(TheJournalTimes) – MOUNT PLEASANT — Hot dogs helped firefighters rescue a dog stranded on an icy pond Thursday afternoon.

The rescue call came in at about 12:30 p.m. after someone spotted a chow mix walking on the ice of a large pond near the 7300 block of Old Spring Street. The dog had a leash attached and it was later determined to have escaped its owner.

Mount Pleasant Police Sgt. Eric Relich said a responding officer initially tried to help. Relich said the officer noticed the dog’s back paws slip into open water and he moved to help, but the dog was able to get out of the water and ran farther out onto the pond. That’s when the South Shore Fire Department was called to assist, Relich said.

 Three firefighters took part in the rescue that took about 45 minutes, according to South Shore Battalion Chief Jon Keiser.

“They were trying to find the safest and best way to get the animal off the ice,” Keiser said. “The dog was fine walking on the ice we just had to figure out a way to get him safely to shore.”

 One firefighter wore an insulated protective suit, called a Gumby (after the cartoon character), and got into the icy water to reach the dog, who was not really cooperating until the owner of the dog showed up with hot dogs.

“They grabbed his leash and were able to get him out,” Relich said.

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