CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (WKBW) — Cheektowaga Police officers waded into a freezing creek to rescue a dog that was clinging to a tree in the middle of the water.
Police were called to an area off Genesee Street around 3:20 Wednesday afternoon, after someone spotted a dog in a creek. Just before that, the dog's owners were trying to get the dog into the vet's office, when it got loose.
An employee with the vet's office told police the dog was last seen in the creek, so they started checking the area around it. Patrolman James Rutkowski was checking an area behind Rein Road when he heard the dog, then spotted the dog clinging to the tree in the creek.
Patrolman Rutkowski went into the creek up to his waist and was able to make his way to the dog. Another officer, Patrolman Troy Blackchief also arrived to help and waded into the creek. The two, along with Cheektowaga Animal Control, were able to carry the dog out of the water and bring it to safety.
The dog was taken to the veterinary clinic to be checked. It turns out the dog was recently rescued from a puppy mill, and tends to be very timid.
