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WILKES-BARRE — City Councilman Tony Brooks was out with his dogs near his residence on West River Street when they bolted.
When one of the pets ventured into the Susquehanna River, firefighters had to make a special water rescue.
It all started at about 1 p.m. Monday when Brooks and his beagles, Zebulon Butler and John Franklin, were out for a little fresh air.
“He got away from the backyard, he and his brother,” Brooks said.
Brooks recently adopted the dogs from Blue Chip Farm Animal Refuge in Dallas. Brooks named his dogs after Col. Zebulon Butler and Col. John Franklin, who both participated in the Battle of Wyoming during the Revolutionary War.
Franklin was retrieved, but Brooks said he lost sight of Zebulon near the Black Diamond Bridge. Brooks then searched near Barney Farms on Reliance Drive, and that’s where he said people were pointing to where Zebulon was.
Zebulon could be seen about 20 yards into the river, and appeared to be stuck in debris. His head was in a medical cone, which Brooks explained was because he was recently neutered.
City firefighters were dispatched, along with the department’s river rescue boat, but officials did not need to deploy it.
Instead, Deputy Fire Chief Alan Klapat donned a wetsuit and waded into the murky water. The water went up to Klapat’s chest as he rescued Zebulon and brought him to shore.
Zebulon appeared a little nervous as he was placed back on dry ground. But other than visibly shivering from the cold water, he appeared to be OK. Klapat noted that despite the recent warm spell, the water was frigid.
He said the department frequently gets calls for dogs stuck in the river, but the canines are usually able to get themselves to shore.
Brooks praised firefighters as he began to walk Zebulon back home.
“They were here within five minutes,” he said. “I’m very thankful for it.”
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