Derry firefighters save dog from icy water

This story appeared in the Eagle Tribune on March 5, 2008 and was writen by Mark E. Vogler, Staff Writer


DERRY — Firefighters rescued a golden retriever from drowning last
night after the dog fell through the ice at Hoodkroft Country Club.

"We had to go out in ice-rescue suits with a rope and ladder to get
the dog," Battalion Chief Jack Webb said of the rescue, which
occurred shortly before 10 p.m. "The dog was in danger and the owner
would have been in danger, too, had she continued to go out after the
dog."

Buddy, the 11/2-year-old golden retriever, was rescued within a
matter of minutes after firefighters responded. His owner retreated
from the ice. The dog had been in the water for about 20 minutes,
according to fire officials.

"A large golden retriever like that will tolerate the cold weather
better than you or I would," Webb said. "We'd be in trouble. In a
matter of a couple of minutes — by the time we got rescued — we'd be
quite sick and suffering from hypothermia. But the dog was wagging
his tail and very happy when we got him on land."

Webb believes the dog would have eventually drowned had the incident
gone unnoticed and firefighters not responded when they did.

Fire officials cited the incident as a reason for people to exercise
caution and stay away from the ice during warm periods like the one
that hit the area recently. Warm weather and rain have caused the ice
to become thin.

"Some ice is still covered by snow, but may be thin and hazardous
under the snow cover," Webb said.

Instead of trying to rescue a pet that has fallen through the ice,
the owner should call 911, he said.