An Oxford County woman and her dog had a close call Friday afternoon when they were pulled out of a frozen pond by firefighters and police.
Shortly before 1 p.m, a 52-year-old woman was walking with her Labrador Retriever near Pine Pond in Blandford-Blenheim Township when the dog fell through the ice, Oxford OPP said.
The woman, helped out by a teenaged nephew who was in the area, got into a canoe and went out on to the ice to rescue the dog.
But after the dog was put in the canoe, the craft broke through the ice and tipped over.
The woman was able to get the dog back into the canoe while she clung to the side.
The teenage boy called for help and the Oxford OPP and East Zorra-Tavistock Fire Department responded.
A volunteer firefighter, who was tied and anchored by the two OPP officers on shore, was able to grab a rope attached to the canoe and pulled the craft to safety.
The woman was treated at the scene by paramedics and was taken by ambulance to Woodstock General Hospital with hypothermia and other minor injuries.
The dog was assessed at the scene and appeared to be in good health.
OPP said the incident serves as a reminder about the dangers of water ways as ice begins to melt.