Lorain firefighters rescue dog from Lake Erie

LORAIN — A miniature bulldog is safely home after taking an unexpected dip in Lake Erie on Wednesday afternoon. Diesel, the 1-year-old pup, escaped from his Michigan Avenue home by climbing over a snow drift after owner Tom Kolesar lay down to take a nap. "About 10 minutes later (my wife) steps out back, calls for the dogs, our boxer came running but these two were nowhere to be found," Kolesar said. Thus began a frantic search through the neighborhood, and posts on Facebook for Diesel and one of Kolesar's other dogs. Shortly after 1 p.m. the Lorain Fire Department got a call from a woman who'd seen the dog get out of the lake and take off west down the shoreline before going back in the water behind St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church. Assistant Chief Jeff Fenn estimated Diesel had been swimming in the water for about 10 minutes by the time crews made it to him — leaning over the roughly 10-foot drop down to the surf. "He was showing signs that he was about done," Fenn said. "Scared us to death, I was like please don't. We had our ice suits coming and stuff like that to dress out and jump in and get him, but that would have been difficult with the 10-foot drop into the water." The crew from Pumper 4 were able to hook Diesel's collar with a pole and pull the pup up to firefighter Jason Bender's outstretched arms. Bender ran back up the hill with Diesel in his arms and Fenn rushed the shivering canine to Amherst Animal Hospital for care. Lorain Professional Firefighters Local 267 posted about the rescue on Facebook, and Kolesar's wife called the station about their missing dog. Once Diesel was warmed up and cleaned off by the vet, he came riding back home in the back of Pumper 4. The family's other missing dog was found in the neighborhood without incident. "We walk him during the summers, and we walk him to the edge of the water but he never expressed an interest in going any deeper," Kolesar said. "I don't think he's going to start now," Fenn added. Contact Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com.