Animal Rescues
Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) understand how important animals are to our customers, whether they are a loved pet or part of a crucial livestock herd for one of the county's farmers.
Our dedicated Animal Rescue Unit is here to help. Made up of specialist officers and crew, as well as a dedicated support vehicle, the unit works across the county and with other KFRS teams including water safety, technical, and line rescue teams when necessary. Learn more below.
Our Animal Rescue Unit
Our dedicated Animal Rescue Unit (ARU) is based in Faversham. Made up of specially trained firefighters who have a passion for helping animals, the ARU can be deployed across the county at any time.
Equipped with a range of tools and machinery including winches, strops, a crane, reach poles and gauntlets, the unit carry out a variety of tasks ranging from manoeuvring and lifting heavy animals to rescuing small animals. When responding to animal rescues, the team can also call on other resources within the fire service to assist, such as the water safety unit, or one of the service’s all-terrain vehicles. They also work closely alongside partner agencies, such as the RSPCA, Kent Wildlife Rescue Service and veterinary services.
The work of the Unit extends to protecting those who care about the animal in distress, undertaking rescues so that members of the public do not put themselves at risk trying to rescue animals themselves.
The crew members are all fully trained firefighters and also respond to a range of non-animal related incidents, including fires, crashes and other emergencies.
Animals loose on a road
Calls relating to animals or livestock loose on a roadway will be passed to Kent Police, who have primary responsibility for road safety, but who may call upon KFRS should there be a public safety issue.