A warning has been issued to pet owners after a dog fell through an ice-covered Kilmarnock pond.
The pooch plunged into the icy waters of the Kay Park pond yesterday morning and apparently 'struggled' for a few minutes before its owner dived in to rescue the animal.
One woman who witnessed the incident said that while both the man and his dog appeared to be okay after the incident, it could have gone horribly wrong.
She's now warning other dog owners to be vigilant near frozen bodies of water.
Janette White from Kilmarnock said: "This morning I witnessed a little dog that had walked across the ice on the pond and ended up in the water, just by the fountain.
"It was probably tempted by the ducks, etc. that gather there when the rest of the water is frozen. The poor wee thing struggled for several minutes but couldn't get out.
"On realising this, the owner walked across the ice and had to go into the water himself to lift the dog to safety. A happy ending this time, but it could have gone terribly wrong.
"Please keep your dogs on the lead if you are walking them anywhere near Kay Park pond whilst it is frozen over."
With sub-zero temperatures hitting the region this week, bodies of water have been freezing over.
The same pond froze over in January last year during a cold snap and locals were spotted ice skating and playing hockey on the ice.
A skilled dog handler with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has said that if anyone gets into difficulty on the ice, the public should call 999 rather than trying to attempt a rescue themselves.
Jonathan Honeyman, said: “We don’t want your winter walk to end in tragedy so please avoid going near frozen water when you are out with loved ones and pets.
“While ice can look and feel solid, it can suddenly crack and cause a person or a dog to fall through and potentially become trapped under the ice.
“Pets should be kept on leads and owners should avoid throwing objects onto the ice for them to retrieve.
“If anyone does get into difficulty on the ice, do not attempt to rescue them. Dial 999 and ask for the fire and rescue service then wait for help to arrive.”
Animal welfare charity Scottish SPCA said the consequences of trying to rescue a pet from a frozen body of water are often tragic.
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Chief superintendent, Mike Flynn, said: “We receive lots of reports each year where people have tried to rescue their pet from a frozen lake or river, and often the consequences are tragic. Please keep dogs on the lead around waterways as they can be at risk of falling through ice.
“If your pet has fallen through ice then you should call the fire and rescue service and wait for assistance. Never go out onto the ice after an animal as, while the ice may be able to hold the weight of a dog, it’s unlikely to hold the weight of a human.”
SFRS cold water shock safety advice
- Falling through ice can be potentially deadly.
- The low temperature of the water can also bring on cold-water shock, which can cause breathing difficulties, blood vessels to close, the heart-rate to increase and lead to a heart attack.
- If someone can’t climb out of the water, it is not advisable, as many people think to move about in the water to keep warm while waiting for help. Instead, they should conserve their energy by keeping as still as possible.
For more information on Cold Water Shock please visit https://watersafetyscotland.org.uk/information/cold-water-shock/
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