WHAT do a sheep, a seal, a drowning foal and a dying horse have in common? They all featured in call-outs attended by Waterford Animal Welfare in a hectic day last weekend.

With the torrential rain and flooding leaving all kinds of animals in bother, animal rescue services nationwide were busy.

In less than 24 hours, Waterford Animal Welfare attended to a seal, a sheep, saved a foal from certain death from a flooded mudhole in a field and tried to help a horse that suddenly collapsed while being transported.

Unfortunately the horse died before veterinary personnel could attend the scene. The incident in question took place on the outer ring road of Waterford city. When the Waterford Animal Welfare service arrived, they found a very distressed horse had been hauled out of the trailer onto the road.

Rescue personnel called for veterinary help immediately but the horse, described as a fine bay mare, unfortunately died within minutes. The fire service also attended and lifted the horse off the road and Waterford Animal Welfare also organised the knackery.

Earlier the animal rescue unit had attended to a pony foal rescue from a flooded field.

The young animal was pulled almost dead out of the thick mudhole in which it was trapped and veterinary assistance was received. Within 48 hours, the young foal was happily on the road to recovery.

“It was all in a day’s work,” said a spokesperson for Waterford Animal Welfare modestly this week.