Dogs saved after falling through thin ice

Mary Sue Thompson of Whiting is very grateful to have her dogs Baxter, Chance and Morgan with her this holiday season. Thompson, owner of The Village Restaurant in Lubec, was home on the afternoon of December 8 when her golden retriever Morgan showed up on the doorstep soaking wet. The dog was pawing at the door and appearing restless. Thompson knew this behavior was unusual. She could also hear Baxter barking in the distance. Thinking perhaps the dog's collar was hung up on a branch, Thompson headed outside to find Baxter.

Realizing that Baxter could be in trouble, Thompson hiked over the hill near her home only to see that Baxter was struggling for his life after falling through the ice on Rocky Lake in Whiting. Thompson had put Morgan in the house to dry off and warm up, but Chance followed her to the lake. Soon Chance was out on the ice and Thompson became distraught. While calling 911 for assistance, Thompson's mind was racing to create a rescue plan for her beloved dogs. For 11 years Thompson has raised golden retrievers and owns six goldens currently.

Help on the way

Thompson credits Cindy Rossi, a dispatcher at the Washington County Regional Communications Center, for her "awesome" capabilities during the emergency. Thompson began dragging her kayak out in order to rescue the dogs, when Rossi advised "do not go into that water." The ice had just started forming in the cove on Rocky Lake. Typically Thompson is mindful of ice and keeps the dogs in or on a leash when the temperature drops. The ice caught her off guard after the early December mild temperatures.

Thompson surmised that Baxter had been in the water for over an hour at this point. His head was bobbing up and down, and he was unable to lift his cold legs onto the ice.

Rossi had relayed the emergency call over the paging system and soon told Thompson that someone was in the area to help but couldn't find her. Thompson started hollering, and Walter Plaut of Trescott was soon on the scene. Thompson is acquainted with Plaut and expresses great relief and gratitude for his assistance. "Walter [Plaut] is the reason that Baxter is alive," says Thompson.

It wasn't long before Greg Smith, chief of the Whiting Fire Department, Steven Pressley and his son Stevie, both Whiting Fire Department volunteers, and Maine Game Warden David Dent arrived to help. A survival suit was brought out, which Plaut donned in order to swim out and rescue Baxter. The survival suit had been purchased a few years ago after three snowmobile riders tumbled into the icy water and lost their lives.

Icy rescue

Rossi checked in again over the telephone as she kept the phone line open to Thompson. She asked, "Can he swim?" as Plaut was getting ready to plunge into the lake. Plaut assured Rossi and Thompson that indeed he could swim and broke through the ice to swim out to both Chance and then Baxter, who was "quite a ways off shore," says Thompson.

Plaut was able to get Chance up onto the ice. Chance was a little disoriented from the cold, but hadn't been in the water for as long as Baxter. Plaut then went to Baxter and was able to stand to lift the 90-pound Baxter up onto the ice, where he was hauled in by Stevie Pressley. Dent had warmed his vehicle in anticipation of the rescue and trip to Dr. Cynthia Teer in Machias. Dent raced the dog to the veterinarian. Thompson bundled up Chance into her vehicle. Both Chance and Baxter spent the night at Dr. Teer's clinic. Baxter received intravenous fluids and has "a little frostbite" on his feet, according to Thompson.

"If it wasn't for Walter, Baxter wouldn't have made it," says Thompson. Emphasizing her gratitude to the folks who helped with the rescue, Thompson is happy that all involved were so compelled to help her and the dogs under such uncomfortable and potentially dangerous conditions. Plaut, who is 62, said he felt good about the rescue as well. However, he did note that it would be nice to have more younger volunteers involved in the fire department.