A dramatic rescue unfolded Monday on the frozen Detroit River when emergency crews spent four hours saving a 6-month-old Australian shepherd who had wandered onto the dangerous ice.

The puppy, named Stella, found herself stranded about 350 yards from shore after breaking free from her family's property through a damaged fence section.

Multi-Agency Response

The Grosse Ile Police Department received the initial emergency call and quickly assessed the challenging situation. Officers could see the young dog moving across the ice sheet, but faced significant safety concerns about direct rescue attempts.

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"There wasn't really a safe way to get out there initially," a resident who witnessed the event told a local news station.

Authorities first deployed an aerial drone, hoping to guide Stella back toward land. However, the strategy proved unsuccessful, and the frightened animal continued moving eastward toward Canadian waters.

Airboat Deployment

Recognizing the escalating danger, police contacted the Grosse Ile Fire Department for specialized water and ice rescue assistance. Fire officials determined that sending personnel on foot across the unstable ice would be too hazardous.

Multiple rescue attempts were launched using the Fire Department's airboat, but crews faced an unexpected challenge: Stella repeatedly fled from her would-be rescuers.

Sgt. Eric Vazquez from the Grosse Ile Police noted that the dog's constant movement complicated rescue efforts significantly.

Successful Recovery

The breakthrough came after nearly four hours when Stella partially fell through a section of thin ice. Though initially concerning, this incident actually aided the rescue as it prevented the dog from continuing to run.

"One of the paws was probably stuck to the ice, and that's likely the only reason we were able to save the dog," Vazquez explained to local media.

The successful operation involved coordination between police, fire personnel, animal control officers and community members who assisted throughout the lengthy rescue.

Stella was successfully returned to her relieved family, who expressed deep appreciation for all emergency responders involved in the complex operation.