Volunteer firefighters rushed to an icy lake south of Nanaimo to come to the rescue of a dog that had fallen through the ice.

North Cedar Volunteer Fire Department were called to Hemer Provincial Park shortly after 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 12, to a report of a dog that had fallen through the ice on Holden Lake and was unable to climb up onto the ice or make its way to shore.

Firefighters were able to see the dog struggling against the ice on the far side of the lake, close to a property on Rugg Road.

Two firefighters crossed the lake from from the Hemer Park side on the inflatable rescue boat while a third firefighter entered the water from the opposite shore and managed to reach the dog. It was losing consciousness in the near-freezing water, but firefighters had it on shore and in a blanket minutes after mounting the rescue effort.

Percy Tipping, North Cedar Fire Department chief, said he did not know how long the dog had been in the lake before it was seen by the passerby.

乌鸦传媒淭he report from the crew that has the dog said the dog does seem to have a decreased level of consciousness, obviously hypothermia,乌鸦传媒� Tipping said. 乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 unknown how long the dog was in the water, but we乌鸦传媒檙e going to get it to the care it needs and hopefully it乌鸦传媒檒l turn out well.乌鸦传媒�

The dog was rushed to a veterinary clinic in Nanaimo.

Mike Newman, owner of Sakari, a one-year-old Bernese mountain dog-Great Pyrenees cross, said the dog was doing well after being treated and was close to being able to return home.

乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檝e got the fire rippin乌鸦传媒� and her bed乌鸦传媒檚 all nice and warm, so she乌鸦传媒檒l be well set up when she gets here,乌鸦传媒� Newman said.

He did not know what attracted Sakari off his property at the end of Rugg Road and onto the lake.

乌鸦传媒淣ormally she and our other dog, Diesel, are supposed to stay here in our yard to look after the yard and keep an eye on our chickens here, but I guess her nose got the better of her and she found her way out onto the ice,乌鸦传媒� Newman said. 乌鸦传媒淪he乌鸦传媒檚 only a year old. She乌鸦传媒檚 just a baby, so she gets distracted pretty quick, so I guess that乌鸦传媒檚 what happened.乌鸦传媒�

Newman said he乌鸦传媒檚 grateful to whoever it was that saw his dog struggling in the water and that firefighters could respond so quickly.

乌鸦传媒淲hoever that was, a big, big, big, thank you 乌鸦传媒� I乌鸦传媒檓 just super happy the way everyone came together and made it happen,乌鸦传媒� he said.

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