The Detroit Fire Department said that the four-hour rescue mission “took patience, planning and teamwork”
Detroit Fire Department/Facebook
NEED TO KNOW
- A 2-year-old Siberian Husky was rescued after becoming trapped in the “icy conditions” of the Detroit River on Feb. 23
- After fishermen spotted the white dog under a tunnel near the Gordie Howe Bridge, the Detroit Fire Department and Michigan Humane launched a four-hour rescue mission
- “Our new friend is receiving care at the Mackey Center for Animal Care,” the fire department shared after the animal was brought to safety
A freezing dog was rescued after becoming trapped in "icy conditions" on the Detroit River.
On Monday, Feb. 23, the Michigan Humane Society was alerted to a 2-year-old Siberian Husky in need of rescue, who was trapped near a tunnel along the Detroit River.
With the help of the Detroit Fire Department, rescuers from the organization "jumped into action, gearing up in wetsuits and braving the icy water to bring the dog to safety," according to Michigan Humane.
"Firefighters climbed down into icy conditions and carefully lifted him to safety," the fire department wrote on Facebook alongside a video that shows the soaked white dog being lifted from the water with the help of a catch pole. "Our new friend is receiving care at the Mackey Center for Animal Care."
"We're proud to have worked with Michigan Humane, Detroit Animal Care and Control, the Detroit Police Department's Harbor Master, and The Karens to make this rescue possible," the fire department continued. "Today's rescue took patience, planning, and teamwork."
Detroit Fire Department/Facebook
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In additional footage from the rescue shared by The Karens, a nonprofit group that helps Detroit pet owners by providing supplies to those in need, the terrified dog retreats further back into a tunnel as rescuers attempt to lower a metal ladder into the water.
In the clip, a rescuer enters the reservoir and slowly approaches the animal, carefully tries to place a muzzle on its snout. After determining that the muzzle wouldn't stay on, the team decides to use a catch pole to keep the terrified pup at a safe distance while lifting the dog to safety onto the ledge above.
Detroit Fire Department/Facebook
A spokesperson for Michigan Humane told Fox 2 Detroit that fishermen first spotted the dog under a tunnel near the Gordie Howe Bridge over the weekend. And once rescuers arrived at the scene, they found it increasingly difficult to hoist the trembling animal out of the water during the four-hour rescue mission due to the ice chunks surrounding the area.
The husky, who allegedly did not have a microchip at the time of his rescue, will be held on stray hold for seven days before being put up for adoption, per the outlet. The dog was suffering from hypothermia when it was pulled from the water.
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