SEQUIM — Using a modified forklift and some old-fashioned elbow grease, a cadre of emergency personnel rescued a horse named J.D. who had become stuck in muddy waters.
Neighbors told firefighters that on Wednesday night, they had seen the horse walking through Meadowbrook Creek behind 82 Meadow Drive near Sequim-Dungeness Way.
By Thursday morning, J.D. had became fatigued from struggling in the creek, and neighbors called 9-1-1 for assistance.
Firefighters with Clallam County Fire District No. 3 arrived at about 9 a.m. and knew at once they would need help, they said.
The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office, Happy Valley Veterinary Services and city animal control provided assistance.
Up to his hips in water
“We got there, and the horse was pretty much up to his hips” in water, said Lisa Hopper, city animal control officer.
“Almost three-quarters of his body was submersed in the water and the gunk. He couldn’t get his footing in all that mud. He was submersed pretty deep.”
Fortunately, “he was pretty close to the bank, so when he was exhausted, he could put his head on the bank and could keep his head out of the water,” she said.
The sticky mud made movement difficult for the rescue party, Hopper said.
“We were sinking pretty good,” she said.
Despite being trapped, J.D. was calm throughout the rescue, she said.
“He was pretty subdued the whole time. He is an older horse and didn’t really get too upset about things, which was nice,” she said.
“It was easier to work with him. He wasn’t struggling at all.”
Forklift, sling
Using a forklift, rescuers removed J.D. from the water by about 12:30 p.m.
“We ended up making a sling for the horse out of 4-inch straps,” Hopper said.
An all-terrain vehicle from Nash’s Organic Produce, located nearby, also was used to rescue the horse.
Dr. Erik Splawn, a veterinarian with Happy Valley Veterinary Services, treated J.D. for minor injuries once he was removed from the water, Hopper said.
“When we first got him out and got him pulled up to the bank, he just laid there and decided to eat the grass,” Hopper said.
“We gave him about 10 minutes to just lie there and get his senses back because he was pretty cold. He probably was in [the water] most of the night, so that is why he got so cold, because he had been in there for such a long time.”
Splawn “and I worked with him and smacked his bottom and got him up, and he was pretty unstable at that point, but we were able to walk him home.”
J.D. is owned by Lynne Garvin, Hopper said.
Owner not reached Friday
Garvin could not be reached for comment Friday.
This was the only call of this type Hopper can remember responding to.
“I have been doing this for nine years . . . and this is the first one I’ve had,” she said.
“It was great” to help the horse, she said.
“The good thing is all the agencies came together and worked together. That was so nice.”
Capt. Chris Turner of Fire District No. 3 agreed.
“This was a team effort by all agencies involved and a positive outcome to the rescue,” he said.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-681-2390, ext. 5052, or cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.
