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Rhode Island Firefighters Pull Labrador From Icy Pond on New Year’s Day

Fire officials used the rescue video to warn residents that pond ice is dangerous.

Overview

  • Phoenix, a yellow Labrador, fell through thin ice on Little Masachaug Pond in Westerly just before 9 a.m. on Jan. 1.
  • Volunteer crews from Misquamicut and Watch Hill arrived within minutes, donned ice-rescue suits, and reached the dog using specialized gear including an inflatable boat.
  • Video released by the Misquamicut Fire Department shows firefighters lifting Phoenix from the water and carrying him back to shore.
  • Phoenix was declared uninjured, and firefighters were evaluated for possible hypothermia but did not require treatment.
  • Temperatures were about 26°F at the time, according to the National Weather Service, and officials reiterated that no ice is ever safe.