COLUMBUS, Ind. — Columbus firefighters used their water rescue skills Thursday to rescue a 1-year-old Boxer stranded on a river sandbar and eventually returned the dog to its owner.
A passerby notified firefighters at about 12:30 p.m. that it appeared a dog was stuck on the sandbar in the Flatrock River which flows under the U.S. 31 bridge on Columbus’ north side, in the 3400 block of North National Road.
Columbus Animal Care Services had already arrived and determined more help was needed as the sandbar was surrounded with deeper water that at some point, “Kobe,” which is the dog’s name, had navigated before deciding staying on the dry sand was the better option.
Animal Care Services said they had been there for about a half hour before firefighters arrived, and at one point, dropped food to the dog from the bridge. They continued to monitor him until firefighters arrived.
“Kobe” attempted to enter the water a few times as firefighters worked out a rescue plan, but each time the dog returned to the safety of the sandbar, firefighters said.
Three Columbus firefighters walked through a wooded area to reach the river bank, where Columbus firefighter Cody Melton donned a water rescue dry suit and walked across the waist-high water to reach the dog.
“Kobe” was a willing participant in the rescue and with a little encouragement, went with the firefighter who carried him across the river to safety. Firefighters described him as “a beautiful dog.”
Columbus Fire Department spokesman Mike Wilson said another passerby stopped and told firefighters he knew who the owner of “Kobe” was and that the owner had reported him missing.
The passerby called the owner, who went to the scene to retrieve the dog, Wilson said.
“Kobe’s” human said the dog had been missing since 10:30 p.m. Wednesday night after jumping over a fence to escape, which means the dog may have been on the sandbar as long as overnight.
No injuries were reported during the rescue.
Wilson said “Kobe” was very excited with all the attention at the conclusion of the adventure on the sandbar in the Flatrock River.
