Last spring, I wanted to check out a section of a Waterfowl Production Area that you can only access when the water is frozen. Nila, Sage and I walked back there and there was a small open spot where the water was shallow (the pre 1997 shoreline) and Sage ran over, fell in, but pushed off the lake bottom and climbed out. I figured it was maybe 18" deep or so, but still made a point to give it a wide berth. We made it across and scoped out what I wanted to see (a few pheasants, but they wouldn't be back there with any type of snow) and headed back.
This time, it was Nila who decided to check it out. She goes in and is not able to get back out. After 20 seconds or so of struggling mightily, she starts this awful crying noise and I figured I'd better go get my boots wet and help her out. As I get close to the open water, I can see the bottom of the lake and am guessing it to be about 24" deep when the ice gives way and I'm in over my belly button. I bob over to where Nila is at and lift her out, start trying to climb out, but the ice is soft and breaks. After not too long, I was in knee deep water and the ice held me enough to where I could climb out. I still have no idea how Sage was able to get out so easily when she went in earlier. Magic, I suppose.
Fortunately, it was sunny and in the upper 30's that day. The mile plus walk back to the truck was uncomfortable, but not debilitating. Still, I learned a valuable lesson that day. And it's one I saw discussed on Facebook when the MN hunter died trying to rescue his dog. Some folks will argue until they're blue in the face that it's "just a dog" and a human life is more important. While logically, we all recognize that to be true, I doubt there are many on this forum that would stand on the shore and listen and watch our best friends struggle for the last few moments of their life without doing something. I'd die for my dog, and I know how dumb that sounds, but I can't help how I feel. But knowing that helps me to be extra vigilant to keep the pups on solid ground or hardwater, as the case may be.
