Cape May Carriage Horse Dies After Blizzard Rescue Attempt

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A carriage horse named Diesel from the Cape May Carriage company in New Jersey had to be euthanized after a dramatic rescue attempt during a major blizzard. The horse fell in the snow, got stuck in the mud, and despite efforts by firefighters, police, and the Coast Guard to free him, he was too weak to stand on his own and ultimately had to be put down.

Why it matters

The death of Diesel is a tragic loss for the Cape May Carriage company, which has provided horse-drawn carriage rides to tourists in the Victorian town for decades. It also highlights the dangers that extreme winter weather can pose to animals, even in rescue situations.

The details

On Monday, Diesel the carriage horse rolled in the snow, got stuck in a muddy area, and was unable to get himself back up. The carriage company tried for hours to free him before calling for help from the fire department, police, and even the Coast Guard. They were able to pull Diesel from the hole, but he was exhausted and too weak to stand on his own. The company made a bed for him with hay and blankets, hoping he would regain his strength, but the next day he still could not stand up. Faced with no other options, the heartbreaking decision was made to humanely euthanize Diesel.

• On Monday, Diesel the carriage horse fell and got stuck in the mud during the blizzard.
• Diesel spent several hours on Monday trying unsuccessfully to get back up on his own.
• On Tuesday, Diesel was still too weak to stand, leading to the decision to euthanize him.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The Cape May Carriage company has not announced any specific next steps, as this was a tragic and unexpected incident. They will likely need to find a replacement horse to continue their carriage ride operations.