Published: 1/28/2020 5:08:56 PM
DEERFIELD — Maybe dogs have nine lives, too.
A black Labrador Retriever named Buddy was reunited with his owners Sunday morning after being rescued in the icy Connecticut River by members of the Deerfield and Turners Falls fire departments and the Deerfield Police Department.
Turners Falls Fire Chief John Zellmann said the Shelburne Control dispatch center called his station at 10:12 a.m. to report it had been notified by Deerfield Fire that a dog had fallen through ice near McClelland Farm Road.
He said his crew responded to the scene with a truck equipped with rescue gear. His firefighters donned cold-weather rescue suits and Capt. Kyle Cogswell extracted Buddy from the water, with the assistance of crew members ashore. Zellmann said the hole in the ice was approximately 20 to 25 feet from shore.
Towels and blankets were used to dry off Buddy, who then warmed up in the comfort of a Deerfield Police cruiser. Zellmann commended all rescuers involved.
“We consider a dog a key member of the family,” the chief said. “Our pets are family members.”
Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 262.