During the winter months, frozen lakes present an additional danger to canines. A dog in Maine was rescued this past Wednesday after falling through a sheet of ice on a lake.

During the winter months, frozen lakes present an additional danger to canines. A dog in Maine was rescued this past Wednesday after falling through a sheet of ice on a lake.

According to the pooch’s owner, Linda Park, he loves the cold and wandered off on the morning of the incident, which is typical behavior for him. Initially, she wasn’t concerned but her neighbor soon informed her the dog named Dakota fell through the ice.

Fire officials received the 911 call, saying that the canine was trapped about 100 feet offshore. The lake is only about three feet deep in the vicinity where he was stuck, but it was extremely cold and Dakota was exhausted from struggling to get out of the spot.

The captain of the Waterboro Fire Department donned an ice water suit and got right in to the cold water. He helped lift Dakota out while line tenders assisted him in safely getting back to shore.

The animal loving captain later commented “It turned out pretty good. The reason we do this is, because a lot of the time people, if we don't do it, will take it upon themselves to try and get in there and we end up with a much worse situation.”

Park is thankful to the firefighters who rescued her beloved dog and said he spent some time in front of the woodstove and lapped up some ice cream after his ordeal.