VIDEO: Firefighters rescue cow buried up to its neck in mud in Columbia County

A team of firefighters pulled a 1,700-pound cow named Ruby from a bog near Mist Oregon on April 21, after the cow became trapped neck-deep in mud.

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A team of firefighters pulled a 1,700-pound cow named Ruby from a bog near Mist Oregon on April 21, after the cow became trapped neck-deep in mud.

Mist-Birkenfeld Rural Fire Protection District Training Chief Will Steinweg told KOIN 6 News that firefighters responded to the scene at approximately 12:52 p.m., after the cow’s owners called for help to rescue the sinking animal.

“We are also udder-ly grateful for members from Vernonia Rural Fire Protection District and Westport Fire and Rescue-Oregon who graciously assisted us on scene and we are pleased to report Ruby is out of the mud and recovering,” the Mist-Birkenfeld Rural Fire Protection District shared on social media following the rescue.

Firefighters were able to rescue the cow thanks to a donation of special animal technical rescue equipment that was donated to the department a few years ago, the district said. Local firefighters also participated in a special three-day training course to use the donated equipment.

“Once again, this equipment and training were imperative in leading to a positive outcome for an animal in need,” the fire district said.

Video of the rescue shows 10 different people working together to free the distressed cow from the muck. Ruby’s owners told firefighters that she is alive and recovering after the rescue.