By Paul Garrod
Staff Writer
news4garrod@gmail.com
PAW PAW – Two dogs that ventured out on Ackley Lake, Paw Paw, on New Year’s Day and fell through the ice, were both successfully rescued by the Paw Paw Fire Department.
Paw Paw Fire Chief Kyle Richardson said the department received the call at 10:55 a.m. that two dogs, a Lab and a Rottweiler, had fallen through the ice on the east side of Ackley Lake. The fire department arrived on the scene at 11 a.m. and confirmed that two dogs had fallen through the ice and were struggling about 50 feet offshore.
Richardson said the department’s ice rescue equipment and techniques were quickly put into use. The two large dogs were successfully rescued and brought to shore at 11:07 a.m.
Richardson said the ice was very thin and unsafe. Neighbors nearby were trying to rescue the dogs but were unsuccessful. “It would have been a lot worse situation if they had fallen through the ice,” said Richardson. It was Richardson himself who brought the two dogs safely back to shore. “The ice was breaking as I crawled out to the dogs. I was wearing an ice rescue suit which floats and is insulated. I had a safety line attached to me,” said Richardson.
Richardson said of the incident, “It is a rescue that we don’t have very often but we train for ice rescues every winter but rarely get to use our skills or equipment and training becomes very critical/important.”
The Paw Paw Fire Department was assisted by the Paw Paw Police Department, Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office Central Dispatch, and Van Buren Emergency Medical Services (VBEMS).
