By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
• Maynard, Massachusetts police and fire crews used drone footage to guide a rescue of a dog that fell through the ice on Mill Pond Tuesday night.
• The dog, identified as Rufus, was pulled from frigid water in less than 10 minutes and returned safely to its owner.
• Firefighters entered the 28-degree water using ice rescue techniques while the drone provided situational awareness.
• The animal suffered no serious injuries, and officials credited teamwork and technology for the quick response.
MAYNARD, MA — Police and fire crews in Maynard, Massachusetts, used drone video Tuesday evening to guide a successful rescue of a dog that fell through the ice on Mill Pond, officials said.
Responders were dispatched just after 9 p.m. after a resident reported that their dog, identified as Rufus, had fallen into frigid water through a hole in the ice, according to a joint statement from the Maynard Police and Fire Departments.
A drone launched by Maynard police provided real-time video to guide firefighters as they entered the 28-degree water and located the dog, Mill Pond conditions and timeline details show.
Firefighters reached Rufus and pulled him from the water in under 10 minutes; the dog was returned to his owner with no serious injuries.
Officials said use of the drone helped crews quickly assess conditions and navigate to the rescue site, and commended the coordinated response between departments.