On Sunday, January 12, 2025 at 4:44 PM, the Wellesley Police Department Emergency Communication Center received a 9-1-1 call reporting a dog had fallen through the ice on Lake Waban in Wellesley, Massachusetts. As the Wellesley Fire Department responded to the scene with the Wellesley Police and Wellesley College Police Departments, a second call was received. The caller reported that the dog owner had gone out to rescue the dog and also fallen through the ice. The owner was unable to get out of the water.
Wellesley Firefighters arrived on scene near the Wellesley College Boathouse. The firefighters went out on the ice using cold water survival suits, and rescued the owner, who was in the freezing cold water for approximately 12-15 minutes. The ice was very thin in several areas as the firefighters guided the person to shore. Once on shore, the victim was treated by Coastal EMS paramedics. He was subsequently transported to Newton Wellesley Hospital.
As soon as the victim was removed from the ice, Wellesley firefighters went back out to rescue the dog, named "Tommy". Tommy was out much further than the victim, and the ice was extremely thin. Wellesley firefighters reached Tommy after having to swim and navigate through broken ice. Tommy was rescued and carried back to shore. Once on shore, Tommy was transported by Wellesley Police Officer Allison Lucenta to a local 24 hour vet clinic. Tommy was treated for hypothermia and is expected to be okay.
Wellesley Police Officers on scene flew UAV/drones in order to support the Wellesley Fire rescue operation. Some of the video the pilots captured during the rescue has been put together below.
Wellesley Animal Control Officer Jenny Smith would like to remind the public about ice, dogs, and bodies of water:
- It is safer to keep dogs on leash when walking near bodies of water during the winter months, even if it is an area that permits dogs to be walked under voice control. The bodies of water may appear to be frozen solid, but often times it is merely a thin layer of ice.
- Dog owners may consider utilizing a retractable style leash that would allow their dog more freedom to explore their surroundings than a traditional style leash but allows the owner the ability to shorten the length at any time if their dog is getting too close to the water’s edge.
- Dogs seem to be attracted to the birds that are often standing on the surface of the ice and when they go to chase the birds they can fall through the ice.
- If a dog does happen to fall through the ice the safest approach to rescuing the dog is to call 911 immediately and monitor the dog’s location from the edge of the water.