Thanksgiving has passed and we’re diving right in to the season of giving. These firefighters damn near brought a tear to this old man’s eye:
Courtesy of Sky News – “Firefighters have described “one of the strangest” rescue missions of their careers – helping a rhino at Edinburgh Zoo with a toothache.
Newcraighall fire station’s crew were needed to move two-ton Bertus to a safe place in which vets could operate.
The eight-year-old animal was first sedated and then winched to safety in a challenging and complicated process.
Station manager Willie Pollard said: “By jointly working with zoo staff, we were able to formulate a plan which involved winching and pulling equipment, using techniques normally used for either road traffic collisions involving heavy vehicles or in the event of a building collapse.
“These techniques allowed us to reposition the animal, thereby creating a safe working space for the dental team to repair the tooth.”
Simon Girling, head vet at the zoo, said: “We are incredibly grateful for the help of the fire and rescue crew.
“Bertus’s operation was a great success and even though it was a minor tooth operation, it involved a massive team of people all working together to ensure the operation went smoothly.”
Bertus is now reported to have made a full recovery from the procedure carried out earlier this month and is eating comfortably.”
First and foremost, the name ‘Bertus’ for a rhino is totes adorbs. It’s like Brutus didn’t sound clumsy enough, so they had to go with Bertus for this big beast. And, his toof was hurting?!?! Poor guy – what does a rhino do to develop a toothache? I don’t know, but I’d be willing to bet that’s why Rocksteady was always so freaking grumpy with the Ninja Turtles.
What happens when they get that thing up in the air, too? I’m picturing this going down in the same fashion as when people try to move pianos into penthouse suites. And, let me tell you sonsahbitches something, too – if you don’t think this happened without severe risk of being squashed by rhino, you’re sadly mistaken.
That’s where guys like me would’ve seriously considered the risk-reward of the situation. Like, “y’know – it’s just a toothache. Do I want to risk becoming a human pancake under a big stinky rhino?” If this rhino had entered NFL concussion protocol, maybe that’s when I step in to act.
Another question – does the zoo have a regular dental team on staff? That has to be the cushiest gig in the dental field. No daily patients, I’d imagine….just have to step in every once in a while when the neighborhood rhino gets a toucan beak stuck in his gum.
I’m just relieved to read that this was an actual rhino and not the wrestler, Rhyno. He’s one half of the Smackdown Tag Team Champions and I can’t imagine him trying to defend the belts with a toothache.
All I can say is, “wow – what a way to kick off the holiday season.” This is the season of giving and these firefighters further prove that firefighters will think of anything and are willing to do anything to help out anyone – man, woman, child, rhino.
Stoney Keeley is the editor of the SoBros Network, Tennessee Titans Featured Analyst for Pro Football Spot, Contributor to FanSided’s Bama Hammer, and covers the WWE for WrestlingNews.co. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley, @PFSpot, @WrestlingNewsCo, @Bama_Hammer
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