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A fuzzy little, mostly good, dog helped to make Ottawa firefighter Luca Paololi’s first day on the job a memorable one.
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On one overnight shift, the firefighter assisted in a dog rescue, then about 12 hours later, he was on the team that rescued two residents in a Preston Street apartment fire.
Firefighters were called shortly before 2 p.m. Wednesday due to reports that a person had fallen through the ice on a pond behind Valley Ridge Street and was yelling for help.
One of the person’s dogs had escaped its leash and ran out on the pond.
The owner tried to rescue the dog but fell through the ice.
Ice rescue specialists with the fire service tied themselves off with ropes and made their way out to the dog, about 10 metres offshore.
The animal was brought to safety and wrapped in a blanket. The owner was kept warm with a firefighter’s jacket.
Firefighters reiterated their warnings to keep pets on leash when close to open or partially frozen water.
“If a pet does go into the water, do not try and rescue them yourself. Calling 911 is your best chance of saving them.”
