Fire departments team up to save dog

MINERAL RIDGE — Weathersfield Township Fire Department got help from the Niles Fire Department, which had a rescue boat, to save the life of a dog named Emily who fell through the ice on a pond on her owners’ property.

The German shepherd mix was paddling in the water for 50 minutes in the pond owned by Ed and Diane Kleese, 1662 Stillwagon Road, on Dec. 12 before she was rescued.

The Kleeses sent Chief Randy Pugh a thank you with a photo of the dog on front of the card, and said she is doing well and again enjoying playing with a labrador the couple also has.

Pugh told township trustees Tuesday the local department does not have a rescue boat, only a wooden boat. While he obviously couldn’t send a firefighter out on the ice to get the dog, Pugh was relieved that Niles offered and responded with the rescue boat to retrieve the dog.

He told trustees since the township has gone to having Niles dispatch its 911 calls, Niles has been giving more aid to the department when needed and has offered to allow the township fire department to use its ladder truck if it is needed.