The Chicago Tribune wrote another story of rescue about a dog stuck on Lake Michigan near Forest Avenue Beach two days ago. The rescue took place mid-afternoon. The fire crew was called out to Simonds Drive near Foster Avenue; north end of Lincoln Park.
The dog in this instance had actually fallen through the ice. He was able to be brought out of the water almost instantly by the Chicago Fire Department. At least the dog was able to be rescued.
Fifteen days before that another dog was rescued from the ice on Lake Michigan at Jackson Harbor. Thankfully that dog had not gone through the ice.
The question is why either dog was out running loose in the City so close to the Lake that they were in serious danger. Where were the dog owners?
When the owner finally claimed the dog the day after it was rescued from the Lake after a two-hour attempt, he assured Chicago Animal Care and Control that the dog would not get loose again. Again? That brings up yet another question for dog lovers, “Why was the dog outside in such dreadful weather?” as well as “How many times did this poor dog feel as though it had to escape its circumstances?”
The black Belgian Shepherd mix was, after all, only about a year old. Did this owner even care? According to ABC Chicago, the dog did not have a microchip and was not even wearing a collar. (As far as the case this week, it was unclear how or why that dog had fallen through the ice or what its circumstances were.)
Unfortunately this is not the first or only year that canines are allowed to run free and are in danger of freezing to death or drowning if getting trapped on or in Lake Michigan. Don’t these individuals pay any attention to the fact that allowing a dog to be out in freezing temperatures is bad enough or that dogs roaming around free are in great danger? Evidently these dog owners are either uncaring or neglectful – or both.
Almost two years ago, two abandoned dogs fell through Lake Michigan around Howard Street Beach on one of the coldest days of 2011. Thankfully a couple of nearby residents cared enough and saved them. Those individuals sacrificed their own lives to save the lives of those dogs – even when their owner did not care enough to do so. NBC News covered this story.
If only all people wanted to take care of the pets that so many of us know and love, then dogs would not end up in precarious positions where their lives are at stake. If only we could fix it so that dogs did not find themselves stuck on Lake Michigan and in danger of freezing or drowning. Until we can guarantee all dogs’ safety, we all must work together to save those canines in danger and thank the individuals that offer their services with potential risk to their own health to save the dogs!
Comments