Firefighters Brave Thin Ice to Rescue Dog from Frozen Pond

A New Year’s Day Emergency on Thin Ice

What began as a quiet New Year’s Day morning walk in Rhode Island quickly turned into a life-or-death emergency when a golden retriever named Phoenix wandered onto a frozen pond and fell through the ice. The dramatic rescue unfolded just before 9 a.m. at Little Masachaug Pond in Westerly, leaving the dog trapped in frigid water while his owner watched helplessly from shore.

Firefighters Race the Clock

First responders from the Misquamicut Fire Department were among the first on scene, joined by the Westerly Ambulance Corps and Westerly Police Department. Volunteers arrived within minutes and quickly located Phoenix struggling near the center of the pond, unable to move as the thin ice cracked around him.

Recognizing the danger, firefighters donned specialized ice rescue suits and carefully crawled across the unstable surface, tethered with safety ropes as chunks of ice broke beneath their weight.

Teamwork on a Frozen Pond

Additional assistance was requested from the Watch Hill Fire Department, which brought specialized ice rescue equipment to the scene. While some responders crawled across the ice toward Phoenix, others staged equipment along the shoreline, including an inflatable rescue boat, ready to assist if conditions worsened.

The coordinated effort paid off. Firefighters reached Phoenix and executed a swift, controlled rescue, pulling the dog from the icy water and safely returning both the animal and responders to shore.

A Safe Ending — and a Warning

Phoenix and all firefighters involved were reported to be doing well at the scene. Emergency medical personnel evaluated responders for potential hypothermia, but no treatment was required.

The rescue quickly drew praise across social media, with commenters applauding the courage and compassion shown by first responders. Fire officials also used the moment to issue a critical reminder: frozen ponds are never safe. Even trained professionals face significant risk during ice rescues.

Marking the department’s first call of 2026, the incident stood as a powerful example of teamwork, preparedness, and quick action — and a New Year’s reminder of the quiet heroism displayed by local first responders.