Pembroke Fire Chief Scott Selle is commending the efforts of local firefighters and praising the actions of the pet owners after the successful rescue of a dog that had fallen through the ice last Friday.
About 7 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 16, the Pembroke Fire Department received a call for help for a dog that had gone through the ice on the Ottawa River near Beachburg and Westmeath Roads.
The large dog had fallen through the ice about 100 yards from shore.
Fire officials say the dog’s owners did the right thing by staying on shore and encouraging their pet and calling it back from there instead of venturing out on the thin ice to try and rescue their pet themselves.
As the rescue team approached the dog, the lead rescuer did go through the ice. If the pet’s owners had attempted rescue, the situation would have been much worse, say officials.
The dog was successfully removed from the river, returned to the owners and transported to a local veterinary clinic for assessment.
Four personnel from the Pembroke Fire Department responded in two rescue units and a Whitewater Fire Department crew attended the scene, as well.
“Please remember, no ice is safe ice and the fresh snow may hide open water or thin ice. With moving water, there is no way of knowing what is happening under the ice,” reads a Pembroke Fire Department press release. “If you are venturing out, please ensure you have some type of floatation device, a way to call for help if you do fall through, and let a family member or friend know where you are going.”