Canine catastrophe averted near Big Lake

BIG LAKE — Around 7 a.m. on Friday morning, Jim Dault was barely rubbing the sleep from his eyes when he looked out his window facing Blodgett Lake to assess the weather.

“I looked on lake and saw a couple of dogs running to the east side of the lake and I knew that didn’t look like a good scenario,” Dault said.

It was a scenario Dault was all too familiar with.

Spring conditions on the lake means the ice is melting — fast — and the illusion of a sturdy surface had tricked many animals in the area.

Two years ago, Dault, an avid kayaker, attempted to rescue a yearling cow moose that had fallen through the thin ice on Blodgett Lake. That time, he had been unsuccessful.

Knowing the stray yellow and black canines were heading for trouble on their playful morning romp, Dault prepared for the worst.

“I started getting dressed and decided to grab my kayak to get down there,” he said. From his experience with animal rescue, Dault said a kayak is the better choice over his paddle boat or canoe because it tips less on breakup surfaces.

Quickly zipping up his float coat, Dault grabbed a rope, ax, paddle and kayak. As he headed for the door, he heard his phone. It was his neighbor, Annie Benedict. One of the dogs had fallen through the ice.

“I could hear them howling at the end of the lake,” he said. “The yellow dog was still running around confused and I thought, ‘Well, he was the smart one.’”

By the time Dault got his kayak onto the west side of the water, other neighbors were coming out of their homes to respond to the scene. In the past, community members had pulled together in similar rescue efforts. This time was no different.

Michael Seine, Dault’s adjacent neighbor, also made his way toward the yelping black dog splashing frantically in the water.

Dault said that as he was getting into the water, the yellow dog, confused by his friend’s cry, had also went through the ice 75 feet away.

Dault decided to head for the black dog first since he had been in the water longer. He launched his kayak, threw everything in and starting chopping through the thinner ice with his ax, carving a trail to the drowning canine.

“It was a lot of work chopping,” he said. “The dog was panicking and howling, this real low, mournful howl. It was kind-of scary, actually.”

Dault said he was able to pull himself close to the dog by using his ax on the ice. He eventually made it to the weak pooch in time, which had barely been able to keep his nose above water.

“The dog was really getting exhausted and cold,” he said. “He was shivering, blowing bubbles and his head was going under. I finally got close enough to him to get ahold of his collar.”

The exhausted canine laid its nose up against Dault’s kayak, sensing safety. He hoisted the motionless dog onto his lap and headed toward the shore.

Annie Benedict was waiting for the dog on her dock, ready with a warm blanket. She called the Mat-Su Borough Animal Care and Regulation Shelter and Big Lake Fire Department.

At the scene first, Big Lake Fire Department assessed the situation and decided the safety of the people came first, not the dogs, and insisted neighbors stay off the ice.

“Big Lake Fire Department doesn’t go after animals,” Dault said. “I can understand why, with the way the world is today, but I was concerned with Theresa. She had no life jacket, was in her night gown and just recently underwent back surgery, so it would have been good to see them assist her.”

Fatigued, but determined to go back in for the other dog, Dault headed to the other side of the lake where the yellow dog was still clambering to get out.

Neighbor Teresa Steeby had also moved toward the rescue scene, Dault said, wearing a night gown, no life jacket and toting her canoe with her.

“That wasn’t looking good,” he said. “It’s not a good idea to go out in these situations in a canoe, because they tip easily. But she did manage to get the other dog into her canoe — amazing, since this woman just had back surgery.”

Dault said once on land, the yellow dog, not so sure it was in safe hands, tried to bolt.

“That dog wanted to get away, but he couldn’t walk,” he said.

Around 8 a.m., Mat-Su Borough Animal Care had arrived to pick up both dogs. Shook up, but relatively unharmed, the two were transported to Palmer, where shelter staff began trying to locate the dogs’ owners.

“There is some sense of accomplishment with these dogs,” Dault said. “I wish people would keep their dogs contained at this time of year.”

Michael Seine’s wife, Kristen, agrees, saying people in the area should be more careful with where their pets play.

“There’s a huge problem with dogs running loose around our property every day,” Seine said. “It concerns me with my kids outside playing. Come on people, keep your dogs on your property.”

Contact J.J. Harrier at valleylife@frontiersman.com, or 352-2269.