ROCHESTER — The Rochester Fire Department jumped into action on Dec. 20 to save a dog who fell through the ice of a cranberry bog.  

At 11:22 a.m. on Dec. 20 the Rochester Fire Department received a call from the access road to a cranberry bog off of Sarah Sherman Road for a dog who had fallen through the ice.

A witness who saw the Brittany spaniel fall through the ice made the call. Crews from Engine 3 and Rescue 207 donned survival suits and deployed the ice rescue sled to the location where the dog was clinging to the ice but unable to get out, approximately 300 feet from shore.

Captain Jeff Eldridge was the first rescuer to arrive at the dog after falling through the inch thick ice several times on his way out. Eldridge said that the dog jumped right on the sled once it arrived, and fire crews on shore pulled the ice rescue sled, dog and Eldridge back to shore.

According to media reports, the dog, Murphy, had gone out swan hunting with his family,  but had run off and been missing for several hours. 

“This is a great reminder and lesson that even though the ice may look safe, weather conditions are not suitable for any form of weight bearing ice on any of the local waterways,” the Rochester Fire Department warned on their Facebook page.