Massachusetts: Cambridge firefighters rescue dog from Charles River

MASSACHUSETTS -- Cambridge firefighters rescued a dog that had fallen through the ice on the Charles River late Saturday afternoon, the department said on Twitter.

The dog fell into the frigid waters near the Eliot Bridge around 3:50 p.m., the department said.

 

 

The sandy-colored dog’s head was above water, as firefighter Sean Williams slid toward it on a rescue board, photos posted on Twitter show.

The firefighter and dog were pulled to shore by a rescue crew. One person shouted, “Come on! Good girl,” and other words of encouragement, according to a video posted on the department’s Facebook page.

Safely ashore, Williams and the dog were greeted with applause.

(Boston Globe - January 21, 2018)

Maryland: Firefighter rescues Golden Retriever stuck in icy culvert

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MARYLAND --  The dog was shaking, tired, and covered in ice.

“Honestly, I would love to see him get back to his owner,” said Firefighter Jesse McCullough.

The Prince George’s County Fire Fighter and his team at Company 30 were called out to rescue the dog, who was stuck in a culvert.

  

 

“It was just icy concrete, so you just are not going to be able to climb out easily,” said McCullough.

The Prince George’s County firefighter picked up the frozen pooch and carried him to safety.

“I basically had him resting on my knee and then coming up the beams of the ladder, just taking a rung stepping up. You know, your legs can lift a lot more than your arms ever can,” said McCullough.

Company 30 put the dog in the back of the fire truck and cranked up the heat. When they got back to the fire station, the firefighters laid out a bed, food and water.

 

The Golden Retriever did not have a collar or a working microchip, so McCullough is hoping the dog’s owner is reading this story.

If not, McCullough is not ruling out adopting the dog, which Company 30 appropriately named “River.”

“It’s an option. I have to talk to my wife and three-year old,” laughed McCullough.

WJLA VIDEO NEWS CLIP:

(WJLA - Dec 15, 2017)

Michigan: Deputies and firefighters rescue horse from frozen pond

MICHIGAN -- Deputies with the Macomb County Sheriff's Office in Michigan rescued a horse from a frozen pond.

The owners of a horse in Michigan are grateful that the deputies with the Macomb County Sheriff's Office in Michigan were able to rescue their horse after it fell through the ice into a pond.

 

 

 

 

The deputies responded to a call from a local resident in Ray Township on Wednesday, saying their horse had fallen through the ice on a pond and could not escape the freezing water.

When they arrived at the scene, the deputies attempted to use ropes to guide the horse out of the icy pond but were unable to do it. The horse couldn't get its legs above the ice.

The local fire department also got involved and the first responders worked to break up the ice around the horse and were able to free the horse from the ice.

The horse was checked out by a veterinarian and according to the sheriff's office, it was not injured.

An officer fell into the pond during the rescue. He too was uninjured.

   

  

 

 

 

 

 

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Macomb County Sheriff's Office posted on Facebook December 14 at 4:49pm ·

On 12/13/17, at approximately 9:30am, Macomb County Sheriff Deputies were called to a residence in Ray Township for a horse that had fallen into an ice covered pond.

Deputies responded and attempted to guide the horse out with ropes only to find that the horse could not get its legs above the ice. The Ray Township Fire Department also responded. Police and fire worked together to break up the ice and guide the horse out.

During the rescue, a deputy fell through the ice trying to attach a rope to the horse’s bridle. He was quickly pulled from the pond and continued to help the horse.

The owners were grateful and horse was checked out by its veterinarian. Both the horse and the deputy were uninjured.

MACOMB COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE BODYCAM VIDEO:

(WJLA - December 15, 2017)

New Jersey: Judge James Blaney practically lets Andrew Mayer off scott free after he abandoned his dog to drown after doing donuts on frozen river

NEW JERSEY -- The Toms River man who drove his truck onto a frozen river was sentenced to six months in jail Friday for causing his dog to drown when the vehicle broke through the ice.

