Off-duty officer prompts effort to rescue stranded horse near Everglades

An off-duty police officer found a horse trapped near the Florida Everglades Sunday.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Lt. Felipe Lay said the wild horse likely took a tumble down the ditch at Southwest 112th Street and Southwest 197th Avenue in the area of the Edge of Everglades Trail.

Rescuers hoisted the horse up to safety. The team included Miami-Dade firefighters, members of the MDFR venom unit and officers with the Miami-Dade Agricultural Patrol. 

Grace Delanoy, a spokeswoman for The South Florida Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, described the horse as "severely emaciated and aged."  The group takes care of abandoned and abused horses in their ranch in Hialeah. 

Lay said the Miami-Dade County veterinary said the horse was malnourished but in fairly good condition.