There’s been another successful dog rescue as Centralia Fire Chief John Lynch was able to get to a dog that had fallen through the ice of a pond at a neighbor’s home on Route 161 east of Centralia Wednesday night.
Lynch said he took a small boat he owns to the pond on the Stacy and Jeff Fischer property. After being unable to break through the ice, he scooted the boat across the ice for 30 to 40 yards before he got to the open water the 100 pound lab had fallen into. Lynch says the owners first learned of the dog’s panic as they heard it wailing. By the time he got to the dog it was worn out, but was able to hold its head on the ice while it’s body remained in the water.
Lynch said he was able to reach into the water and pull the dog into the boat.
Centralia City Councilman Jeff Castellari, who had initially called Lynch to inform him of the dog’s plight, and Centralia Fire Protection District Assistant Chief Dusty Garren were able to throw Lynch a rope which was then used to pull the boat back across the ice to shore.
The dog warmed up and survived the ordeal. This the fourth time this winter that firemen have been called upon to rescue dogs that have fallen through the ice. Lynch isn’t sure why there have been so many cases this year.
Meanwhile, this is the second time in the past two weeks that Lynch has rescued a dog. After learning Police Chief Greg Dodson’s dog was still inside his home after it caught fire, Lynch immediately made his way through the smoke of the home to locate the dog in the kitchen and lead it outside. Firemen had also attempted to locate Dodson’s cat, but it had safely made it to the basement level and was found unharmed after the fire.
