A 10-month-old Great Pyrenees named Archie nearly drowned after falling through thin ice on a Oneida County pond. Environmental Conservation Police helped bring him home safely.
The rescue happened Dec. 3 off Fairchild Road in the Town of Remsen. Oneida County Sheriffs asked for help after the dog became trapped in the middle of the frozen water.
ECO Gates, a member of the DEC’s Flood Incident Response Team, rushed to the scene. He worked alongside the Barneveld Fire Department Swift Water Rescue Team, with help from firefighters from Holland Patent and Barneveld.
Reaching Archie wasn’t easy. The ice kept breaking as rescuers tried to get close using a boat and safety webbing. To coax the frightened dog, they brought along an unexpected tool — a piece of sharp cheddar cheese.
After several tense attempts, the team pulled Archie from the icy water. Officers reunited him with his owner without injuries.
Other local departments helped secure the scene. The Remsen Fire Department handled traffic and safety while the rescue unfolded.
The puppy rescue was one of many calls handled by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Division of Law Enforcement in late November and early December. The agency says Environmental Conservation Police respond to thousands of incidents each year, ranging from environmental crimes to emergency rescues involving people and animals.
DEC officials say those calls highlight the wide role ECOs play across New York, including protecting wildlife and stepping in during life-or-death emergencies.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].