A yellow Labrador Retriever in Potomac Falls got more than he bargained for when he ventured out towards a frigid pond Friday.
Tully slipped on the snow and toppled into the icy water.
Maybe it was the shock on his muscles from the cold—but Tully soon found he couldn’t make his way out on his own.
Frantic neighbors called 911.
Minutes later, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue and Cabin John volunteer crews were out on the scene.
Tully dog-paddled around the pond, his head barely visible at times.
Reaching Tully wasn’t easy. Firefighters had to cut through two fences just to get to the pond’s shore.
Firefighter Rashad Surrat walked into the water with a rope and harness, eventually getting a grip on the slippery Lab.
Once Tully got to the shore he didn’t run off. He just stood there and did what most dogs would do---vigorously shook all the water off his coat.
Others standing nearby coaxed him further in to dry land.
No blankets were handy, so rescuers took off their own jackets to keep Tully warm.
Tully’s owners say he is recovering well and will be just fine.
