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From snakes, swans, and horses to bottle nosed whale, dolphins and badgers, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service is marking 20 years of helping animals who find themselves in tricky situations.
In 2004, Hampshire firefighters recognised the lack of formal procedures for the rescue of animals and a small team of like-minded firefighters formed an operational unit to provide specialist advice and support for the many animal related incidents dealt with by the Service each year.
Jim Green was one of the founding members of the team and remains in this operational role with the fire service today, alongside his work for the British Animal Rescue and Trauma Care Association (BARTA).
“Over the 20 years with this team, I have been involved with hundreds of incidents and many successful and rewarding rescues. Animals are intrinsically part of our nation, whether for companionship, sport, working animals, livestock or service animals. When emergencies happen to people, they also happen to animals.”
Jim Green, Animal Rescue Tactical Advisor at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue.
The British Animal Rescue and Trauma Care Association (BARTA) provides effective role specific solutions to organisations whose teams encounter animals in the course of their duties, but who else might benefit from exploring these unique workplace risks? Jim answers this question in a piece on Emergency Services Times entitled ‘Can we afford to ignore the animal issue?’
The most memorable rescues
Over the years, there have been several memorable rescues, these include the successful removal of three Shire horses, each weighing nearly a tonne, from a bog near Basingstoke, the simple rescue techniques the team performed enabled all three to be rescued unharmed by people power alone.
In Andover, a cow found itself stranded in a swimming pool after wandering from a nearby field.
Additionally, there have been numerous interventions involving marine mammals, such as stranded harbour porpoises and a northern bottlenose whale at Hayling Island. In Southampton, a daring rescue involved freeing a 12-foot Albino Burmese Python trapped in a car’s lining.
And a peculiar incident unfolded in Gosport, where a Badger found its way into a bathroom via a cat flap in the early hours of the morning, highlighting the range of situations responders encounter.
New skills, knowledge and equipment
Over the last 20 years, there has been many successes and milestones as the team has built on its experience, developed new skills, shared knowledge and utilised new equipment.
Hampshire’s pioneering work led to the development of an animal rescue practitioners forum, part of the National Fire Chiefs Council and the formal development of national protocols and standards.
PetPlan Charitable Trust sponsored the first dedicated animal rescue unit, based at Lyndhurst in the New Forest. The BBC promoted the work of the team through their television programme, Real Rescues.
And Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal took a keen interest during the launch of the Emergency Services Protocol at Buckingham Palace in 2007, a first step in helping emergency control rooms summon the appropriate skills when animals were in difficulty.
“Over the years we have learned so much from relationships forged with veterinary and welfare professionals, helping shape our approach and understanding of the unique challenges associated with the needs of animals of all shapes and sizes in distress.
“By responding to assist animals during an emergency or disaster, we make the management of emergencies safer and provide the best service for our communities, supporting and improving the physical and emotional wellbeing of people and animals.”
Jim Green, Animal Rescue Tactical Advisor at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue.
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