DA WANTED 1 YEAR IN JAIL, JUDGE BLANEY SAID NO

In sentencing Andrew Mayer, Superior Court Judge James Blaney said some jail time was necessary, but he rejected Assistant Ocean County Prosecutor Heidi Tannenbaum-Newman's request for a 364-day jail term, said Al Della Fave, spokesman for the prosecutor's office.

So if he only has to spend 6 months in the county jail, he'll only really have to spend about 2 months there. And they may just let him serve the days on the weekends (show up on Friday, stay overnight Friday and Saturday and then allowed to go back home Sunday night). Some punishment, right?

DA WANTED HIM TO PAY THE $70,000 BILL, JUDGE BLANEY SAID NO (SO THE TAXPAYERS HAVE TO FOOT THE BILL)

Blaney also rejected the state's request for Mayer, 29, to pay full restitution to the agencies involved in the search-and-rescue efforts and instead directed him to pay $1,000 each to the New Jersey State Police and Toms River Fire District 1.

They were two of several agencies that responded to a 911 call about a truck falling through the ice, leading authorities to initially suspect that the driver was submerged in the frigid water.

DA WANTED MAYER BANNED FROM OWNING ANIMALS FOR FIVE YEARS, JUDGE BLANEY SAID NO

Noting Mayer's remorse, Blaney also rejected Tannebaum-Newman's request for Blaney to ban Mayer from owning a pet for five years.

Blaney said he did not think a ban was necessary because he believed that while Mayer's actions were reckless, he didn't intend to harm his dog, Della Fave said.

Mayer pleaded guilty to one count of animal cruelty on Sept. 26, admitting he knowingly or recklessly failed to provide the necessary care for his 2-year-old boxer-lab dog, Rolo, by driving his pickup truck onto the frozen river in Pine Beach shortly after midnight.

Authorities have said Mayer was doing donuts on the ice. A relative of Mayer has said the dog was not in the vehicle at the time but jumped into the Mazda B2200 pickup truck while it was stopped on the ice.

Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph Coronato has said Mayer failed to tell authorities about the incident when he got safely to shore. That touched off an hours-long search for potential victims.

It was only after that search attempt that authorities learned Mayer got out unharmed but his dog did not.

The search operation involved the U.S. Coast Guard's Aviation Unit, the New Jersey State Police Aviation Unit, the marine units from State Police and several local police departments, and the fire companies and first aid squads from Toms River, Beachwood, Pine Beach and Island Heights.

The case was jointly investigated by the New Jersey State Police, NJSPCA, Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, as well as the Toms River, Pine Beach, Beachwood and Island Heights police departments.

Of all those responding agencies, only the State Police and Toms River Fire District 1 responded to prosecutors' request about restitution, Della Fave said.

State Police said it cost them $62,273 and the fire department said it cost them $8,370, Della Fave said.

Ocean County Sheriff's officers escorted Mayer from the courtroom and to the county jail to start serving his term, Della Fave said.

(NJ.com - February 17, 2017)

Earlier:

• Foolish owner who took his dog Rolo for a joyride on frozen river, then 'left him to die when pick-up fell through the ice' arrested
• NJ cop under investigation for crass Facebook posts about drowned dog

Michigan: German shepherd rescued from icy creek in Wyandotte

MICHIGAN -- Thanks to an alert couple — or perhaps more accurately their chocolate Labrador retriever — police and animal control officers rescued a dog trapped on the banks of an icy creek.

At about 6 p.m. March 16, Dan and Cathy Korycinski were walking their dog at Beaver Park, in the area of 12th Street and Goddard, when something strange happened.

In a scene reminiscent of a Lassie movie, the dog alerted the couple to something that was going on by the creek, “hauling” them to the creek’s bank, where they spotted the German shepherd.

