Photo By THE LYNNFIELD FIRE DEPARTMENT
The Lynnfield Fire Department rescuing a dog that fell into Pillings Pond in Lynnfield on Monday morning.
By GAYLA CAWLEY
LYNNFIELD — A dog took an unfortunate tumble into Pillings Pond and was stuck in the icy water for about two hours before being rescued by the Lynnfield Fire Department on Monday morning, Lynnfield Fire Chief Mark Tetreault said.
Tetreault said the call came in at approximately 11:36 a.m. Monday, with about 10 firefighters dispatched to Pillings Pond, in the area of Maywood Road, for a dog that fell through the ice. He said the medium-sized dog was about 100 yards out into the pond.
“Upon arrival, firefighters determined that the dog had been in the water for approximately two hours,” Tetreault said. “Bystanders were trying to utilize a boat to reach the dog.”
Tetreault said Firefighter Andrew Lyons put on cold water rescue gear and walked out on the pond.
“Firefighter Lyons then entered the water, breaking the ice in front of him until he reached the dog,” Tetreault said.
Tetreault said once Lyons had reached the dog, firefighters on shore pulled both the dog and Lyons back to safety. He said the dog had been scratching at the ice and barking prior to its rescue and couldn’t get its body out of the water.
“The dog was very happy to see him,” Tetreault said of Lyons.
Tetreault said a large number of firefighters were sent because it was “a situation that could go bad pretty quickly.” He said the dog was fine, but he recommended that the owners take the dog to the veterinarian because it was in the water for a long period of time.
“The Lynnfield Fire Department would like to caution everyone that with warm weather, the ice is very thin,” Tetreault said. “Attempting a rescue of an animal, without the proper equipment, should never be attempted.”
Gayla Cawley can be reached at [email protected].