CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) -
A suburban family is celebrating the safe return of their dog after a mishap on the Chicago River. FOX Chicago talked with tank's owner, Mark Lewis.
He said a woman found the dog on the North Side and called him after seeing news reports. Tank is okay because he was wearing a life preserver and made it to the river bank.
Lewis said that a nightmare has become a dream come true.
Lewis and his wife were desperate to find their Pomeranian dog which slipped off their 20-foot power boat Sunday, and into the North Branch of the Chicago River as they took a pleasure ride over the weekend.
The couple said they were navigating the waters between 6:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. north of Goose Island when they noticed that their dog, a 5-year-old male named Tank had slipped from their boat.
The dog, which weighs about 9 pounds, was wearing a yellow life vest with the word "Gladiator" written on the side of the vest but was no where to be seen as the couple searched up and down the river until about 2 a.m. with spotlights.
Mark Lewis said he is devastated over what happened. He said "Tank" usually roamed the back of the boat safely, as he had done countless times during the last few years.
But somehow the clip wasn't securely attached, and Lewis is beating himself up for what happened.
They had pulled out of Burnham Harbor at about noon and were on the Lakefront until they decided to tour the river. The Lewis and his wife believe that he may have fallen in the water between Irving Park Road and Goose Island, said Lewis.
"I'm sure it was one of the times where I was decelerating and accelerating to avoid obstacles," Lewis said. "He loves boating."
The Chicago police marine unit assisted in the search for the dog for several hours Sunday until they were called away to respond to other incidents along the lakefront.
Police said they searched again Monday morning for the animal as part of their routine patrols on the river but could not find him. They also planned to keep a sharp eye as they continue patrols, police said.
Lewis said he did not believe that the animal drowned because of the life vest, and because it is a strong swimmer who is accustomed to the river. The couple has taken Tank and their other dog Cali, boating dozens of times, said Lewis.
He suspected that the dog might have made it to an embankment and climbed out of the river but said many of the areas along that area along the river also have steel walls that may have barred him from land.
After search from 7 p.m. until about 2 a.m. Monday, they did not spot him or even signs of the live vest which was zippered on to the animal.
Lewis said he had taken dog's identification tags off the animal to accommodate the life vest.
"I'm confident he didn't drown, he had a life preserver on he's been in the water a lot," Lewis said. "We would have seen him."
Lewis said he and his wife, but especially their other dog, are devastated.
The couple offered a $500 reward for the animal.
