Firefighter pulls white Lab from frigid Md. pond

A Potomac man looked out his kitchen window Friday afternoon and saw an animal in a pond.

At first "he thought it was an otter," said Capt. Oscar Garcia, a spokesman for the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service.

Looking more closely, the man saw that it was a big dog. He called 911.

Among the first on the scene: Firefighter Rashad Surratt, who donned his water rescue gear, got himself tethered to the shoreline, and went in.

Tully in a towel. (Courtesy Bruce Steward)

He got the white Labrador retriever -- name of Tully -- from the pond, which was ringed by ice and located just off the 9000 block of Belmart Road, Garcia said.

Speaking to the dog's owner, Surratt recommended heat, in the form of a blanket and a warm car ride to the veterinarian for a precautionary check-up, Garcia said.

We're trying to get pictures or videos from the rescue. We'll update this post if we do.

It's the second dog in three weeks firefighters have rescued from icy waters. "No ice is safe," Garcia said.

This item has been updated since it was first published.

-- Dan Morse