From a 1,500 lb Horse to a 5 oz. Hamster, No Life is Too Small to Save
A Lacey firefighter administers oxygen to a baby hamster via a makeshift tube. Photo courtesy of Lacey Fire Department
By: Brittany Bevis
As you’re probably well aware, EquineChronicle.com rarely shares items that aren’t related to the horse industry in some shape or form. However, when we heard about this particular story, we had to make an exception. After all, horse lovers are animal lovers, and all animal lovers know, when it comes to our furry, four-legged friends, no life is too small to save.
If you’re active on social media, you may have run across a photo that’s been going viral this week thanks to the Lacey Fire Department in Washington State. The image shows a Lacey firefighter administering oxygen to a baby hamster via a tiny, makeshift tube. The touching photo has been melting hearts around the world ever since.
We caught up with Lacey Fire Battalion Chief Tim Hulse, who was happy to give us a bit of behind-the-scenes information about the experience.
“I can think of a handful of times where we have saved small animals (rodents, birds, and even a few fish) from house fires,” Hulse says. “The most common animal rescue is of family dogs and cats. Obviously, our first priority is to locate and rescue any humans in the structure. Once we have confirmed that the house is clear and that the situation is under control, checking for family pets is often one of our next tasks.”
Photo courtesy of Lacey Fire Department.
Hulse reports that four of the five hamsters survived a blaze that caused a mobile home to catch fire on Sept. 26th. After consulting their Emergency Pet Pocket Guides, Lacey firefighters improvised by using their much larger equipment to administer oxygen to the two adult hamsters and three babies.
“The hamsters were immediately returned to the family,” Hulse says. “As a matter of fact, the owner carried one of them inside her shirt pocket while we were finishing overhaul of the fire and caring for the babies. As I’m sure you know, one of the babies didn’t make it, but the two adults and two remaining babies looked pretty good considering what they had been through.”
While a firefighter’s first priority is to rescue any humans endangered by a fire, Hulse doesn’t downplay the importance that a pet can have on the mental health and well-being of a family that has just lost everything in a fire.
“We see people, most often, when they’re having a terrible day,” he says. “We go out of our way to try and turn that around; it might be a cardiac arrest save or when their house catches fire and we’re taking care of the family pets. Sometimes it’s as simple as taking someone’s groceries to their home after they’re in a bad car accident.”
Safe and sound! Photo courtesy of Lacey Fire Department.
“Very often, we see people on the worst day of their lives. Our personnel look for every opportunity to bring light back into their day. Sometimes it’s the little things that offer the greatest comfort.”
