INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — Days after her dog was rescued from icy water, a pet owner was able to thank the team of police officers who responded on Friday.
Paige Likely said the ordeal began after her 2-year-old dog, Lola, disappeared Tuesday.
“The door didn’t shut all the way and the dog got out,” Likely said. “I got a phone call about two hours later and said that she was stuck in a pond under the ice.”
After Lola was found a mile from her home, a team of four Independence police officers rushed to help.
Facing thick ice and cold temperatures, the policemen shed their law-enforcement gear and jumped into the freezing water.
“It was very cold,” Officer Cody Burch said. “When it’s the heat of the moment, though, you don’t really notice it so much.”
The four officers worked together, two of them using rope to help bring the dog in in an effort to save Lola’s life.
With the four men also being dog owners, they knew what was at stake.
“Having two dogs, if that was my dog and someone happened to see my dog struggling, I would want them to do the same thing,” Officer Leland La’ulu said.
Officer Craig Jarnagin added, “After we saw the look on Lola’s face, there couldn’t be any hesitation. She was very frightened.”
Lola has since made a full recovery.
Likely and Lola visited the Independence Police Department on Friday to thank the officers.
“The officers did an amazing job,” Likely said. “So many things could have happened.”
Burch said he was glad to help “man’s best friend.”
“We were finally able to give back to a creature that’s so sweet and innocent,” he said. “I guarantee you this dog would jump in the water to save a person.”
