By Elizabeth Doran
Syracuse Media Group
SHERRILL, N.Y. — The rescue took Sherrill-Kenwood volunteer firefighters four hours in a cold, fast-moving creek, but they were able to successfully rescue a family’s dog trapped on a small island in the middle of Oneida Creek earlier this week.
The dog, named Colby, had somehow stepped on thin ice, and swam to the small island where he then became trapped late Sunday morning, said Robert Healy, Sherrill-Kenwood’s first assistant fire chief.
The dog was barking while pacing the small island, afraid to enter the fast-moving and very cold water, said Healy, who was on scene at the time. The creek had become very fast-moving and swollen due to snow melting, he said.
Two firefighters dressed in cold-water rescue suits waded in chest-deep water to get to the island, aided by a diver from the Sylvan Beach fire department, Healy said. An additional rescue location was established at a bend in the stream approximately 500 yards downstream, in case the dog or rescuers were swept further downstream.
During the rescue, large chunks of ice began breaking up and flowing over the waterfall toward the rescuers, Healy said.
Once they got on the island, the dog barked at them and became aggressive when they tried to place a leash, collar or harness on him, Healy said.
Finally, the three firefighters - Jeff Kobler of Sylvan Beach; and Stephen Davis and Wyatt Hasty of Sherrill-Kenwood- got control of the dog and pulled him to safety on the creek bank, where the dog’s family was waiting.
There were no injuries to the dog or the rescuers, Healy said.
The family declined to comment for the article. Healy said he didn’t know the age or breed of the dog.