Dog Rescued on Ice-Covered Pond by Fairfield Firefighters

FAIRFIELD, CT — Fairfield firefighters braved the frigid conditions and rescued a 19-year-old shepherd mix who had become stuck on an ice-covered pond on Monday morning.

A Robert Lane resident called 911 for assistance at about 10:40 a.m. after his dog, Delilah, had wandered onto the ice and was unable to get back to shore.

The owner tried to reach the dog with a pole but was unsuccessful. He resisted the urge to go out onto the ice and called 911 for help, according to fire officials.

Fairfield Fire Engine 1, Ladder 2, and C3 responded. Under the direction of Lt. Phil Higgins, FF. Rob Petrie donned a cold water rescue suit and prepared for the rescue. FF. Nick Gentile manned a safety rope and the crew from Ladder 2 provided back up.

Officials said the thin ice broke as soon as Petrie stepped onto the pond. The shallow water at the edge of the pond dropped off quickly to almost 10 feet in depth where the dog was stranded.

With the help of a rescue stick provided by Animal Control Officer Joe Felner, Delilah was quickly and safely rescued. Although cold and wet, she was unharmed by her misadventure, fire officials said.

“This is a perfect example of how the system should work,” Assistant Chief George Gomola, the incident commander, said in a press release. “The dog’s owner fought his natural instinct to self-rescue his dog and called 911 for help. Our firefighters used their training and special equipment to quickly and safety rescue Delilah.

“If the owner had attempted the rescue himself and fallen through the ice, the end result could have been tragic. At the very least, it would have delayed the rescue of the dog because our priority would have been to rescue the owner. This is the season for thin ice and animal rescue. We urge parents to talk with their children about ice safety and to immediately activate the 911 emergency systems if a pet or a loved one falls through the ice.”

Pictured: Fairfield Fire Department at work – as seen in photos – FF. Rob Petrie – in yellow rescue suit, FF. Nick Gentile – with hat and life jacket, Animal Control Officer – Joe Felner in green uniform. Dog – Delilah / Photos courtesy of the Fairfield Fire Department