Couple Asks For Help Finding Dog Who Fell Off Boat On River
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A suburban couple is asking for help finding their Pomeranian, after he apparently fell off their boat on the Chicago River on Sunday.
Tank, a yellow 5-year-old Pomeranian who weighs 8 or 9 pounds, was wearing a life vest with the word "Gladiator" written on the side while riding on a boat Sunday evening on the North Branch of the Chicago River in the Goose Island area.
His owners, Mark and Linn Lewis, of west suburban St. Charles, were touring the river when they noticed Tank was no longer on the boat Sunday evening. They're offering a $500 reward if Tank is found.
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Mark Lewis said he believes Tank must have slipped off the boat when he accelerated Sunday evening. Normally, the couple tethered the dog during boat trips.
"We are very distraught. Once we realized he was gone, of course we started searching. We were on the river until about 2:30 a.m.," Mark Lewis said.
Lewis said Tank had a dog life vest on - and the family is hoping he was able to make it out of the river near a point where there's a sloping riverbank.
"He must've slipped off somewhere between Goose Island and... maybe Addison Street, to the north," he said.
The Chicago Police Department's marine unit had a boat available to help search but was not able to locate Tank.
The Lewises said Tank knows how to swim and they hope he reached shore.
Anyone who finds the dog is asked to call Chicago Police, or contact Mark Lewis at 630-417-8166, or Americanfamilydoctor@gmail.com.
