Dog owner plunges into icy pond trying to save pup chasing geese, Colorado cops say

A dog chasing geese across a frozen pond led to the rescue of its owner, Colorado officials reported.

Deputies and firefighters called to Cattail Crossing Pond found a 63-year-old woman clinging to a chunk of ice in the freezing water at about 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21, the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

The woman told rescuers she had run onto the ice to save her dog, which had also fallen into the pond after chasing some geese, deputies said.

Rescuers were able to reach the woman and put a rope around her to pull her from the pond, deputies said. The dog also was rescued.

The woman was taken to a hospital as a precaution because of the extreme cold, deputies said.

The high temperature was 9 degrees on Jan. 21 in Pueblo, per AccuWeather.

Deputies advised people with pets near freezing water to keep them on a leash.

“If your pet falls through the ice or if you see someone fall through ice, do not rush out to help them as you may fall through as well,” deputies said. They advised people to call 911 instead.

Pueblo is about a 115-mile drive southeast from Denver.

What to do if you fall through ice

It’s never a guarantee that ice is safe to walk on.

You can’t judge the strength of ice by its appearance. Its strength also has to do with the water under the ice and the distribution of the load on the ice, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Even if every safety precaution is followed, sometimes the ice can begin to shatter. Here’s what to do if you find yourself plunging through ice:

• Don’t take off your winter clothing. They’ll keep you warm and provide flotation.

• Turn toward the direction you came.

• Put your hands and arms on unbroken ice, and use available tools to try to pull yourself up.

• Kick your feet and dig in.

• Lie flat on the ice to keep your weight spread out. This will help prevent you from falling in again.

• Get to a warm and dry place immediately.

This story was originally published January 23, 2025 at 11:46 AM with the headline "Dog owner plunges into icy pond trying to save pup chasing geese, Colorado cops say."