Cochrane Fire Services has already been called out for pet rescue once this season and with fluctuating temperatures, it may not be the last.

Jeff Avery, Fire Prevention Officer, shares the story of a dog trapped on the ice in February had a happy ending but in many cases can be tragic. The dog in this case who had lost his way luckily came to the shoreline on his own.

While the department is trained proficiently in ice rescue, risking a team of firefighters to save a lone animal is not the same as rescuing a human being, shares Avery. "When the river is iced up like that it is extremely dangerous. Unless it is a person we don't want to send anybody on that ice. We do have the equipment, wetsuits and the banana boat but that is more for when someone falls through a pond. The ice is so unstable on the river that we don't want to send three guys walking on there because if they fell through, even if tied on to a rope, they are going underneath the ice and with the current you are not going to be able to pull that back."

While dogs are known to be great swimmers, falling through ice rarely leads to survival for our four-legged friends who get pulled under the ice by the current and rarely located. "Thank goodness that the dog did come to shore by himself and as cold as it was the river did support his weight. Once he heard voices he was able to come to shore."

Both bridges have fairly high ice jams right now making safety an issue for pet owners. While not the news off leash lovers want to hear, Avery suggests keeping them on a leash is best your defence. "If your dog tends to run off and chase things or likes to explore, keep your dog on a leash."

Fire Services responds to at least a couple of calls involving pet rescue each year and as a dog lover himself encourages everyone to keep their pets safe and off the ice.