GROSSE ILE (WWJ) – It took over an hour for first responders to rescue a puppy on the iced-over Detroit River.
On Monday, January 19, at 3:00 p.m., a Grosse Ile resident called police about a dog running around on Bellevue Rd., before it crossed East River Rd., and onto the iced-over water of the Detroit River.
Police units arrived and could see the dog standing on the ice around 350 yards offshore.
Rescuers tried to coax the dog back onto land, even using an aerial drone, but the dog didn’t come back.
An hour later, around 4:00 p.m., the Grosse Ile Fire Department was called for a water/ice rescue.
Fire Chief Robert Roscoe arrived and formulated an initial rescue by walking onto the ice, but the ice was too thin and too dangerous in some areas, so they came back to land.
A second attempt was made using the Fire Department's Air Boat, which successfully reached the dog. Between the drone and the airboat, the dog was located, but kept running away from the help.
The airboat was heading back toward land, when the dog fell into the water, and was immediately rescued.
According to family members, the six-month-old Australian Shepherd named Stella was let out in the backyard, and she ran away. She is now safely back with her family.