Dog Rescued From Frigid Creek By Firefighters

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Firefighters from two county agencies ventured onto dangerous thin ice Monday morning to rescue a dog that was stuck in Luce Creek because of thin ice.

The fire department received a 911 call reporting that a chocolate Labrador retriever named Gizmo was stuck on Luce Creek, which had iced over because of the recent cold temperatures. Crews from the Anne Arundel County and Annapolis Fire Departments responded to the call and located the dog.

Firefighters used a Stokes basket on the frozen surface to pull the dog from the creek.

"This rescue is a reminder that our crews are always ready for every member of our community, even our four-legged ones," the Anne Arundel department said on social media.

The Edgewater Fire Department said on social media that Gizmo went outside to "go potty and when his mommy didn’t hear him back at the door she went to check and heard him barking down the hill."

Rescuers faced a 200-foot drop at 60-degree grade to reach the struggling Labrador. Annapolis Fire Rescue Squad 38 and Truck 39 used the basket to get Gizmo and safely get him off the ice. He was alert and barking but couldn’t get up or crawl.

Brush 40 helped get Gizmo into the stokes basket down the driveway, where he was loaded into an ambulance. He was hypothermic after spending nearly an hour on the ice, but ate a treat.

Gizmo was then taken to the Anne Arundel Veterinary Emergency Clinic, Edgewater officials said. Once Gizmo's seat belts were removed at the vet's office, he stood up.

Ice on area waterways is dangerously thin, the Anne Arundel Fire Department said.

"We urge children and adults to stay off ice-covered water. Keep pets on a leash near icy water and immediately call 911 if a person or pet falls through the ice. Do not attempt to rescue on your own."