Men Brave Elements to Save a Dog

A dog stranded on a chunk of ice in the middle of the Passaic River was brought ashore Wednesday by rescuers in a rowboat who spent three hours fighting the current and dodging ice floes to reach the animal.

An animal shelter worker and a fire captain set out in the 8-foot boat after somebody reported seeing the 40-pound Rottweiler mix trapped on the ice.

When they finally reached the canine, shelter worker George Smith slipped a noose over his neck, followed by a leash, and gently tugged the reluctant animal toward the boat.

“At first, he kind of freaked out,” Smith said. “But when I reached underneath him and got him up under his body and pulled him in the boat, he got real calm. He looked up at us like, ‘Hey, I’m safe now!’ ”

Smith and Kearny Fire Capt. Tom McDermott, both exhausted from rowing, steered the boat to shore about 300 feet away. Other rescuers bundled the dog up and rushed it to a shelter.

The animal, which had a collar but no identification, was examined by a veterinarian and treated for exposure and possible frostbite. He appeared to be 3 to 4 years old.

Nobody had claimed the dog by Wednesday night.