A dog is recovering from an unexpected dip into a partially frozen lake in Waterboro Wednesday morning.

Dakota was pulled out of Little Ossipee Lake by Capt. Tom Langevin – known in the Waterboro Fire Department as Dr. Dolittle for his way with animals – around 8 a.m. Wednesday. The wayward pooch wandered about 100 feet from shore but slipped into the water when the thin layer of ice broke.

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Dakota is pulled out of Little Ossipee Lake by Capt. Tom Langevin – known in the Waterboro Fire Department as Dr. Dolittle for his way with animals – Wednesday morning.
Dakota is pulled out of Little Ossipee Lake by Capt. Tom Langevin – known in the Waterboro Fire Department as Dr. Dolittle for his way with animals – Wednesday morning. Waterboro Fire Department photo

Fire Chief Matthew Bors said Langevin wore an ice-water suit and was tethered to shore by a rope as he made his way across the ice to Dakota. Within minutes, both were back on shore unharmed. Dakota was tired and cold, but was promptly taken home by its owner to rest and warm up.

Bors said Dakota’s owner reported the dog spent an hour lounging in front of a woodstove, then enjoyed a special ice cream treat.

“We don’t get a lot of calls for animal rescues, but we respond and assist with whatever we can,” Bors said. “Luckily the outcome was a positive one.”

Bors said the incident is a good reminder that the ice on local lakes and ponds is not yet safe enough to walk on.

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