A puppy stranded near dangerous Ohio waterfalls is safe after three divers used treats to earn his trust and bring him to shore.
In Elyria's Black River, the young dog's leash appeared to have snagged on the log he was clinging to.
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The puppy still had a collar and leash on, but he appeared to be unable to get loose.
A sighting near the falls beneath the Mussey Avenue bridge brought Elyria firefighters to the scene, according to WJW.
Elyria Fire Department Assistant Chief Kevin Szabo noted that even a dog comfortable in the water could get into trouble.
"He looks like he's got part Lab mix, so you know those dogs are no strangers to water, but he got himself in a predicament awful fast," Szabo recalled, per WJW.
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Firefighters enlisted divers from the Swift Water Rescue Team to help bring him to safety.
The rescue took place at one of the region's most hazardous spots on the water: the waterfalls on Elyria's Black River, according to WJW.
Without a microchip or dog license tag, the puppy offered rescuers few clues to his owner's identity.
What's being done?
Rescuers secured the puppy in a life ring and brought him to a safe spot on the riverbank, WJW reported.
The puppy's rescue inspired his new name, River, which the Lorain County Dog Kennel's warden and staff bestowed upon him.
He quickly charmed them after they brought him to the kennel.
Once out of the water, River appeared remarkably cheerful.
"Oh, it was great. You know, the dog came up and he was wagging his tail, and he was ready for a photo op," Szabo told the station.
"He was literally the coolest dog ever. He seemed to be living large, like he wanted to come back to the fire station with us," Szabo said.
Where can I learn more?
River isn't the only dog to need a hand getting out of dangerous waters. These stories follow crews and bystanders who saved dogs that became stranded.
• In South Africa, rescuers reunited a dog swept 650 feet offshore with his family.
• In California, drones spotted a woman and her dog stranded on a river boulder.
• In South Australia, a dog missing for a week was rescued from a lake cliff.
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