Mini Bulldog Rescued From Freezing Lake Erie in the Nick of Time

Firefighters from the Loraine Fire Department rescued a struggling miniature bulldog from Lake Erie just in the nick of time.

A woman reportedly spotted the dog who was struggling around the end of the lake and called the fire department. The miniature bulldog had gotten stuck in Lake Erie after running away from his home on December 28. He climbed over snow drift while his human was napping, according to the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram.

Diesel’s human, Tom Kolesar, said that he and his wife called out to their three dogs, and only one came running back. “About 10 minutes later,” Kolesar recalled, “she steps out back, calls for the dogs, our boxer came running, but these two were nowhere to be found,”

Eventually, they found one of the dogs roaming around the neighborhood, but Diesel was still missing. Thankfully, a woman saw him near the shoreline of the lake and called the fire department. She told them that she saw the dog get out of the lake and walk down a bit before getting back in.

The Lorain Fire Department arrived shortly after, and they believe the dog had been in the cold water for at least 10 minutes before they got there.

“He was showing signs that he was about done,” Fenn told the publication. “Scared us to death, I was like, please don’t. We had our ice suits coming and stuff like that to dress out and jump in and get him, but that would have been difficult with the 10-foot drop into the water.”

The rescuers were able to hook a pole on Diesel’s collar and pull him up out of the lake. Diesel was taken to the animal hospital, where he got warmed up and got a check-up to make sure everything was fine before returning to his humans.

“We walk [Diesel] during the summers, and we walk him to the edge of the water, but he never expressed an interest in going any deeper,” Kolesar told the publication.

We are so glad that Diesel made it home safely to his family! Here are the full rescue tips that just may come in handy one day, and while you’re at it, sign this petition to demand all states make all animal abuse a felony now!

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