Heroes Rescue Horse Impaled During Tornadoes

The tornadoes that swept through western and central Massachusetts last week devastated Joann Kass and Steven Bush of Brimfield.

Their home was leveled. One of their four horses was killed. Two others suffered cuts and abrasions.

And Cajun, their 9-year-old Paint, was impaled by a finger-sized piece of wood that seriously injured his right rear leg.

Cajun survived and is recuperating at

But he might not have been so lucky if it weren’t for the heroic efforts of volunteers who rescued the horse amid devastating storm damage and cleared massive debris that stood between Cajun and life-saving treatment.

Spencer veterinarian Paula Orcutt, Cajun’s veterinarian, and Kass’ sister, Karen Walker, worked with local firefighters the day of the storm, Wednesday, June 1, to climb over debris and gain access to the stables to assess Cajun’s condition.

The next day, more than a dozen volunteers cleared fallen trees from the driveway to allow the Animal Rescue League of Boston to remove Cajun and transport him to Tufts.

Cajun underwent nearly two hours of surgery to remove the objects that were embedded in his right rear “coffin joint,’’ the intersection of the lowest bones in the horse’s leg, and tendon sheath.

“He’s come along reasonably well’’ after the surgery, Dr. Thomas Jenei, veterinarian and clinical assistant professor at Tufts, who is overseeing Cajun’s recovery, said today. “We’re pleased so far.’’

And so is Cajun’s grateful owner, Steven Bush.

“I am glad we brought him to Tufts,’’ he said, as he stroked Cajun’s nose and head.  “They love him as much as I do.’’

For Walker, the emotion of the effort did not hit her until later. She was grateful her sister survived, and happy she could help Cajun.

“I have a friend who always says, 'We are not guaranteed tomorrow, or the rest of today,'’’ she said. “I thought of that as I crawled out of the debris.’’ 

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