Dog owners warned after two icy water incidents in less than 24 hours (From This Is Local London)

Dog owners warned after two icy water incidents in Bexleyheath and Chislehurst in less than 24 hours

5:07pm Sunday 5th February 2012 in News By Robert Fisk

DOG owners are being reminded to keep their pets on leads when around frozen ponds and lakes after two incidences of animals going into icy water in the last 24 hours.

In the most recent incident firefighters were called to reports of a dog on a frozen part of the lake in Danson Park, Bexleyheath, at around 1.20pm today (February 5).

While driving to the park they received word that the animal had gone into the water and only its head was visible above the surface.

The 25 firefighters arrived at the scene and were planning how to get the dog out when it managed to get itself out on its own.

And around 2.15am firefighters had to go on to a pond in Chislehurst to rescue an animal, believed to be a black Labrador and Rottweiler-cross, which went into the icy water during a night time walk.

Watch manager Richard Tapp, from Bexley fire station’s white watch, said: “It’s an important message for the public to not have a dog off its lead when you have a frozen lake or pond nearby.

“The owner this afternoon was going to go in the water which could have been disastrous.

“It would be pretty nasty to fall into icy water at this time of year because very quickly you will suffer the effects of hypothermia and cold water reflex.”