A dramatic rescue unfolded in Pennsylvania as firefighters and emergency responders worked together to save a 600-pound donkey that had fallen through the ice of a frozen pond.
David and Angela Hohman discovered that Jill, one of their two donkeys, had broken through the icy surface of a pond behind their home in Cranberry Township.
“It was a feeling of complete helplessness,” Angela Hohman told KDKA-TV. “She’s so heavy, and we immediately thought, ‘How are we going to handle this?’”
The Hohmans quickly called 911, prompting the Cranberry Township Volunteer Fire Company to respond. Realizing the scale of the situation, the firefighters called for reinforcements from the New Sewickley Fire Department, Beaver County Fire Department, water rescue specialists from Butler County Team 300, and Cranberry Township EMS.
“The water rescue team used a harness and rope system to secure the donkey and pull her out of the water,” Lt. Corey Mclaughlin of the Cranberry Township Volunteer Fire Company explained.
Though Jill was successfully pulled from the pond, the struggle wasn’t over—she was too weak to stand.
“Getting her on shore was a relief, but we still had a long way to go,” David Hohman said.
Jill was carefully transported to the couple’s barn, where she was covered with blankets and treated by a veterinarian. Thankfully, the Hohmans reported that Jill began to show signs of improvement overnight.
The rescue effort highlights the dedication of emergency responders and the importance of quick action in critical situations.
