Maynard firefighters and police officers used drone footage to guide a swift water rescue, pulling Rufus from 28-degree waters in less than 10 minutes

By Mike Grimala
masslive.com

MAYNARD, Mass. — A dog was saved from the frigid waters of Mill Pond in Maynard, as emergency workers were able to rescue him after he fell through a hole in the ice.

Crews from the Maynard Police and Fire Departments arrived at Mill Pond Tuesday night after a resident reported their dog, Rufus, had fallen into the icy water, according to a statement from Maynard police.

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Using drone video footage to guide the operation, firefighters Keagan Sheridan and Ed Wasiuk went into the water to secure Rufus and return him to his owner. The entire operation took less than 10 minutes, according to police.

The temperature in Maynard was 28 degrees at the time, according to the National Weather Service.

Rufus suffered no injuries.

Maynard Fire Chief Angela Lawless said if Rufus had been in the water much longer, he might not have been so fortunate.

“A pet falling through the water, in these freezing conditions, is any pet owner’s worst nightmare,” Lawless said in a statement. “I am proud of the composure and teamwork demonstrated in the response between Group 4 and Maynard Police, which allowed for a quick rescue operation.”

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