Indianapolis Fire Department crew rescues dog on White River

Adam wouldn't budge.

The 5-year-old boxer-chow mix chased after a duck about 50 feet into the White River but later found himself on a log under the West 16th Street bridge. He was reluctant to swim back. His owners called for him to return. He wouldn't. They pleaded. He stayed. For 90 minutes he remained on the log.

So about 6 p.m. Sunday, Adam's owners, George Adams and son Timothy, 15, called for help.

The Indianapolis Fire Department crew didn't fare much better. Together with the owners they tried to lure Adam back to shore. They held up a stuffed teddy bear. It didn't work. They tried dog treats. That didn't work, either. Adam stayed put.

Finally, IFD sent a rescue boat. Crew members deployed from the Lake Indy ramp at West 30th Street and Riverside Drive East, about 2 miles north. Near the log, they used a lasso to slowly pull Adam to the boat, Fire Department spokeswoman Capt. Rita Reith said.

Adam was off the log and out of the water by 6:40 p.m., according to the Fire Department.

Timothy said he and his dad usually go to the White River to fish. Adam normally likes to take a dip. This time, however, the family dog didn't seem to want to swim back, Timothy said.

Timothy said he wasn't very worried even though Adam was on the log for so long.

"Just a little shocked that he didn't want to go back," he said.

Contact Star reporter Kristine Guerra at (317) 444-6209. Follow her on Twitter: @kristine_guerra