Heroic actions save dog from frigid waters of High Park pond

A police officer and a firefighter were taken to hospital after helping rescue a dog that had fallen through the ice at Grenadier Pond in High Park.

Police were called to the park around 12:30 p.m. after a 16-month old German Shepherd had run out on to the frozen pond and fallen through the melting ice. The owner had managed to get back to shore safely but with the puppy still struggling in the ice cold water, Constable Mathew Abramovitz sprung in to action.

“The dog had been in the water for 10-15 minutes and was showing signs of fatigue and stopped swimming,” said the 11-year veteran.

“I was able to hook up some safety equiptment, the backseat of the car floats and is a life preserver, so i was able to go out and at one point I fell through too.”

Abramovitz said his body from “almost immediately” but he kept pressing on towards the dog.

“You really dont think about it, the adrenaline is so high, you’re focused on the task of getting the dog out. Once it saw me coming toward it it started to show signs of life again and I think he or she knew it was going to get rescued.”

During the rescue, one Toronto firefighter also fell into the water and suffered some bruising.

The officer and firefighter were taken to hospital with symptoms related to hypothermia.

The dog, officer and firefighter are all doing fine.