‘Ruff rescue:’ Dog saved from freezing river
GARDINER — Firefighters in this Ulster County town came to the rescue of a dog that got stuck in ice on the Wallkill River on Saturday.
Shortly after 2 p.m., responders were dispatched after a “dog on ice” call from the dog’s owner. The pooch had apparently fallen in the water during a walk, and the owner jumped in fully clothed to save his best friend, said David Gilman, public information officer and EMT for Gardiner Fire and Rescue.
When crews arrived on the scene, they found the hound stuck in the ice approximately 30 feet from shore.
Ice rescue-certified Captain John Barton and firefighter Tony Baxter donned their protective dry suits and initiated the rescue with assistance from additional crew members. State
Police and the New Paltz Rescue Squad were also on the scene assisting the dog’s owner.
Using a sled and a long stick, Baxter made his way through the slushy ice toward the dog, who could be heard whining and shivering. The semifrozen chunks of ice made it difficult for the firefighter to move in the water, Gilman said, as opposed to solid ice, which is how the crews are trained to perform ice rescues.
“With Captain Barton supporting from shore, Firefighter Baxter entered the slushy ice, made contact with a Very Good Boy, and successfully fetched him back to dry land,” Gilman said in a Gardiner Fire and Rescue Facebook post.
The dog was taken out of the water shivering but in good spirits, and was brought to shore where he was finally reunited with his owner, Gilman said. Crews wrapped him in towels and used hot packs to try and warm him up. The dog was then taken to Gardiner Animal Hospital, where he was examined and found to be in good condition.
“The dog owner was, like, very unconcerned for himself and very concerned for his dog,” Gilman said. “So he’s like, ‘don’t help me — help my dog!’”
A man claiming to be the dog’s owner gave his side of the story in a comment on the Gardiner Fire and Rescue Facebook post, saying the two were on a walk along the Wallkill River far from the road when the dog took off chasing after geese he had spotted on the river.
“I went in 3 times to try to get him, but the water was over my head (I went totally under the 1st time) and had all my clothes on and boots and then out into 18 degree weather,” the comment reads. “I’m the type who never asks for help and gets it done themselves, but I realized if someone didn’t come soon myself and my dog were goners.”
“I had about 5-10 mins of life left in me when these guys showed up — but all I was worried about was my pooch,” the comment continues. “His name is Bucky, but as Brian Stiscia said ‘now his name is Lucky.’”
While this was the first ice rescue for the Gardiner Fire and Rescue Department, Gilman said the all-volunteer crew is trained for situations that may not happen often, but that are dangerous for all involved.
Gilman said while the dog’s story “ended with treats and belly rubs,” he urged people to call 911 and never jump in the water if anyone or an animal falls through ice.
“Don’t go out on the ice and become a victim yourself,” he said.