By Charles E. Ramirez
cramirez@detroitnews.com
A dog named Stella is thawing out after Grosse Ile police pulled her from the Detroit River on Monday.
The 6-month-old Australian Shepherd ran away after her owners let her out in their Grosse Ile Township backyard, officials said in a statement Tuesday.
Police received a call at about 3:08 p.m. reporting a dog seen running first on Bellevue Road, crossing East River Road, and onto the ice on top of the Detroit River, according to authorities.
Officers arrived and saw the dog standing on the ice about 350 yards offshore.
Police said they tried several ways to coax the dog back to shore, including using the department’s aerial drone.
Officers requested the township’s fire department for a water/ice rescue at 4 p.m.
Firefighters initially attempted to walk on the ice to fetch the dog, but they determined the strategy was too dangerous, officials said. They then used the department’s airboat to reach Stella.
However, a low battery forced police to bring the drone back to shore, and the canine kept running away from the airboat, authorities said.
As the airboat was returning to shore, firefighters saw the dog had ended up in the river and immediately rescued her. First responders had been on site for about four hours, according to officials.
“The family is very grateful for all the effort put into rescuing Stella and for returning her safely to her family,” authorities said.
Township officials joked about the incident on Tuesday in a Facebook post.
“‘Dog said ‘what’s the worst that could happen? Four hours later… ��❄️��Heroes showed up. Dog is okay. Lessons were not learned.’”
