We’ve been enjoying an early taste of spring this week – a few days of record breaking warmth before winter reasserts itself. Each night the evening news has featured at least one story about someone who ventured out on the thinning ice of a pond or river, fell through, and had to be rescued. Apparently, this impulse is not confined to people. This pooch wandered out onto a local pond, only to have the ice give way under his rear paws. Since he was in shallow water just a few yards from shore, he wasn’t really in any danger. But he didn’t know that. He couldn’t be convinced to let go and paddle back to shore. Finally, his owner gave up, waded into the icy muck, and pulled him out.