Watch: Firefighters Rescue 600-pound Donkey That Fell Through Ice

Watch: Firefighters rescue 600-pound donkey that fell through ice

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Jan. 28 (UPI) — Firefighters and other emergency responders from multiple agencies descended on a Pennsylvania home where a donkey had fallen through the ice of a frozen pond.

David and Angela Hohman said Jill, one of their two donkeys, fell through the ice covering the pond behind their Cranberry Township home.

“It was like complete helplessness because she weighs so much. We’re immediately thinking, ‘What are we going to do, how are we going to do this,'” Angela Hohman told KDKA-TV.

The couple called 911, and the Cranberry Township Volunteer Fire Company rushed to the scene.

The firefighters ended up calling for assistance from the New Sewickley Fire Department, the Beaver County Fire Department, water rescue specialists from Butler County Team 300 and Cranberry Township EMS.

“The water rescue team went out, hooked up to the harness already on the animal, the rope system,” CTVFC Lt. Corey Mclaughlin said.

The 600-pound donkey was hauled out of the water, but was unable to stand.

“It was great to get her on shore and out of the water, but we weren’t out of the woods yet,” David Hohman said.

Jill was taken to the couple’s barn, where she was covered with blankets and treated by a veterinarian. The couple said Jill started slowly improving overnight.

“We knew she was coming around when we would start nodding off to get a little sleep and she put her nose on your or something,” Angela said.

Jill is expected to make a full recovery.