AR-News: (NH - US) Ten volunteer firefighters rescue dog stuck on the ice

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Dog’s best friend comes to the rescue on pond By Emily Aronson

    
NEW CASTLE - Ten volunteer firefighters waded in below-freezing water 
temperatures to rescue a dog stuck on the ice Thursday night. Samantha, the black and 
white springer spaniel owned by Craig and Margie Heindel of Wild Rose Lane, 
fell through the ice in a pond behind the home. "I think, because the pond is 
frozen over and there’s snow on it, she probably didn’t realize she was going 
over onto the ice," said Marni Hobin, who was baby-sitting for the Heindels 
Friday night. Stuart Hume, who was on scene during the rescue, said the 
department received a call around 8 p.m. that a dog was trapped 50 feet from shore 
near the mouth of Portsmouth Harbor. Hume did not know how long Samantha had been 
howling for help before firefighters arrived, but said it took the crew about 
20 minutes to rescue the animal. "We had a lot of pathos because they were 
afraid the dog would drown before they could get to it," Hume said. Hume said 
two swimmers in cold water immersion gear walked out to Samantha as she clung to 
the edge of a hole in the ice she had fallen through. "With several 
department members backing him up, holding safety lines and illuminating the scene with 
hand lights, Lt. Mark Wooley ... crashed through the ice to reach the little 
dog," Hume said in a statement Friday. Wooley then carried the shivering dog 
near the shore, where Deputy Chief Carl Roediger helped Samantha get on land 
and into a warm blanket. According to Hume, firefighter Peter Rice carried 
Samantha in his arms back to the Heindel home. Hobin reported Samantha was doing 
well the day after her scare and was surprised the dog wandered off since she is 
a "very well behaved dog." | <A HREF="http://www.seacoastonline.com/subscribe.htm">Portsmouth Herald </A>
    

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