Wildlife Rehab Owner Thanks Old Bridge Firefighters For Trying To Save Horse

OLD BRIDGE, NJ — A woman who owns a wildlife rehabilitation farm in Old Bridge wants to thank the volunteer firefighters who raced to her home Tuesday evening to try and save her elderly pet horse, who was dying.

Nina Jochnowitz owns Haven in the Woods, a licensed wildlife sanctuary and rehabilitation center.

As muggy heat descended on New Jersey Tuesday evening, her elderly horse, Princeton, 35 years old, became very weak and fatigued.

His back legs, which had been failing for some time, started to give out entirely. Princeton laid down in his favorite mud hole on her farm, where Jochnowitz presumed the horse was going to die. The only problem was it is very slippery in that area and it would be physically impossible for her to remove the horse herself.

"I called 911 between 6 and 7 p.m. last night and the firefighters were here in minutes," said Jochnowitz. "I also want to praise and thank the Old Bridge 911 dispatch. I could not believe how quickly everyone got here, and they even brought a front-loader to help get the horse up."

She said the volunteers worked tirelessly into the darkness of night to try and get Princeton back to standing

The firefighters were able to get him up again, but Princeton's hind legs were so weak that the horse was unable to stand up on his own. He kept collapsing back to the ground. Eventually, she called a veterinarian to the farm to euthanize Princeton.

Jochnowitz said he also has a weakened heart and she suspects the hot weather may have sped up his passing.

She gave Patch permission to retell this story and share the photos because she said she wants Old Bridge firefighters to receive more benefits from both the town and the state of New Jersey. A family of Woodbridge volunteer firefighters even drove in to help, she said.

"These guys and girls are all volunteers, racing out here to help me for hours into the night," she said. "They deserve more than what they're getting. We need real incentives for our volunteers."

Old Bridge's fire department used to be all volunteer, but some fire districts in town had to start having paid staff during the daytime shifts since volunteerism in New Jersey has shrunk so much.

Richard Dunn, a former chief of the South Old Bridge fire house, and who also sits on the town's school board, said he supports legislation in Trenton that would give volunteer firefighters and volunteer first responders (EMTs) in New Jersey tax breaks.

He said the town of Old Bridge does have volunteer incentives, such as free parking around town for firefighters and EMTs, permit waivers from the town, plus credits on before- and after-care for their children, among other discounts.

"But it's not enough; these are just small perks. A $12,000-tax deduction, now that's something to sneeze at," said Dunn. "The state of New York gives first responders and firefighters tax deductions, and New Jersey should be more than capable of similarly rewarding volunteers ... New Jersey doesn't have anything incentivizing volunteerism."

"I’m not sure why (the idea) hasn’t gained traction in the state Legislature," said Dunn.

Jochnowitz said she knows some towns in Essex County give former volunteer firefighters money in retirement. She suggested Old Bridge consider something similar.

"These volunteer men and women came out to help with all their equipment, despite it being hot as heck, and they really tried for hours to save this horse. We need to give them more."

Jochnowitz operates Haven in the Woods wildlife rehabilitation at no cost. She takes in injured wildlife and tries to rehabilitate the animals. She said last year she rehabilitated more than 840 animals that were then released back into the wild.