Horse rescued by King County Animal Care and Control

Tow truck removed horse from well

A lucky 26 year-old horse named Bailey has all four hooves back on solid ground again after it fell down a 12-foot well in Covington this morning.

King County Animal Care and Control received a call from a neighbor of the horse's owner at 10:44 a.m., and animal control officers were first on the scene in Covington less than 30 minutes later at 11:15 a.m. Animal Control officers called support to the scene, including Maple Valley Fire Station 44, an equine veterinarian, and members of the Washington State Animal Response Team (WSART), which specializes in livestock emergency response.

After sedating the horse for its own safety, those on scene secured a harness around the animal and a tow truck pulled the horse to safety.

"We are very fortunate that a fast response time and some quick-thinking Animal Control Officers were able to get the resources they needed to save Bailey's life," said Animal Care and Control Interim Manager Nancy McKenney. "If the horse had fallen in a different position or the neighbor hadn't seen what happened and called it in, the outcome may not have been so happy."

King County Animal Care and Control responds to thousands of calls each year related to animal welfare, aggressive animals, and rescue situations like this. Horses pose a particular challenge due to their size, so a web page for horse resources has been created on the Animal Care and Control web site (www.kingcounty.gov/safety/AnimalServices/horses) as a resource for horse owners, especially those who may not be able to care for their horses during this difficult economic time.

For more information about Animal Care and Control services, or to view this press release online, please visit www.kingcounty.gov/pets.