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Lucky pooch's icy rescue

Aspen the border collie is barking the praises of two men that jumped into action to save her
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Icy rescue


Two Lake Country men are being hailed as heroes after they jumped into action to the save the life of a drowning dog in icy Wood Lake.

Dylan Cocqyt was having his morning coffee on Tuesday when he looked out at the water and saw something moving.

“I was playing on my phone and I saw what I thought was a duck playing on the water,” said Cocqyt.

“I am glad I looked again because it was indeed a dog trying to get out of the water.”

He ran outside and saw no one in sight, so he grabbed something heavy to break the ice before jumping into the lake.

“I made it out about half way to her, trying to break the ice to her,” said Cocqyt who was starting to get very cold.

At this point his neighbour Bill Varner noticed the scene and rushed in to help.

Varner was concerned Cocqyt would freeze up before getting to the dog and suggested they borrow a neighbour's canoe to save the pup.

“I hopped out of the water, we got in the canoe and paddled out there and go it in the boat,” said Cocqyt.

“I didn't really feel how cold it was, the adrenaline was rushing.”

Varner and Cocqyt canoed back to safety and brought little border collie, Aspen, inside.

“She was shivering quite a bit, almost convulsing when I first got her inside. I got her body heat up. She had a tag so I called the phone number. They had been out looking for her and came by to get her 10 minutes later,” said the rescuer.

“Her owners were so glad to see her.”

Aspen was reportedly a new dog for the family and had bolted from the home when someone came to check on her – assumedly stepping out on to the lake and falling in where the ice got thin.

She is now doing well.

As for Cocqyt, he said jumping into the lake and risking his own health was never a concern.

“In the moment, the cries that poor dog was giving off. I've had dogs, I know how important they are. I could never stand by and watch it. You spring into action at moments like that,” said Cocqyt.

“I couldn't of done it without Bill. We were lucky there was a canoe close by and I am just glad we got there in time.”