When a rescue worker wakes up in the morning, he or she really can't predict what the day will have in store.
For police officers, paramedics, and firefighters, each day brings unique challenges that require these heroes to adjust, adapt, and improvise.
And no one understands that quite so well as the Cimarron Hills Fire Department in Colorado Springs, CO. They responded to a recent call that was not only surprising, but that also posed a huge challenge.
Firefighters arrived on scene to discover that a helpless skunk had become trapped in a dumpster, with his head lodged in a hole through the side. Typically, this would have been a difficult problem to solve, having to cut the little guy out. But the fact that he was a skunk, likely to spray his scent everywhere, complicated matters quite a bit more.
So in an effort to calm him down, one fireman did something that no one expected: he started reading The Cat In The Hat.
Scroll through below for a look at how these incredible rescue workers saved a helpless animal in the most creative and clever way possible!
While the amazing folks at the Cimarron Hills Fire Department are used to adapting to different situations, they likely never expected to encounter a situation quite like this.
They posted on Facebook:
"Cimarron Hills Firefighters responded to a citizen report of a skunk with its head caught in the drain hole of an apartment complex dumpster."
While many might scoff at the idea of helping a "gross" skunk, these firefighters knew that this helpless animal deserved a chance at a full and happy life just like any other. So, they got to work.
After examining the situation, they knew that they would have to cut the skunk free. However, this would be no easy task considering the skunk's spraying power.
So the firefighters came up with a brilliant idea to comfort the creature.
They posted:
"A firefighter kept the critter calm by talking/reading to him while other firefighters worked to ultimately cut him free."
And this fireman's book of choice? The Cat In The Hat by Dr. Seuss!
While this firefighter tried his best to soothe the skunk with Dr. Seuss, the rest of the team worked furiously.
One observer, Tasha Lopez, commented on Facebook:
"We truly appreciate you coming out and saving him when we couldn't and no one else would. I know it wasn't easy and you guys got sprayed, but to see you work so hard to free the little guy was amazing."
And after about 45 minutes of rescue work and reading? The Cimarron Hills firefighters freed the little guy (who they lovingly named Oliver) and he "waddled off" to go enjoy his freedom.
Thanks to these incredible workers and their quick thinking, they were able to give this creature a second chance at a happy and healthy life.
What do you think of this firefighter reading to a trapped skunk? Have you ever seen an animal rescue like this before? Let us know in the comments.
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