A horse named Dolly was rescued by over two dozen first responders after becoming trapped in mud and a fence near State College. The incident occurred around 7:50 p.m. when Dolly, a 30-year-old horse, likely lost her footing due to heavy rain and slid down an embankment. Rescuers faced challenges as Dolly was perched on a ledge, making it unsafe for her to step down or be rolled off.

The Alpha Fire Company, led by Assistant Chief Rob Nese, initially considered using heavy machinery like an excavator or crane but ultimately devised a rope system to pull Dolly up the embankment. They reinforced the path with hay bales and wood chips, allowing Dolly to walk into the barn on her own shortly after 10 p.m. Fortunately, she showed no signs of injury the following morning.

Nese noted that while the fire company had experience rescuing smaller animals, this was their first horse rescue in his decade of service. He emphasized the importance of community resources and collaboration with other local fire departments, which provided expertise in large animal rescues. The successful operation highlighted the adaptability and teamwork of the responders in challenging situations.