Please keep your dogs safe in the winter. Keep them on a leash when you are around water.

A few years ago, my dog Pumpkin got away from me chasing some ducks that were standing on the ice at Burrell Lake Park. She ran out onto the ice and slid right into the freezing water. She was crying like I never heard her cry before, and there was nothing I could do. I called 911 and the operator asked if her head was still above the water. I thought I was just going to watch her drown right in front of me. Luckily, I think because she has long legs and is pretty skinny, after about 10 minutes of struggling she managed to get out by herself.

At the park a couple weeks ago, I told my story to a man who had two dogs. He let his dog off her leash, then had to go in waist-high water to rescue her. Eventually, she bit a stick he held and he somehow dragged her out.

Both of these incidents could have been fatal. Please don’t let this happen to your fur babies.

Amy Louise Geertz Kriss

Lower Burrell

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