Sometimes even St. Bernards need rescuing

[March 09, 2009]  BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) -- There was a rescue involving a St. Bernard in Billings, Mont., but this time it was the humans who saved the day.

A 16-month-old St. Bernard named Duke apparently fell through the ice on a golf-course pond after escaping from his yard. He was able to pull himself out but ended up getting frozen to the ice.

A maintenance worker saw the dog and got help. Two firefighters in dry suits pushed an ice rescue sled over about 10 feet of hip-deep water and 10 feet of ice to reach the shivering, 118-pound dog.

The firefighters broke the ice around Duke's tail with a mallet before hauling the dog and a chunk of ice back to shore.

Duke was feeling better after being de-iced and warmed up under a blow dryer at a veterinary clinic.

[Associated Press]

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