News

The rescue of a heavenly sent dog for a lake family

By Scott Wagar

11/18/2014

Marvin and Harriet Thom of Lake Metigoshe are eternally grateful these days to the Metigoshe Fire Department (MFD) after the couple almost lost their black lab when it fell through the ice at the lake. However, due to the quick response of the lake’s fire department the dog was rescued from a situation that nearly killed the animal.

“We are forever grateful to those young men,” Harriet said. “They did a tremendous job in helping our Whitby.” 

At six in the morning last week, Marvin woke Harriet up to ask her for help because their pet lab, Whitby, had fallen through the ice and was trapped and struggling to keep his head above the extremely cold water.

“I dressed and went down to the shoreline in the dark and where we could see Whitby’s eyes with our flashlight,” Harriet said.

“He was about 150 feet from the shoreline and Marvin said that he was going up to the house to get a ladder and we would have to try to go and get him.

“Well, Marvin is 82 and I am 80,” Harriet added, “As he went to get the ladder I called 9-1-1 and I received the nicest dispatcher you ever would want to speak to. She told me to hold on and she would see what she could do. A few moments later she called me back and said that a rescue team was on the way and for me to keep Marvin off the ladder.”

Within a short time, Jason Guss, Dan Jahner and Dean Oakland arrived at the Thom’s home and went straight to work. Guss and Oakland placed a safety line on Jahner who was in a Gumby or survival suit and made his way out to the dog on the thin ice and rescued Whitby.

Once on shore, Jahner carried Whitby to Thom’s home where they discovered the dog was unconscious. Marvin and Harriet, along with the rescue team, wrapped Whitby in warm blankets and the Thoms sat close to their dog and talked to him.

“In about two hours, Whitby’s tail began to wag a little bit,” Harriet said. “So, he was thawing out. I eventually gave him a bowl of warm milk with Cheerios because he loves Cheerios, and, he did lift his head and tried to lick the milk and eat the Cheerios. So, we knew that he was coming around.” 

The Thoms are thankful for the quick response given to them by the dispatcher and firemen.

“It would have been a disaster if my husband and I would have tried to save Whitby,” Harriet added. “Marvin doesn’t swim, I use to know how to swim but I don’t know if I could have in icy water. But, we had a good result and I am forever grateful to these rescuers and the dispatcher who assisted us.”

Whitby holds a special place in Marvin and Harriet’s hearts because the dog, which was a stray, came to be with them through a very special request of someone very dear to the couple’s hearts.

“Seven years ago Whitby came to our farm,” Harriet said. “I was in Grand Junction, Colo., taking care of my daughter who was dying of cancer and my husband called and said to me, ‘there is a dog sitting on my step and I don’t want a dog.’

“I told him to keep the dog, but he said that he didn’t want the dog,” Harriet said. “So, I gave the phone to our daughter who was in bed and she begged him to keep the dog. She was a real dog lover and had three dogs of her own and Marvin couldn’t say no to our daughter.”

The Thoms lost their daughter to cancer, but Marvin kept his promise to her and he and Whitby have become the best of friends. 

“I have to say that my husband could go off and leave me here but he would remember the dog,” Harriet said. “They have been inseparable and he doesn’t go anywhere without him. He is a nice dog and my husband’s constant companion.”

The Thoms also believe that Whitby was Heaven sent to them.
“That April before Whitby came to us we lost our grandson, Kevin, in a pick-up accident,” Harriet said. “When Whitby came to live with us, the mother of Kevin said that she knew that Kevin had sent this dog for us and that Marvin should have this dog. So, there was a double reason for us to keep the dog. So, he has been pretty precious to us.”

“I have nothing but praise for all of the people who helped us out,” Harriet said. “They were unbelievable in what they did for us.”