North Shore Rescue is urging residents to keep their dogs on a leash near creeks and rivers in this treacherous weather. People are being asked to be cautious as the snow on the ground becomes icy and slippery.
Peter Haigh, a manager with the North Shore Rescue, said a dog running excitedly may not be able to stop itself and can risk going over the edge or falling into local creeks and rivers.
“They can slide and go through the ice in a creek, get trapped or they can may be held under the water with unfortunate consequences,” he said.
Haigh said the rescue group has received many such calls over the years, with the downside being that the dog rescues are not funded by the province.
Any cost involved is billed to the owners, and it can be high if there is a helicopter involved search, which starts at $2,500 an hour.
Haigh is urging people to keep the dogs on-leash and to avoid small and big creeks and especially steep areas in the community.
