WYOMING, Mich. - The community is mourning the loss of a woman who died trying to save her dog.
According to the Wyoming Department of Public Safety, 38-year-old Tracy Cashman was reported missing Saturday night after not returning home from walking her dog.
Cashman's family say she frequently walked her dog at Battjes Park, located at 1601 Blandford Ave SW. Around 9 p.m., Cashman's dog returned home without her, so her family went to the park to search for her. They were unable to find Cashman and called police for help.
Around 12:25 a.m., police say crews discovered Cashman's body in the ice of a pond at the park. Firefighters performed a cold water rescue, but Cashman was already dead.
Investigators believe that Cashman fell through the ice trying to rescue her dog after it fell through the ice during their walk.
Cashman would not have walked on the ice under other circumstances, said her mother, Rhonda Moore.
"If the dog was struggling, she would save that dog," Moore said. "Whether it was her dog, somebody else's dog, a child -- it would be instinct. She would just do it."
Police say an autopsy is scheduled for Monday morning.
Cashman was an employee of Godfrey-Lee Public Schools. Tracy's family and friends say she was well-liked by students and colleagues
"[She was] an all-around caring and loving person," said Melissa Dalman, who grew up with Tracy. "It didn't matter who you were, she was always there for you."
The school district alerted the community of her passing on Sunday morning, stating that school will be let out early on Monday, Dec. 10.
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