Horse rescued from sinkhole in North Bethlehem Township
SCENERY HILL (AP) – Authorities said emergency responders used a hoist to rescue a retired racehorse from a sinkhole on a farm in North Bethlehem Township..
Washington County Animal Response Team was called after Chautauqua Worms fell into the 6-foot hole on a farm on Amos Road near Scenery Hill.
Firefighter Ed Childers of North Strabane fire department said rescuers lifted the 1,000-pound horse from the hole at about 9:30 a.m. Friday with the help of an A-frame hoist borrowed from the county.
Veterinarian Leah Mitchell said the horse had a few cuts but wasn’t badly hurt. She said the situation could have been life-threatening, and Chautauqua Worms “was a lucky horse.”
Mitchell said the sinkhole was created by erosion from an underwater stream following recent rains.