A man of Indian descent in New Jersey rescued a 20-month-old dog stuck on dangerous ice on Lake Parsippany.
A video has emerged showing a man's heroic efforts to help a stranded dog return home safely after being stuck in a frozen lake for almost an entire day. The incident happened on Christmas night when the dog named Brooklyn escaped from his dog sitter and went into the lake. ABC7 reports that despite repeated attempts by local residents and authorities, the dog refused to leave the dangerously thin ice.
Later, a police officer was able to find the sheepdoodle in the frozen lake using a drone. The snow-covered surface of Lake Parsippany is marked with paw prints left by the frightened dog.
Kishan Patel, a local resident of the lake, decided to assist the police after learning that he was in possession of a drone. As a dog owner, Patel was particularly sensitive to this situation. “Because I can only imagine what the owner must be going through,” Patel shared with ABC7.
Using his drone, Patel attempted to fly Brooklyn to safety with the chicken pieces. This method was mostly successful, bringing the dog within 20-30 feet of the shore.
However, Brooklyn hesitated as soon as he saw the men waiting nearby. “Police officers were here all night, until about 11:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve,” Patel explained.
As night fell, Patel's drone was crucial in locating Brooklyn on the frozen lake. Police officers then used weights to assess the thickness of the ice before a police officer carefully approached the dog. The officer got close enough to startle Brooklyn and she ran toward the beach. The plan worked and the terrified dog took to safety, eventually taking refuge on a nearby porch.
After learning that Brooklyn was safe and sound, Patel expressed his relief, saying, “I'm going to be heartbroken.”
Reflecting on the situation, he added, “Of all the drones that may or may not be flying around New Jersey these days, I'm glad I'm being used for something useful.”
Patel concluded, “I feel even happier that the dog is safe and back home.”