Dog rescued after falling through ice

BERNE — “Rescued dog” took on new meaning on Jan. 27.

Two dogs had fallen through the ice on Thompsons Lake on that Friday, and Environmental Conservation Officer Michael Hamelin responded to the call, according to a release from the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation, which said events unfolded this way:

One of the dogs had freed itself from the water while the other, a German shepherd, was trapped in the broken ice.

Hamelin, who is a member of the state’s Flood Incident Strike Team, a multi-agency team trained in swift water, ice, and rope rescues, put on water-rescue gear and entered the frigid waters.

He pulled the shepherd from the freezing waters and then Albany County Sheriff’s deputies returned the dog to its owners. 

New York State Park Police and the East Berne fire Department also helped in the rescue.

— Melissa Hale-Spencer

More Hilltowns News

  • On Wednesday, March 27, the state’s Department of Public Service will hold two public hearings — in addition to an ongoing survey — on broadband that will be an important opportunity for state residents to correct previous maps and analyses that determine broadband availability. 

  • As Berne-Knox-Westerlo Superintendent Timothy Mundell laid out the district’s progress toward its next budget while the district waits on lawmakers to finalize a state budget, conversation centered around one of the few things the district can control at this point — whether or not to go ahead with its annual bus purchase.

  • The two towns — one rural, one suburban — will now essentially share affordable housing credits so that Guilderland can use Knox’s typically unused credits to satisfy its large waiting list, while Knox is still able to claim them for its own residents as needed. 

The Altamont Enterprise is focused on hyper-local, high-quality journalism. We produce free election guides, curate readers' opinion pieces, and engage with important local issues. Subscriptions open full access to our work and make it possible.