WESTERLY, R.I. – On New Year’s Day, a yellow Labrador named Phoenix found himself in a precarious situation when he ventured onto a thin sheet of ice covering a pond in Rhode Island and fell through. Fortunately, a team of firefighters came to his rescue.
The Misquamicut Fire Department reported that volunteer firefighters, along with other emergency personnel, responded to a water rescue call early Thursday morning. Upon arrival, they spotted Phoenix struggling in the icy water, unable to reach the shore.
Firefighters from both the Misquamicut and Watch Hill departments donned ice rescue suits, specially designed to protect against freezing temperatures, and entered the pond to bring Phoenix to safety. At the time of the rescue, the National Weather Service recorded a temperature of 26 degrees Fahrenheit, with the wind chill making it feel like 14 degrees.
Deputy Chief Steve Howard of the Misquamicut Fire Department shared his thoughts in a phone interview on Friday, describing Phoenix as “the chillest dog I’ve ever seen in my life.” Despite the ordeal, he noted, “The dog never made a sound. He was pretty chill.”
After the rescue, the firefighters were checked for hypothermia but needed no further treatment. The departments later celebrated the successful rescue on Facebook, calling it “a successful first call of 2026.”
Phoenix was found to be unharmed, and Deputy Chief Howard later followed up with the dog’s owner to ensure everything was well.
“He got a little bit of extra food last night,” Howard said. “And he took a little nap.”
The incident served as a reminder to treat all ice as potentially dangerous, particularly over bodies of water, the fire department warned.
“No ice is ever safe. Our firefighters train extensively for cold water and ice rescues, but these situations are extremely dangerous,” the fire department said.
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