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.

鈥淭he report from the crew that has the dog said the dog does seem to have a decreased level of consciousness, obviously hypothermia,鈥� Tipping said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 unknown how long the dog was in the water, but we鈥檙e going to get it to the care it needs and hopefully it鈥檒l turn out well.鈥�

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.

鈥淲e鈥檝e got the fire rippin鈥� and her bed鈥檚 all nice and warm, so she鈥檒l be well set up when she gets here,鈥� Newman said.

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

鈥淣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,鈥� Newman said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 only a year old. She鈥檚 just a baby, so she gets distracted pretty quick, so I guess that鈥檚 what happened.鈥�

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

鈥淲hoever that was, a big, big, big, thank you 鈥� I鈥檓 just super happy the way everyone came together and made it happen,鈥� he said.

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