Husky Ice Angels

Team Of Angels Rescues Huskies From Frozen Creek
A cat, a concerned neighbor, and a team of angels helped rescue two huskies from a frozen Long Island creek.

PECONIC, NY — A pair of huskies were rescued from an uncertain fate this week after they ran off and one fell into a frozen Cutchogue creek.

The dogs were first spotted by concerned neighbor Deborah Doty, who reportedly said her curious cat, who kept staring out the window, alerted her to the potential crisis.

Doty called the North Fork Animal Welfare League, said Gabrielle Stroup of the NFAWL.

The huskies, Wind and River, had gotten away from their guardians, Natasha and Michael Cifarelli, NFAWL's Denise LeBeau said.

The family was in the middle of packing because they're moving to Los Angeles, she said.

"At one point, Michael asked Natasha if she had put the dogs in the kennel since they weren't in the house.

Natasha said 'no.' They then frantically searched the house, and indeed, the dogs were gone. It turned out one of the movers had inadvertently let them out," LeBeau said.

Cifarelli quickly got in his car and began started searching the streets.

The North Fork Animal Welfare League was called because the dogs were spotted running at large, LeBeau said.

When staffers arrived, they saw the dogs running towards the ice on West Creek.

"Wind wound up in the water. River — ironically — stayed on the bank," she said.

Staffers Tammy Henderson and Marissa Holfester rigged a cord long enough to tether themselves to each other, and then back to the vehicle, to safely reach the dogs.

"Ultimately, Wind came toward them and they were able to get the dog safely out of the icy water," LeBeau said.

There was a particularly happy ending because both dogs had collars with identification and a working phone number, she added.

"Everyone was saved. The League was happy to help bring about such a positive outcome and realizes that 'accidents' can happen quickly even with the most responsible of pet guardians. The fact that the dogs had identification really helped bring the whole case to a close," LeBeau said.

And dogs will be dogs, staffers said, so owners need to be aware and prepared.

"They were chasing something and one fell through the ice," Henderson said.

Both staffers, who bounded straight into the freezing waist-deep water, were relieved when the dog paddled toward them during their rescue efforts, LeBeau said.

Holfester had a warning for pet parents: "Huskies will go after anything and this is a particularly dangerous time of year for them to give chase."

"After a harrowing ordeal, the dogs and the rescuers, are all doing great," LeBeau said.

Grateful owner Michael Cifarelli thanked the NFAWL: "I'm just blown away by the quick response time of your team. The fast reaction could have meant the difference between life and death. We're just super impressed with the way the NFAWL handled the whole situation."

Image of dogs with staff courtesy Gabrielle Stroup.

Photos of dogs by themselves Michael Cifarelli.
By Lisa Finn, Patch Staff