A HORSE in a swimming pool and a dog in a pipe are just some examples of pets getting into a pickle and requiring rescue by firefighters in the county.

Almost 300 animals got themselves into a number of tricky situations across the county over a five year period, it has been revealed.

Figures from the Home Office found that everything from dogs, deer and horses have been rescued by Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service between April 2012 and March 2017.

In that time, the statistics show the service rescued 288 animals, including 130 pets, 97 livestock and 61 wild animals, including birds.

The most notable rescue in Oxfordshire of late, outside of these dates, was Spencer the spaniel who was freed with the input of firefighters after being trapped in an underground pipe for three days.

Spencer was pulled alive after getting stuck in the pipe, which measures just 30cm in diameter, in Tilsley Park, Abingdon, in February and was rescued after diggers were drafted in to take up the tarmac sports pitch.

Animals being trapped was the most common reason for animal-related callouts in Oxfordshire between April 2012 and March 2017, accounting for 41 per cent of cases.

Other reasons included animals being stuck in water or mud or rescued from a height, or calls for assistance with lifting heavy animals.

A horse that got itself stuck in the swimming pool of a back garden near Didcot was another rescue mission for the county’s fire service.

Crews from four different stations helped free the horse in January by draining the pool and calling on a local vet to help free the horse safely.

On average, more than six firefighters dealt with each animal rescue.

Other rescues have seen both livestock freed such as a calf stuck in a muddy bog or wild animal rescues including two deer who found themselves marooned in the River Windrush near Witney town centre.

Two fire crews and a specialist animal and water rescue team were sent to free the pair of Roe Deer found in the river close to Bridge Street by a passer-by.

The crews took precautions to make sure the deer were not washed into deeper and faster moving water and then hopped into an inflatable boat so they could rescue the animals.

An RSPCA spokeswoman said: “The RSPCA works very closely with the emergency services and the charity is always very grateful for any help it receives from them.

“Last year the RSPCA was called to collect or rescue 114,584 animals. In situations where RSPCA officers are unable to reach an animal that is trapped or injured, the charity can request the help of the fire and rescue service, though it is entirely up to them whether they attend.”