Heroes lauded for rescue of horse from canal
Published 7:10 pm Friday, April 12, 2019
A set of heroes rescued an exhausted horse from a canal on Thursday.
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Livestock Deputy Donald “Stretch” Metts was notified by the owner of a horse that the animal was stuck in a canal east of Ayrshire Road in Port Arthur. The 4-year-old quarter horse named Dusty had been in the canal for many hours and was exhausted. His owner was able to place a halter on the animal and hold his head up while rescue operations began, according to the JSCO.
Lower Neches Valley Authority officials were notified and, after learning of the situation, sent out a crew and a backhoe. The crew went to work grading down the bank of the canal so the horse could be pulled up. Straps were attacked to Dusty and he was slowly pulled up to safety.
There were concerns about Dusty’s physical wellbeing due to the fact that his breathing was labored and he was stiff-legged and unable to stand. While Deputy Metts was on the phone with a local veterinarian, Dusty surprised everyone and stood up on his own. Dusty was transported to the local veterinarians office where he received IV’s and antibiotics. His prognosis is good.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the LNVA crew, particularly Allen Peltier, Richard Guillory, Josh Drake and Duane Browning for their help in saving Dusty.