Animal rescue teams save pigs from manure pit and cows from water pit

The animal rescue team of the Westhoek fire brigade had a busy day, responding to two separate animal rescue operations in Noordschote and Leke.

In Noordschote, three pigs, each weighing around 90 kilograms, fell into a deep manure pit on a farm. Firefighters from Lo-Reninge were the first on the scene and called for the specialized animal rescue team to assist. The operation to free the pigs lasted about an hour and a half, and all three were successfully pulled out alive.

Later that Saturday afternoon, around 3:30 PM, the team was called to another farm in Leke. Two cows had fallen into a water pit after being spooked by nearby harvesting work. The animals broke through the fence surrounding their pasture and ended up in the pit, where they were submerged up to their waists in water. Although they could still move, the steep walls of the pit prevented them from escaping on their own.

The rescue team used hoisting equipment to lift the cows out of the water pit. Fortunately, both animals were retrieved unharmed. The successful interventions highlight the critical role of specialized rescue teams in ensuring the safety of animals in agricultural settings.