San Diego Humane Society Rescues Elderly Horse

ALPINE, CA — A senior horse was rescued over the weekend in Alpine, officials said.

San Diego Humane Society's Emergency Response Team was dispatched around 8 a.m. Saturday after reports that a 38-year-old palomino horse named Jasmine, affectionately known as "Jazzy," had gone down sometime late Friday or early Saturday and was unable to get back up on her own, according the Nina Thompson, the organization's spokesperson.

Due to her age and the duration of time she was down, specialized equipment and expertise were required to safely assist her, Thompson said.

"This particular rescue hit close to home for the team, as Jasmine was owned by a beloved ERT member who recently passed away," Thompson said. "Rescuing Jazzy was not only a mission to save a senior animal in distress, but also a way for the team to honor the memory of their late colleague. We are happy to report that Jasmine is now up and doing well."

ERT members worked diligently to ensure she was stabilized and lifted safely, providing the senior horse with a second chance at a comfortable recovery, according to Thompson.

San Diego Humane Society's ERT is specially trained for these types of large animal technical rescues, often operating in difficult terrain or complex situations to save animals in distress.