local veterinarian, worked together to save the animal. The horse was sedated, outfitted with straps, and lifted out of the tank using a crane.

When rescuers arrived, the horse was sitting in chest-deep sewage with only her head and front hooves sticking above the ground. She was wet, cold, and shaking from being in the frigid liquid. The team successfully hoisted the horse out of the hole and onto dry ground. Fortunately, the horse is now awake, up on her feet, and doing well after the rescue.

The collaborative effort involved deputies from the Emergency Services department, personnel from Pueblo West Fire, Pueblo West Metro District, the Community Animal Rescue Team, and a local veterinarian. The successful rescue mission was completed with the use of a crane to lift the horse out of the septic tank, and the animal is now safe and recovering.