Northumberland College supports animal training for Fire and Rescue Service

Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service recently visited Northumberland College for several days of specialist livestock rescue training.

Over two days, the service recreated potential scenarios with live animals from Northumberland College Zoo and then learned how to provide large animal rescues safely by using a life-sized model horse provided by Glasgow University.

Choosing the college’s land-based Kirkley Hall Campus due to its facilities and open spaces, the sessions were significant as they were the first large new animal training that took place in 10 years.

Northumberland College Campus Principal, Lee Lister said: “I was delighted to see Northumberland Fire and Rescue attend the campus for their bespoke livestock rescue training.

“Our outstanding campus has all the facilities to support professionals from other sectors and industries to learn technical skills in the moving, handling and management of livestock and other animals. Collaborative partnerships like this are essential to support local industry in training and refreshing their skills and engaging our students to explore potential career routes.

“This was first of many sessions supporting teams such as the Police and Fire service and we look forward to working them again in the future. Thank you also to the brilliant team at Kirkley Hall who facilitated this training.”

With the unpredictability of large animals in stressful situations, the Fire and Rescue Service practiced how to safely rescue large animals from precarious positions such as from a ditch, stuck in a trailer or horse box, or how to assist old horses that have collapsed.

As the public often assume the fire service is fully equipped to deal with these types of situations this specific training is vitally important to carry out animal rescues effectively and safely.”

Keith Cowell, Watch Manager for Training Assurance and Safety at Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service said: “This course provides a great opportunity to further Northumberland Fire and Rescue’s operational response to Large Animal Rescue Incidents.

“It also offers lasting and valuable partnership collaborations with Northumberland College, Glasgow University, Public Protection Animal Welfare, Scott-Mitchell Vets and local communities and students.”