HOWELL – A dog that fell through thin ice while chasing geese was saved by firefighters on a recent afternoon.
On Dec. 28 at 1:37 p.m., the Howell Police Department Communications Center received a 911 call from a woman who reported that her dog had fallen through the ice at a lake in the Villages adult community off Wyckoff Mills Road.
Police said Duke, a 9-year-old Golden Retriever, ran after geese that were on the ice. Duke fell through the ice and became trapped when he was surrounded by the remaining ice.
Firefighters from the Adelphia Fire Company, Route 524, responded to the scene. The firefighters placed a 14-foot-tall ladder flat along the ice with firefighter William Kruse on one end and firefighter Brian Prochnow on the other end acting as an anchor.
As Kruse reached Duke the ice broke and the firefighter fell through the ice. While Kruse was falling into the water he was able to grab the dog. Kruse, who was waist deep in water, brought Duke to safety. Kruse was treated at the scene by personnel from the Howell First Aid Squad.
Duke was carried into his house and his owner took him to a veterinarian as a precaution, according to police.
Also responding to the scene were Howell Police Capt. Mark Pilecki, Officer Stephanie Regina and Victor Cook of the Office of Emergency Management.