Local fire department saves goose stuck in icy pond

A local fire department saved an animal from death while at the same time avoiding possible injury, or worse, from town residents.

According to the Lakeville Fire Department, at just after 2:00 p.m. Monday, Lakeville Animal Control Officer David Frates contacted the LFD about a goose stranded out on Long Pond in their town. Frates was concerned that if the goose was left to suffer on the ice, concerned citizens would attempt to rescue the animal themselves.

Chief O’Brien responded out to the area of Beechtree Drive to size up the situation and concurred with Frates’ assessment. The determination was made that a rescue could be safely attempted by Lakeville Firefighters. Firefighters Brien Perkins and Zach Trocki donned ice rescue suits and deployed the ice rescue sled.

The goose was found to be alive but partially frozen in the ice. Responders covered the bird with a blanket to calm the animal and chipped it free from the ice. With the signal from rescuers, the on shore crew hauled rescuers and the goose back to the shore.

The bird was then transferred to the animal control officer for further care.

Chief O’Brien thanked the firefighters who responded to the rescue. “This was a very calm scene; we made our way to the area without lights or sirens. We took our time and sized up the situation. This was an absolute great training drill for us; we are better prepared to handle the next ice rescue. The ice is not safe; had anyone gone out there on their own they would have gone through. Our ice rescue sled was the only thing that kept us from going through”.

In addition to the Chief, FF Trocki, and FF Brien Perkins; Lt. Silvia, FF Luiz, FF Trevor Dean, and FF Pat Perkins responded to the scene.