Firefighter Adopts Puppy He Rescued from Frozen Pond

When a tiny stray puppy wandered onto a frozen pond in Middletown, Ohio, she had no idea her worst day would become her luckiest.

The female pup broke through the thin ice behind a Dixie Highway home on a warm afternoon. A homeowner spotted her struggling in the frigid water and called 911 at 1:18 p.m.

Middletown Division of Fire's ice rescue team arrived quickly. Firefighter and paramedic Jacob Smith carefully made his way across the brittle ice to reach the shivering puppy.

But Smith didn't just save her life. He decided to give her a home.

After pulling the pup to safety, Smith announced he would take her home for care and adopt her if no owner comes forward. The team has already given her a name: Sausage.

Sunny's Take

The timing of this rescue makes it even more remarkable. Middletown's ice rescue team had just completed their training the week before Sausage's accident.

Fire Chief Brian Wright saw the rescue as a teaching moment. He reminded residents that melting ice becomes increasingly dangerous, and it doesn't take much for ice to break under pressure as temperatures rise.

For Sausage, what started as a terrifying plunge into icy water ended with a warm blanket and a family. For Smith, a routine training exercise turned into a lifetime commitment.

Sometimes the best rescues are the ones that save two hearts at once.