Amstetten firefighters rescue 76 animals in a year

Firefighters in the Amstetten district of Lower Austria have rescued 76 animals over the past 12 months, ORF reported ahead of World Animal Day on Sunday.

Rescues included deer pulled from water, chickens and dogs evacuated from burning buildings, and snakes found in gardens. Firefighters also rounded up entire herds, district fire chief Rudolf Katzengruber said.

Rescuing cattle that fall into slurry pits is among the most demanding operations. The heavy animals often require breathing apparatus and complex equipment to reach safety. Because these rescues can be dangerous for both the animals and firefighters, crews regularly practise how to handle large animals, including cattle and flocks of sheep.

Katzengruber said almost all animal rescues over the past year had a happy ending.