Firefighters Saved a Golden Retriever After She Fell Through the Ice — and People Can’t Stop Looking at the Photo

Mitsy, a 3-year-old golden retriever, was pulled from icy water near Green Bay after falling through the ice about 100 feet from shore.

I live not far from the Green Bay and Suamico area, so this story immediately caught my attention. But even if you are nowhere near Wisconsin, the photo of Mitsy wrapped in a blanket after being pulled from the icy water is the kind of image that makes you instantly want to know she is okay.

According to the Suamico Fire Department, crews responded to Sensiba Wildlife Refuge near the Bay of Green Bay after receiving a report of a dog in distress on the ice. When they arrived, they found that Mitsy, a 3-year-old golden retriever, had fallen through the ice approximately 100 feet from shore and was unable to get out.

The department said its Ice Water Rescue Team was then deployed, using specialized equipment and training to safely reach the dog. Firefighters were able to rescue Mitsy from the icy water and bring her back to shore.

Once on land, Mitsy was evaluated by EMS personnel and found to be in stable condition. She was then safely reunited with her owner. The department also thanked the Brown County Sheriff’s Office and Brown County Public Safety Communications for helping coordinate the rescue.

As relieved as I was to read that update, the comments under the post were what really drove home how much this story resonated with people. A lot of them were simply grateful Mitsy made it out safely.

“Thank you for saving the sweet baby! 🥹❤️” one person wrote.

“Great work by everyone involved. This is a perfect example of how consistent training, strong support from the village, and generous community donations all come together to make a real difference,” another commented.

Others said it was exactly the kind of story they wanted to see more of. “It sure would be nice to see this on our news. Be nice to see some positive reporting.! thank you for finding this sweet baby valuable enough to save!” one person wrote.

Another added, “Man, this restores my faith, goodness & kindness are alive & well! So much news lately about animals being treated so terribly & people rescuing them! Wonderful people, who still believe a soul is worth saving, no matter how many legs!!!”

Plenty of commenters also thanked the first responders directly. “What a happy ending. 😊” one person wrote, while another added, “Grateful for heroes ❤️”

It is also a reminder that late-winter and early-spring ice can be unpredictable, especially for pets who do not know the difference between a frozen surface that looks safe and one that is not. In this case, though, the story ended the way everyone was hoping it would: with Mitsy safe, back on shore, and heading home.

If you enjoy pet stories, you may also like my piece on the states most likely to spoil their pets and this roundup of dog gifts both you and your pup will love.