(BURLINGTON TOWNSHIP) - A multi-agency rescue effort successfully saved four horses that fell through the ice on a pond Sunday morning in Calhoun County.
According to the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office, the Calhoun County Area Law Enforcement Underwater Rescue Team (ALURT) was dispatched at approximately 8:40 a.m. to assist local fire departments with an icy water rescue in Burlington Township.
Authorities said the horses escaped their enclosure and wandered onto a frozen pond at Turtle Creek Golf Course. The ice gave way, causing all four animals to fall through and become trapped in shallow water.
ALURT personnel entered the pond and worked alongside crews from the Burlington Fire Department, Leroy Township Fire Department, Newton Township Fire Department, and Union City Fire Department to manually remove the horses from the water.
All four horses were successfully rescued and were able to walk away from the scene. They later received additional care and treatment. No injuries to responders were reported.
The sheriff's office credited the coordinated response among fire departments, ALURT members, and the Calhoun County Consolidated Dispatch Authority for the successful outcome.