January 17, 2008

MENASHA, Wis. - Angie Bray says local firefighters went above and beyond by saving her dog Buddy from a nearly frozen lake last weekend.

“That's not their job,” she said. “They are there to rescue people. The kindness that was demonstrated was amazing to me.”

Last Saturday, Bray called the authorities after realizing her poodle-mix fell into Little Lake Butte des Morts. She says the dog was probably barking at the ducks when he broke through the thin ice about 300 feet from shore.

Bray attempted to head onto the ice herself, but broke through on her first step.

Neenah-Menasha Fire Rescue arrived just 15 minutes later with self-inflating wetsuits. In no time, Firefighter Jason Phillips was in the water headed toward Buddy.

“On my way out, (Buddy) went under the water, and it took a second to come back up. (He) was really struggling. If we would have waited an extra minute, I don't know if it would have made it.”

Buddy was rushed by her owner to the Fox Valley Animal Referral Center in Grand Chute, where he was treated intravenously with warm fluids. He was released later that afternoon and is said to be in good condition.

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