ANIMALS
Dog Rescued From Cold, Choppy Lake Superior As Owner Threatened To Jump In Herself
Duluth Fire Department
A dog that escaped his leash in Minnesota had to be rescued from the frigid waters of Lake Superior, where it struggled to stay afloat in eight-foot waves, and its owner had to be stopped from jumping in herself, fire officials said Monday.
The Duluth Fire Department said in a Facebook post Monday that it responded to a report that a dog jumped into Lake Superior near the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge at around 6:20 p.m. Thursday. Multiple units responded, including an engine crew and an inflatable rescue boat, while Saint Louis County Dispatchers used cameras controlled by the bridge operator to locate the 911 caller on the south pier, who pointed out the dog’s location in the water.
When firefighters arrived, they saw the pup struggling in 8-foot plus waves in the middle of the ship canal.
Rescuers donned ice rescue suits due to the extreme cold temperature of the water. They struggled to reach the dog due to large waves and limited light, but the dog’s owner used lights and called out directions to help guide the rescuers, who eventually got hold of the dog’s collar.
The dog was large, scared and was struggling which added to the difficulty, the fire department said. The dog and its rescuers were being swept in towards the bay and as they passed under the bridge a rescue boat, which was also struggling, arrived.
Once the dog and rescuers were aboard the boat, it moved to calmer waters behind the South Pier Inn. The dog was treated at the scene for exposure and reunited with his owners. He had stopped shivering, was able to walk on his own and was waging his tail as he jumped into his owners car.
The fire department said people often ask why they put themselves at such risk for animals, and in this case, it’s because the owner had threatened to dispatchers she would jump into the water herself. Bystanders told firefighters they had to convince the owner not to get into the water.
The Duluth Fire Department understands how important pets are to their families, the department said. We have learned in the fire service that if we do not respond to help in these situations that bystanders and owners likely will take action on their own. Without the proper training and equipment this most often results in the firefighters now responding to a call for a person in harms way.
Along with being an unnecessary risk, it will also greatly limit the options we have to try to save your pet as all efforts will now be directed at saving you, the department said. Given the wave and temperature conditions in the canal last night, anyone entering the water without the proper training and equipment would most likely have ended in tragedy.
TMX contributed to this article.