“He looked exhausted and cold,” Cathy Korycinski said. “My husband took our dog home while I waited for the officer to arrive. I always carry dog cookies in my pocket while out walking and tried to coax him up with them, but he seemed too tired to care. He did have a leash on and we couldn’t tell if it was tangled in the brush or not.”

Korycinski said within 15 to 20 minutes after talking to Wyandotte police, a Lincoln Park animal control officer showed up and assessed the problem. The area is covered with brush and is hard to access.

“He called in for help and within minutes three more officers showed up, from both Wyandotte and Lincoln Park,” she said. “One of the officers went down the bank and was able to get hold of the dog’s leash and working together with the other officers was able to get the dog up the icy and slippery embankment.”

Officer Chris Sawmiller went down the embankment and nudged the dog upward, as Wyandotte Animal Control Officer Chuck Gillenwater and two other officers assisted from the top of the embankment.

Police said the dog had a belt around its neck, serving as a makeshift leash, but no license or other tags identifying who it belonged to.

According to police, the dog was very thin, but otherwise appeared to be in good health. It was taken to Downriver Central Animal Control’s intake facility.

Korycinski said she and her husband could not simply leave the dog there, so they were glad when the officers responded.

“When they got him up, he licked their hands,” she said. “He was probably grateful, and they carried him to the truck. He is a beautiful dog. Thanks to these guys that dog will have a warm place to sleep tonight.”

(Southgate News Herald - Mar 17, 2017)

New York: Yellow Lab rescued in Irvington after fall through ice

NEW YORK -- Emergency crews rushed to save a four-legged friend in Irvington on Saturday.

A Yellow Labrador fell through an ice-covered pond near Beckett Close. A teenage boy followed it onto the ice to try to save it but couldn't and turned back.

Firefighters slipped into ice rescue protective cold gear and went in after the dog.

 

 

First responders said the dog swam about 200 yards before the firefighters were able to get it and bring it back to shore.

News 12 is told the dog didn't appear to be hurt, but was still examined by a vet to make sure he hadn't suffered any medical issues as a result of being in the frigid water.

(News12 - February 19, 2017)

Massachusetts: Beagle Dies After Falling Through Ice Despite Firefighters’ Rescue Efforts

MASSACHUSETTS -- Despite rescue efforts by firefighters, a dog died Friday afternoon after falling through the ice of a Holliston pond.

The dog fell into the frigid waters of Linden Pond around 3 p.m.

Though initially struggling to get out of the pond, the dog had fallen below the surface when firefighters arrived in cold water suits.

Crews used a rescue sled to reach the dog, and brought the beagle back to the shore.

Firefighters attempted to revive the dog using Basic Animal Rescue Training skills they learned during a class in September.

After several minutes of resuscitation efforts, the beagle was taken to a nearby animal hospital but did not survive.

(CBS Local - Feb 18, 2017)

Iowa: Sam the Labradoodle rescued from icy river

IOWA -- A good Samaritan in Iowa saved the life of a beloved family Labradoodle earlier this week, after spotting the animal stuck in an icy river and calling in firefighters to the rescue.

Jerry Romine of West Des Moines was walking his own dog Lucy when he heard a 13-year-old Labradoodle named Sam barking and whimpering for help from the icy, half-frozen river.

'The worst noise you could hear from an animal,' Romine told the Des Moines Register, adding that the wails 'made my blood curdle'.

As Sam struggled to keep his head above the swift-flowing waters of Middle River, gripping the surface ice with his front paws, Romine tried in vain to help the dog by tossing out a 50-foot tow rope, which was too short.

After driving door-to-door in the area seeking help, Romine called in rescuers from the Winterset, Iowa fire department, and can be heard calling out to Sam to hang on in video he took of the harrowing incident.

'I'm trying to get to you buddy, I'm sorry,' Romine called out to the forlorn dog. 'I've got help coming, hopefully.'

An animal carcass appeared to be sitting on the frozen waterway in the video, which may have tempted Sam onto the treacherously thin ice.

