Sheriff’s sergeant rescues dog from icy pond

Sheriff’s sergeant rescues dog from icy pond
Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Heath Benansky of the Copake area paddled into the icy waters of a pond on Pat’s Road in Ancramdale for Andy, a shivering Austrian German shepherd, who had fallen in. After the rescue, officer and dog were happily on dry land, having been warmed by other first responders at the scene. Photo courtesy of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office 

ANCRAMDALE — Man’s best friend got a helping hand from Sgt. Heath Benansky, of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, who braved the icy waters of a pond on Pat’s Road in Ancramdale to rescue  a Doggie in Distress, a one-year old Austrian German shepherd named Andy who had strayed from home. 

According to department spokesman Lt. John Rivero, when the call for help came in on Friday, Jan. 15, Sheriff David P. Bartlett called Benansky, an off-duty member of the Water Rescue Squad and Copake area resident, who immediately headed to the scene. There he was assisted by Deputy Zachary Torchia and other members of the Dive Team equipped with cold water gear.

Rivero gave special credit to Benansky, a dog handler with “special place in his heart” for this familiar breed. 

Using a nearby paddle board he “was wet up to his waist and he had nothing on his feet… He didn’t care about getting his uniform wet or dirty. He went right in,” said Rivero.

Giving aid to both Andy and his hero involved a good deal of “scrambling” by the Dive Team, added Rivero, who said to dry and warm both man and beast it took a good many towels and blankets, and giving Benansky “a dry set of boots that he squeezed his feet into.”

The rescue was made possible thanks to the quick thinking of “two ladies that were in the area walking and heard the dog yelping — obvious signs of distress. When they located where it was coming from, they noticed that it had fallen through the ice — thin ice on the pond. The puppy wasn’t in an area where they could throw something to it or get to it easily,” added Rivero, so the two women thought fast and called the sheriff’s office.

“The most important thing was that the women were smart enough and had the where-with-all not to go in themselves, and leave it to trained professionals,” Rivero emphasized. “If a civilian had gone in there not trained, then we’re looking at two victims or multiple victims.”

The dog was taken to the Copake Animal Hospital, where he was checked and then returned to his owner, who had been located via an animal Lost and Found website. 

Rivero said as of Monday morning, Jan. 18, his postings about Andy’s adventure had received 39,000 views on social media — 20,000 as of the first night — and that Deputy Benansky “was stunned by that — the magnitude of engagement that it got.”

With winter bringing challenges for pets such as Andy, Millerton Veterinary Hospital’s Dr. Carolyn Cannon, DVM, advised that drying and gradually warming an animal who is cold and wet should be done immediately while its temperature is checked. If that drops below 98 degrees, the pet should  be taken in a warm car to the nearest veterinary location. 

If the temperature is above 98 degrees, the animal should be taken inside, walked around and warmed gradually with drier-warmed towels or blankets, which can be tented with the air inside — and not the animal — warmed by a hair drier.

Rather than relying on Lost and Found postings, the veterinarian recommends that pet owners invest in a $70 locator microchip, which are more reliable and will allow for an immediate reunions with lost pets.

Latest News

A scenic 32-mile loop through Litchfield County

Whenever I need to get a quick but scenic bicycle ride but don’t have time to organize a group ride that involves driving to a meeting point, I just turn right out of my driveway. That begins a 32-mile loop through some of the prettiest scenery in northern Litchfield County.

I ride south on Undermountain Road (Route 41 South) into Salisbury and turn right on Main Street (Route 44 West). If I’m meeting friends, we gather at the parking area on the west side of Salisbury Town Hall where parking is never a problem.

Keep ReadingShow less
Biking Ancramdale to Copake

This is a lovely ride that loops from Ancramdale north to Copake and back. At just over 23 miles and about 1,300 feet of elevation gain, it’s a perfect route for intermediate recreational riders and takes about two hours to complete.It’s entirely on quiet roads with little traffic, winding through rolling hills, open countryside, picturesque farms and several lakes.

Along the way, you’ll pass a couple of farmstands that are worth a quick visit. There is only one hill that might be described as steep, but it is quite short — probably less than a quarter-mile.

Keep ReadingShow less
North East town records brought into the digital age

Chris Virtuoso reorganized parcel records in the North East Town Hall basement by parcel number during the process of scanning and digitizing the documents.

Photo by Grace DeMarco

MILLERTON — Within the walls of the two-story Victorian housing the North East Town Hall lies a room-full of town records dating back to the late 19th century. Stored in labeled cardboard boxes and protected by dehumidifiers, the records are in the process of being dated, organized, and scanned into categorized online programs.

As the Town Hall works to relocate to 5603 Route 22 at the former Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witness, the consolidation and digitalization of records, as well as the disposal of those unneeded, is a time-sensitive project. Marcy Wheatley, the Deputy Town Clerk, emphasized their current heavy focus on organizing and scanning. “Now, when we move, we can get rid of a lot,” Wheatley stated.

Keep ReadingShow less
Millbrook Fire Department Carnival returns

The Thorne Building on Franklin Avenue in the village of Millbrook.

Archive photo

MILLBROOK — Summer fun is just around the corner, thanks to the fire department and the return of the Fire Department Carnival scheduled to open on Wednesday, July 9, and continue through Saturday, July 12, on the Thorne Building grounds on Franklin Avenue.

Opening night activities will begin at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 9. The Carnival will open each night at 7 p.m., remaining open until 11 p.m.

Keep ReadingShow less