The Boulder Fire Department has been given the Compassionate Fire Department award from the People for the Ethical Treament of Animals (PETA) for its rescue of three dogs that fell through ice in Boulder County this week.
“The concern and dedication exhibited by the Boulder Fire-Rescue Department sets a great example for other emergency personnel,” PETA Executive Vice President
Tracy Reiman said in a press release. “Boulder should be proud of its first responders, who are prepared to protect and serve both residents and their beloved animal companions.”
The Boulder Fire Department will receive a framed certificate, vegan chocolates, and a letter of appreciation for their efforts to keep Boulder pets safe.
After rescuing three dogs that fell through thin ice in a period of two days, on Jan. 18 members of the Boulder Fire Department urged pet owners to keep a close eye on their animals around frozen bodies of water.
Boulder fire crews responded to one call at Admiral Arleigh A. Burke Park at Mohawk and Pawnee drives and two at a lake near Table Mesa and South Loop drives. In each case, firefighters went onto the ice to save the dogs, and divers were standing by.
Firefighters stressed the importance of keeping animals leashed when near frozen water to prevent them from going out onto the ice. Along the Front Range, where temperatures can change rapidly, it is often difficult to determine if ice is safe enough to walk on. Water that may have been frozen solid one day could be perilously thin the next.
If an animal does fall through ice, firefighters ask that citizens call 911, rather than attempting to save the pet on their own. Such cold temperatures can cause life-threatening hypothermia.
Boulder Fire requests that people remain careful throughout the colder months, sticking to icy areas that have been approved for ice-related recreational activities.
