Dog drowned in frozen river

[kirstyl]

I've just heard an horrific story from my parents regarding their neighbour's staffie. The owners were very careful with him around other dogs as he was very exuberant so always kept him on the lead when other dogs were around. He was also terrified of the water, having fallen in as a pup. A few days ago she was walking the dog on the riverbank off the lead when her dog saw a duck in the reeds, chased after it, duck went onto ice, dog followed and fell into small pond of water within the ice. The dog repeatedly tried to get out but was unable to. The lady called the fire brigade who came with a dinghy and managed to pull him out but he had already died. Now I know we could all say, dog should never have been off the lead etc but poor poor lady to have to live with the vision of her dog swimming round and round and not being able to get out.
My dog loves water and is in the river at any opportunity so she is never off the lead anywhere near water at the moment. Yet, yesterday at the park next to the river the majority of dogs were running loose - the river is frozen right across with a covering of snow so does look like a solid surface.
Don't take the risk anyone, it's just not worth it xx

 

[NicoleS_007]

Thats awful
I live beside a public park which has a huge lake in it. A mans dog ran out on it a couple of weeks ago and the dog fell in. He went in after it and then had to be rescued himself by the park ranger people. Luckly no one or the dog was hurt. Then this happened about a week after;
http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/man_dies_after_falling_through_ice_1_2853167

 

[Puppy]

I was so worried about something like this when mine went missing today I even found paw prints on the ice in the ditches at one point, and was frantic that it may have broken under them somewhere else...

Years ago my aunts westie did something similar and went through the ice into the pond on my Grannie's land. My cousins, who must have been about 10 & 12 at the time went in to rescue her and then ran 4 fields home with her - they saved her life, but must have risked their own in the process.

 

[Nickijem]

Be especially aware when everywhere starts to thaw. The lakes and ponds might be slow to thaw but the ice will be thinner and unable to support a dog's weight.

 

[The Twilight Zone]

One of my greyhounds went into a river when chasing a rabbit one time - it was dusk, and I had the scenario of a black dog in a river overhung by trees....

There was no way in the world I could have stood and watched her be swept away, so I went down the bank and grabbed her collar and hauled her out of the water. I spent the rest of the evening in shock, she was as right as rain and wasnt bothered at all