Dog’s Death Sets Off Re-Training

Officials from Manitowoc County (Wisc.) say that dispatchers will receive “refresher training” on handling incidents involving animals, after a delayed response to a loose dog 911 call was delayed, ending with the dog drowned. Manitowoc County Emergency Services coordinator Nancy Crowley said a family dog ran away, but was spotted and reported in downtown Manitowoc at 11:26 p.m. Police were handling other incidents and couldn’t respond, and the fire department wasn’t dispatched. A second caller reported at 11:35 p.m. that the dog was in the Manitowoc River, which has steep banks at that point. A third caller at 11:42 p.m. said a crowd had gathered along the river trying to rescue the dog. The fire department was dispatched and arrived six minutes later. Crowley said in a statement that, “Appropriate measures are being taken to assure that the procedure for handling calls of this nature is both clear and comprehensive.” Read more and listen to second 911 call here.