see also: in October 2007 News Releases:   Cocaine Smuggler Tries To Trick El Paso CBP Officers by Hiding Drugs in Car Body   Border Patrol Agents in Texas Seize Marijuana Worth $1 Million Hidden Under Watermelons   Fingerprint Check Allows Border Patrol to Arrest Murder Suspect   Border Patrol Texas Task Force Seizes 500 Pounds of Marijuana   CBP Officers at Mail Facility Find Marijuana in Cement Statues, Opium   Tecate, Calif. Cargo Processing Port to Resume Operations Wednesday Morning   CBP at Newark Airport Discovers Man with Fraudulent Documents, False Claim to U.S. Citizenship ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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San Diego — In the midst of the San Diego County wildfire evacuations, animal-loving Border Patrol horse patrol agents put their wrangling skills to good use helping local animal services with evacuations.

Since Sunday evening, Horse Patrol agents staged at the Lakeside Rodeo have rescued 136 animals with their four Border Patrol horse trailers. The trailers, which typically transport up to 19 horses to the rugged terrain along the U.S./Mexico border, have been used to rescue a variety of pets and animals from the wildfire’s path.

Agents have evacuated 101 Horses, 23 Parrots, 3 Dogs, 3 Goats, 3 Donkeys, 1 Pot Bellied Pig, 1 Steer, and l Llama. The Border Patrol houses some of these animals at its own stables in Imperial Beach and has evacuated others to local animal shelters.

Although the agents regularly face challenges in their daily duties, some of the animal rescues have vexed even the most experienced agents. Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Shawn Gisler reflected, "It wasn’t always easy. Parrots bit agent’s fingers, a donkey dragged an agent down a road, and an agitated goat started spitting water from a bucket at an agent trying to save her."

These agents and other Border Patrol agents continue protecting the border and working with local officials to help the community during the wildfire crisis.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of the nation’s borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.