05/15/2026
Due West:
Jake the Donkey Rescued by ACERT Special Operations Team
Sunday, February 15, 2026 | Abbeville County, South Carolina.
On a rainy Sunday afternoon, what began as a call for a missing farm animal turned into a powerful example of how Abbeville County’s public safety system is designed to work — and why the community can trust it.
The Abbeville County Department of Public Safety operates under five coordinated divisions:
• ACDPS Fire
• ACDPS EMS
• ACDPS ACERT Special Operations
• ACDPS Emergency Management
• ACDPSEmergency Communications
ACERT functions as the county’s Special Operations component, working closely with to support the mission, while operating under the unified Abbeville County Public Safety structure. That system ensures the right resources are requested, deployed, and coordinated efficiently.
On February 15, 2026, a request for drone assistance for a missing donkey was made to the County Fire Coordinator, who immediately chuckled at the request. But he contacted ACERT UAS Team Lead Bryan Mullet. Pilot Bryan Mullet and Pilot Chandler White launched the drone into rainy conditions and began a structured grid search over steep, wooded terrain.
Jake the donkey was located within 20 minutes of flight time.
He had fallen into a ravine — wet, muddy from steady rain, and unable to get himself upright. The outcome did not look good.
From that moment forward, ACERT’s Technical Rescue Team was fully activated.
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A Diverse Team with Real-World Skill
Nearly 20 ACERT members responded. Firefighters. Medics. Law enforcement officers. Drone pilots. Emergency managers. Communications professionals. Volunteers who train relentlessly in rope rescue, search management, large animal rescue, medical operations, anything that’s not normal.
Among them was a Clemson Extension agent, Lucy, one of our dedicated members. Several others are avid farmers. Many have hands-on experience with livestock far beyond textbook knowledge. That diversity matters.
As rope rescue systems were being planned and set up for a possible haul operation, the team first focused on what mattered most — securing and stabilizing Jake.
The terrain was slick and unstable. Equipment was carried by hand. The donkey, weighing approximately 250 pounds, could not lift his head anymore, much less stand on his own.
Our K-9 medic Cheryl and Lucy were phenomenal with patient care. Ozzy, Sammy, Kirsten, and Mongo stood shoulder to shoulder in the mud, holding Jake upright in a sling to prevent further injury while care was coordinated. Others rotated in and out, reinforcing, adjusting, supporting — exactly how a well-trained team functions.
The priority was clear: stabilize first, move second.
Jake was secured, supported, and carefully transferred into a Stokes basket for transport out of the ravine. ACERT Ranger 2 moved him back to the residence where treatment could be provided safely and thoroughly.
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Compassion, Commitment, and Two Hours of Care
Back at the home, medical care began in earnest.
Over the next two hours, fluids were administered — two full bags — while the team monitored Jake closely. Treatment was deliberate, steady, and patient. No rush. No frustration. Just quiet professionalism.
After hours of effort, Jake stood on his own.
He began to eat.
For the family, that moment meant everything.
Nearly 20 responders gave up their Sunday afternoon for a patient that wasn’t human — and not one complained. Not once. Because to that family, Jake is family.
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The Calls You Don’t See
ACERT runs many missions throughout the year. Many are sensitive in nature. Many are not posted publicly out of respect for those we serve. The community often never sees the long nights, the difficult recoveries, the emotional weight carried quietly by responders.
But this one is different.
Jake didn’t disagree with being featured.
And most of us can relate to a little stubbornness now and then.
A good belly rub today was all the confirmation anyone needed that he was thankful.
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A System That Works
This rescue was not just about a donkey in a ravine.
It was about a public safety system built on coordination across five divisions.
It was about specialized training meeting real-world experience.
It was about nearly 20 volunteers showing up without hesitation.
It was about compassion backed by competence.
On Sunday, February 15, 2026, Abbeville County witnessed what happens when diverse skill, strong leadership, and servant-hearted commitment come together under one unified Department of Public Safety.
When the call comes — human or not — ACERT answers.
