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By Anders Anglesey
U.S. News Reporter
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A blind senior border collie that got trapped in a freezing pond is lucky to be alive thanks to "quick-thinking" New York Police Department officers.
Sparky, eight, became stuck among some reeds in Baisley Pond Park, in Queens, after being separated from his owner on Tuesday morning.
New York Police Department (NYPD) officers Branden Williams and Marc Esposito were alerted to reports of a dog drowning in the pond, which is popular with anglers, and they went to rescue him.
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"Both officers entered the pond and were able to remove the dog from the pond who was later removed to a local veterinarian where he was later reunited with his owner," an NYPD spokesperson told Newsweek.
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In bodycam footage shared across NYPD social media pages, the two officers were seen on the edge of the pond, which is packed with reeds, before they waded in to save Sparky.
The officer with the bodycam soon came across the blind border collie, stuck among the reeds and whimpering while his body was mostly submerged in the freezing water.
"You're OK, you're OK," one of the officers said in the video as he used a long stick to part the reeds to get closer to Sparky.
The officer then picked up Sparky after tapping him to see if he was responsive and waded back to the edge of the lake with the dog cradled in his arms, all while the canine continued to whimper.
After briefly placing Sparky down on the ground to alert other officers about his condition, the dog was put on the back seat of the police car. An NYPD jacket was then placed over Sparky's body to warm him up.
When asked whether he was alright, the officer who had waded into the water said: "I can't feel anything." Sparky was then taken to a vet for treatment.
"Thanks to the quick-thinking officers, Sparky and its owner were reunited at the emergency vet earlier today," the NYPD spokesperson said.
Cold Water Risk for Dogs
While dogs can spend a short amount of time in cold water, it is not advised that they stay in for long periods.
According to the American Kennel Club, there are a number of precautions you can take whenever you have your dog in or near water.
The first is taking into account the temperature and making sure the water and air equal at least 100 degrees before letting them swim, says Michele Godlevski, owner of Teamworks Dog Training in Raleigh, North Carolina, according to the AKC.
"When the water temperature is too cold, you risk your dog suffering from cold tail, also known as limber tail or swimmer tail," the AKC says. "This is a condition where the tail will droop and no longer wag or lift up. Your dog could also experience hypothermia, which is even more serious."
Godlevski warns: "If your dog jumps into water that is too cold and begins to shiver or not use his tail, please see a veterinarian immediately."
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