Feb. 27--A 6-year-old black Lab named Pepper clung to an ice shelf by his front paws until firefighters were able to pluck him from the DuPage River on Thursday morning.
It was not known how long Pepper was in the frigid water, but he was taken to an animal hospital and appeared to be OK -- although he may be carrying a grudge, according to his owner, Angie Krueger.
"He's mad at me because I didn't miss him sooner," Krueger said. "I think he's mad at me. He didn't even act like he was happy to see me."
Krueger had been shoveling snow and had let Pepper -- who likes to chase rabbits -- outside with her. She went back inside and noticed the Lab wasn't responding to her calls and wasn't at the neighbors'. She started following Pepper's tracks and those of a rabbit.
"I got my coat on and I tracked him through the snow, and I know he kinda goes out there," she said. "I followed (tracks) right down to the edge of the ice, then I saw him on the other side of the river holding onto the ice."
Pepper was able to keep his front paws on the ice but couldn't lift himself out of the water. Krueger ran back to the house and called 911 and waited.
"I was scared he was going to get under the ice, that's all I could think of," Krueger said.
Firefighters from the Plainfield Fire Protection District walked out onto the ice, got into the water and lifted the dog to safety.
"Three or four went down, one went out on a rope," Krueger said. "And he just walked, walked all the way over there. He got to the other side, had to jump in to lift him up. He's a big dog."
Krueger said she brought Pepper back home and he seemed fine but tired. "He's napping now."
