'I was scared from the start:' Firefighters rescue stranded pup from pond after ice breaks

A local dog was left shivering but safe Wednesday afternoon after becoming stranded on a block of ice in Carousel Park's pond, requiring a multi-agency rescue.

Larry Gladnick had brought his pup, Bowie, to Carousel Bark Park shortly after noon to play in the field. Temperatures on Wednesday reached the mid-50s.

When Gladnick let Bowie loose — dogs are allowed to be unleashed in the park — he ran onto the ice in the pond and fell through. Gladnick tried to grab Bowie, he said, but the pup emerged from the water and ran further on the ice.

At first, Bowie thought it was fun, and began playing on the ice.

"Then he got scared," Gladnick said. "I was scared from the start."

Gladnick tried to get Bowie to come back to land, but he wouldn't. Knowing the ice was too thin to hold him up, Gladnick called first responders.

Quickly, New Castle County Police arrived on scene. Then, one fire company, and another, and a third showed up.

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Police said Mill Creek Fire Company personnel ultimately donned water rescue gear and brought the dog to shore in a rescue raft. Though the dog was cold and wet, he's expected to be OK, Gladnick said.

"I didn't text my wife until they were here rescuing him," Gladnick said. "It was a big turnout."

Gladnick said while he's happy his pup is safe, it may be time for additional obedience training.

"We've gotta work on that," he said, laughing. "He's been working on it, but he has selective hearing still."

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