HERO: Fireman Saves Dog From Lake Drowning East Of Sandpoint ID

A western Montana firefighter is being celebrated this week after assisting with pulling a 60-pound, female German Shepherd from the frigid waters of a lake 190 miles east of Sandpoint, Idaho. The dog had become trapped between sheets of ice and was struggling to stay afloat.

Emergency responders with the Smith Valley Fire Department near the western Montana community of Kalispell rushed to Smith Lake over the weekend after being alerted to an animal threat, according to details provided by kpax.com. The dog's owner contacted the department after the animal fell through some thin ice, according to kpax.com.

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After anchoring to the shore of the lake, the firefighting team worked together to pull the German Shepherd, named "Stella," to safety and reunite her with her owner, according to the details shared by kpax.com.

Great job crew!

It's estimated that roughly 40,000 pets die from drownings each year in the United States, according to cityvet.com. Fire departments handle the majority of these types of emergencies, and they risk their own lives when responding to these incidents.

Despite the thick layer of fur, dogs can succumb to hypothermia as quickly as humans can, according to petmd.com. It’s not advised that dog owners let them run free on frozen lakes as the ice close to shore is generally much thinner than ice found over deeper sections.

The men and women of the Smith Valley Fire Department should be proud of their efforts days ago when responding to this incident. Great job crew!