Arriving on the scene, two rescuers from the Winterset Fire Department ventured out onto the frozen river in a rowboat.

Stepping halfway out of the boat, one was able to pull Sam from the water and into the rescue boat at about 10.30am on Monday.

Sam was taken to a local veterinarian, who said the dog was so cold he 'wasn't even able to shiver'.

The quick-thinking vet used heating pads and blow-driers to warm up the frosty pooch, also administering a steroid.

Officials tracked down Sam's owner, Heather Russell, 24, of Winterset, who was extremely grateful for the heroic intervention.

Sam was up and walking by that afternoon, Russell said, and was quickly on the way to full recovery. The dog had been staying at the nearby farm of her parents, she said.

Romine said he was simply happy to help.

'Makes me feel blessed that I could do something,' he said.

(Daily Mail UK- Jan 9, 2017)

North Carolina: Beagle mix rescued after falling through the ice into a pond

NORTH CAROLINA -- Orange County Sheriff's Office added 11 new photos to their Facebook page.

This morning an alert citizen noticed a dog that had fallen through the ice into a pond.

  

  

Petey managed to find himself struggling to keep his head above water 30-40 ft from the shore.

Deputies responded and quickly procured a boat from a nearby off-duty Carrboro Police Department Officer.

Members of the Alamance County Rescue Unit, Mebane Fire Department, & Orange County Animal Services (NC) ventured out in the boat onto the pond, breaking a path in the ice to get to Petey.

 

After getting back on dry land, Petey, was cared for by Orange County Emergency Services - NC in a toasty ambulance with lots of blankets in order to warm him up.

We are unsure of how long Petey was in water, but we're certain that without the teamwork of all the folks that were involved today, Petey might not have made it home.

Another post said that it took the crews almost two hours to get everyone there and coordinated and then get the dog out of the water.

 

 

 

Petey is resting comfortably now, and is expected to make a full recovery.

There may not have been a human life hanging in the balance, but everyone involved treated the situation just as seriously. Good work team!!

New York: State trooper and dog need rescued after falling through ice

NEW YORK -- A state trooper needed to be saved today after he broke through ice and fell into chest-high freezing water as he attempted to save a dog that had also plunged into the frigid water, police said.

Shelby, a yellow labrador retriever, wandered out onto Muscoot Reservoir, located behind Kennedy Catholic High School off Route 138, shortly before 1 p.m., Somers Fire Department Chief George Wahlers said.

Troopers and Somers police responded, and while waiting for firefighters to arrive, trooper Christopher Spallone attempted to rescue the dog, according to state police.

Spallone, who is a 10-year veteran of the state police stationed in the Somers barracks, believed Shelby was in distress due to the frigid water temperature, so he ventured out onto the ice to attempt to rescue the dog. However, as he was returning to the shore line, the ice fractured and he broke through the ice — becoming stranded in chest-high water.

Spallone was in the frigid water for only minutes before a Somers police officer and a firefighter managed to save him and the dog.

“They did exactly doing what they’re supposed to do," Wahlers said of officers and firefighters. “Our guys were on shore and went in and got him.”

The trooper who fell through the ice was transported to Norther Westchester Hospital by the Somers fire department. He was treated there and later released, state police said.

The Somers police officer who helped remove Spallone from the water was also treated at the scene and declined further medical treatment.

Shelby is expected to make a full recovery.

Wahlers said there was also another person who reportedly attempted to rescue the dog before emergency personnel arrived at the scene. That person too fell through the ice, but managed to get out of the water. That person refused medical attention.

Police urge people to keep their dogs on leashes while walking near ice, and to call authorities rather than go out on the ice themselves to save a pet in the water.

Wahlers echoed that sentiment. While today's rescue had a happy ending, Wahlers said it could have been "a real disaster."

"If the trooper had gone out a little farther," he said, "it could have been a real disaster.”

(The Journal News | LoHud.com - Feb 13, 2016)