So there I was, working at home, checking builders were ok and happily writing reports when the doorbell goes and someone starts bashing the door.

Turns out it’s my neighbour in a panic asking if I had a rope. A lady turned up at her door soaked to the core shouting about her dog drowning in the canal. Oh boy. I had no idea what the situation was but grabbed rope and wellies and sprinted with Bam bams wife to the canal to find a very very distraught older lady screaming for her dog which had ran across a very frozen canal to chase a bird. The ice had broken, one stuck dog caught on the far bank in the water, clearly in distress in ice cold water.

Worse, the lady, complete with only one Croc left, had gone waist deep into iced water to try to reach the dog. She was soaked, distraught and determined that we needed the rope to lassoo the dog. I don’t think so! It took a lot of effort and a bossy me to stop her, send Mrs Bam Bam for a phone and to call the fire brigade. Meanwhile it’s getting dark, lady still frozen so Mrs Bam Bam and I swapped and I fetched a change of clothes, Mr Foggs wellies (ok ok they were the only shoes to hand) car blanket and super dooper torch.

So between us we forced this terrified lady to get out of wet clothes, into my old jog pants, Mr Foggs wellies and a car blanket. Lied to her that the dog was ok (it had stopped simpering by this point) and waited with her for the fire crew. Did I mention that we also had Bam Bams Young kid in tow and it had started to snow. Oh and the lady was still trying to get into the canal and going into shock. A scene from a carry on film.

After what seemed like ages the fire crew came along. FANTASTIC people. The team leader summed up the situation quickly and succinctly “it’s effing freezing, the canals effing deep, the dogs in the effing wrong place”. Cue energetic fire team jumping into water, smashing ice with their hands and fighting along to grab the poor knackered dog. They loved our big torch which illuminates half the canal. I love these people!

So finally we had drenched knackered dog in my car blanket, lady hugged by surly fireman. Ambulance on the lane to administer oxygen to the lady who went into near full shock/relief when they grabbed the dog. Myself and Mrs Bam Bam came up the rear carrying wet clothes, dog lead, one croc (the other is in the canal) and in need of stuff drinks!

We all piled into Bam Bams house with the dog wrapped in blankets and towels being fussed by three firefighters, then two paramedics, then two more firefighters. Then lady on oxygen tank, kid, bam Bams dog, oh and some kids show on tv in the background.

Thank goodness all ended well! Dog recovered with waggy tail and lots of licking. Lady warmed up and taken home by ambulance man.

The dog was called Opie. He is 18 months old and in training to be a hearing dog and is due to meet his new owner tomorrow. Lucky escape. The lovely lady is 65 and still she was prepared to get into icy water.

I shall pop and see the lady tomorrow and check she is ok. What an event! Moral. Never let young dogs off leads next to frozen canals and NEVER go in after them!

What an adventure!

via PressSync