Skip navigation

Woman drowns retrieving dog from pond

N.J. police say woman, 61, plunged through ice; animal survives

Video: Life  
Columbus sighting on Lake Michigan
  July 16: Replicas of the Nina and Pinta, two 15th century ships used by Christopher Columbus, are sailing the Great Lakes. Msnbc.com's Dara Brown reports.

Text alerts on msnbc.com

Breaking news alerts (about 1 per day)
Click here to sign up or text NEWS to MSNBC (67622).

Find more alerts at alerts.msnbc.com

  Photo features  
  More
Image: British forces in Afghanistan's Helmand province.
NYT via Redux
  The Week in Pictures
Vibrant fields of sunflowers, a high-rescue drama and Michael Jackson memories are among this week’s attention-grabbing images.
Image: Billabong Pro 2009 surfing event in Jeffreys Bay, South Africa
EPA
PhotoBlog
View and discuss the pictures and issues that caught our eyes.
updated 10:32 p.m. ET Jan. 3, 2009

PLAINSBORO, N.J. - New Jersey authorities say a woman drowned trying to retrieve her grandson's dog from a frozen pond.

Authorities say 61-year-old Janet Howard was walking a German Shepherd named Apollo on Saturday when it wandered onto the ice covering Plainsboro Pond. Police speculate that Howard went after the dog but the ice broke, plunging her and the animal into the water about 25 feet from shore.

A passer-by on a bicycle heard Howard's cries and tried to help her, but he also fell through the ice.

Story continues below ↓
advertisement | your ad here

He fought his way back to shore and raced home to call 911. Rescue workers later found Howard about 4 1/2 feet beneath the surface. She was taken to Princeton Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.

The dog somehow reached the shore and ran home.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Sponsored LinksGet listed here
Online College Courses
Boost your career with an online Degree. Pick from Leading Colleges!
www.EarnMyDegree.com

Sponsored links

Resource guide