Ottawa firefighters responded to Manotick on Sunday afternoon to find a dog in distress trying to get out of the Jock River.
According to officials, they got a call at 5:05 p.m. for a dog that had fallen through the ice and was “struggling to keep its head above water.” The caller told crews the dog was in open water and about 10 feet from shore. An ice rescue team responded to the 3500 block of McBean Street and saw the animal “clinging to an ice shelf.”
Crews quickly suited up to enter the frigid water and reached the dog, helping it from the river by 5:14 p.m. This was less than 15 minutes after the 911 call, firefighters said. The dog was not injured, crews confirmed.
“With warmer temperatures expected across Ottawa, including highs near 14 C (Monday), Ottawa Fire Services is reminding residents that ice conditions on rivers, ponds, and waterways are extremely unstable this time of year,” a release states.
Officials are urging people to keep their pets on a leash near water at this time of year. If a pet falls through, owners should never attempt to rescue it, firefighters said. Instead, people should immediately call 911 and keep an eye on their animal so crews can make a rescue quickly.