The Daily Camera
BOULDER, Colo. — Boulder fire crews have rescued three dogs that had fallen through ice in the last two days, prompting the fire department on Monday to urge pet owners to keep their dogs leashed around lakes, ponds and creeks.
One dog was rescued at Admiral Arleigh A. Burke Park at Mohawk and Pawnee drives and two dogs were rescued at a lake near Table Mesa and South Loop Drive. All three were rescued with the help of firefighters, who had to go out on the ice to pull them out.
The Front Range’s rapidly fluctuating temperatures can lead to unsafe ice conditions, with ice rapidly melting, fire officials said.
“Just one day can make a big difference. Making the rescues today was much more difficult than yesterday,” said Battalion Chief Gil Espinoza. “We care about dogs, but every time a firefighter goes out onto the ice, we are taking a risk.”
If an animal falls through ice, the fire department advises calling 911. If the ice was not thick enough to support a pet, it will not be thick enough to support a person — and falling into icy water is potentially fatal because of hypothermia, fire officials said.
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