In Grand Junction, Colorado, a horse named Hank became the unlikely star of a rescue story after getting stuck in a culvert. What followed was some small-town solidarity that locals won’t soon forget.
This all began on the morning of November 27 when Hank’s owner, Dave Boudreaux, got an alarming call from his wife.
“She found him trapped,” Boudreaux said. “It was devastating.” Hank, who Boudreaux describes as one of his “kids,” was stuck deep in the narrow ditch, unable to free himself.
Firefighters from the Grand Junction Fire Department and the Lower Valley Fire District were first on the scene. They assessed the situation but realized they needed some heavy equipment to lift Hank out safely. That’s when a local business, Legacy Sign and Neon, stepped in to help.
Mike Blackwelder, the company’s sales manager, didn’t hesitate when the call came in. “We showed up with our crane, and the fire department already had a strap around him. We got everything set up and started the lift,” he explained.
The rescue needed strength and precision. To keep Hank the horse calm during the process, a veterinarian arrived to sedate him, ensuring he wouldn’t panic while being lifted. Slowly but surely, he was hoisted out of the culvert and back onto solid ground.
For Boudreaux, the moment was overwhelming. “I’ve never had kids of my own, so my animals, my horses, my dogs, my cats, they’re my family,” he said. “Seeing everyone come together to save Hank was incredible.”
Neighbors gathered to offer support, and firefighters worked side-by-side with Legacy Sign and Neon’s team to ensure Hank’s safety.
“It’s just what you do,” said Blackwelder. “Anybody with a heart is going to help an animal in need.”
After being checked out by the veterinarian, Hank was declared a-okay and is expected to make a full recovery. Meanwhile, Boudreaux is still reeling at all the kindness. “Thank you to everyone who helped—our neighbors, the fire department, our vet, Legacy Sign and Neon. You saved Hank, and that means everything to us.”
Whether it’s lifting a horse out of a ditch or lifting spirits in a community, when people unite it means more than when we’re separate.
