Dog safe after falling through Thompson River ice in Kamloops

Sammie-Marie's owners were sure she was lost forever when the two-year-old dog fell through the ice on the Thompson River in Kamloops and wasn't seen for nearly two weeks.

Joshua Knaak and his family had re-homed the Boston terrier mix on Jan. 9 when it ran away and ended up at McArthur Island Park.

"We picked her up from a family that loved her dearly but could no longer take care of her," Knaak said. "She took off on Tuesday and was spotted by gentleman on McArthur Island who tried to get her."

Likely already scared, Sammie-Marie was spooked and ran away from the road and around the island park and onto the river ice.

"You could see the foot steps (on the ice) and then they end," Knaak said.

After searching for days, and even being support by other residents in the area who went out searching for the dog, Sammie-Marie was spotted wandering a Kamloops neighbourhood. Community Service officers picked up the dog 13 days after it was thought to have been lost to the river.

"When it happened, you couldn't write this to be a more tragic story than it was," Knaak said, adding that it was his partner's birthday and she had just recently lost a family member around the same time. "Now, you couldn't write a more miraculous story."

Knaak and his daughter Sara hold their two dogs Sammie-Marie (right) and Leopold. SUBMITTED/Joshua Knaak

Knaak brought Sammie-Marie to a veterinary hospital after they recovered her. Although it had lost weight after wandering for days, the dog was doing well overall and was quickly nursed back to health.

"She's very snug and warm now," Knaak said. "Last night she fell asleep on my lap."

He added he's thankful for the outpouring of support from the community of people who reached out to help and to Aberdeen Veterinary Hospital for taking care of Sammie-Marie.

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