INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — On Friday, Independence resident Morgan Lindsey went into a state of panic after his two dogs escaped his backyard.
"I was scared for her," he told KSHB 41. "I was out searching for three hours."
Lindsey and his neighbors searched for his two dogs, Queso and Trouble, into the early morning hours.
"These dogs are the neighborhood pet, I suppose," shared neighbor Bill Miller. "People that have animals understand. These two dogs that these kids got are part of the family. They just love those dogs."
Miller and Lindsey have built a relationship as friendly neighbors. When Miller found out his neighbor's dogs were missing, he did whatever he could to help, with no questions asked.
"They were just in panic mode," he said. "We had neighbors up everywhere. People were worried to death about them."
Lindsey suspects his two dogs escaped his back gate and darted for the field behind his home. When the two became cold, he believes they began to run home.
"I would imagine Trouble darted across the pond and Queso followed," Lindsey explained.
He said both dogs fell through the "slushy" ice adorning the top of the lake. Trouble was able to escape the ice, and Queso found herself stuck with her feet and head above water.
"The pond must have been deep enough for Queso to touch the bottom," Miller said.
In a rush, Lindsey called 911, telling KSHB 41 if responders weren't coming, he was going in after him.
Lindsey said dispatch advised against entering the frozen pond. Luckily, police arrived and fire personnel soon followed.
"When that fireman walked that dog out of that pond, he (Lindsey) picked that thing up in his arms and carried it to the car, if that tells you anything," Miller recalled about the rescue. "It was amazing. The Independence Fire Department is the real hero in this thing."
First responders selflessly put themselves in harm's way each time they put on the uniform. The neighbors shared gratitude for what those firefighters did that morning, explaining it taught them both something about community.
"Bill was right next to the fire department the entire time. My brother said that Bill was everywhere," Lindsey said with a smile. "Bill is the best neighbor here.”
If there is one thing a dog teaches humans, it is that kindness and compassion for others are a neighbor's greatest gift.
"I call it neighbors helping neighbors. That's what we do here," Miller said. "We look out for each other. I just love ‘em, they’re great neighbors and their dogs are part of the family.”
The Independence Fire Department successfully completed another rescue over the weekend of a Basset Hound, posting images on Sunday.
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KSHB 41 reporter Ryan Gamboa covers Miami County in Kansas and Cass County in Missouri. He also covers agricultural topics. Share your story idea with Ryan.
