Dog Swept to Sea Survives, Garners Facebook Following
The dog was spotted by the crew of a scientific research ship, clinging to an ice floe some 15 miles of the coast of the Polish port city of Gdynia.
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February 18, 2010
Among the many inspiring human survival stories each day, it may be easy to forget that animals - like Baltic the dog, who had been swept by the icy waters of the Baltic Sea in Poland - can also encounter adversity.
The dog was spotted by the crew of a scientific research ship, clinging to an ice floe some 15 miles of the coast of the Polish port city of Gdynia, according to the Associated Press.
Cold weather has made the rescue effort particularly challenging, but the dog was eventually pulled out and the vet who evaluated him declared the animal to be in remarkably good shape given the cold and hunger he had to endure.
The ship's co-owner, Ewa Baradziej-Krzyzankowska, told the news provider that "everybody loves him [and] the crew spoils him terribly."
"Just imagine - a crew of seasoned sailors who have experienced a lot in their lives - all crazy about a little dog," she added.
Baltic the dog also has a Facebook page where fans from around the world have been leaving messages.
Though it is unclear how the animal ended up in such dire straits, some believe he may have been walking on a frozen river when a bit of ice broke off and floated down towards the sea.
The story illustrates the importance of avoiding walking - or in the case of humans also skating or fishing - on frozen water reservoirs as the ice may be thin and give way.
According to Wired.com, those who fall though ice should avoid hyperventilating but take slow, deep breaths. They should face the direction they came from, stretch their arms over the ice and shimmy their body up until most of the torso is resting on the ledge.
Once out, it is best to logroll to shore and warm up by sipping a tepid decaf beverage rather than a hot drink.
Among the many inspiring human survival stories each day, it may be easy to forget that animals - like Baltic the dog, who had been swept by the icy waters of the Baltic Sea in Poland - can also encounter adversity.
The dog was spotted by the crew of a scientific research ship, clinging to an ice floe some 15 miles of the coast of the Polish port city of Gdynia, according to the Associated Press.
Cold weather has made the rescue effort particularly challenging, but the dog was eventually pulled out and the vet who evaluated him declared the animal to be in remarkably good shape given the cold and hunger he had to endure.
The ship's co-owner, Ewa Baradziej-Krzyzankowska, told the news provider that "everybody loves him [and] the crew spoils him terribly."
"Just imagine - a crew of seasoned sailors who have experienced a lot in their lives - all crazy about a little dog," she added.
Baltic the dog also has a Facebook page where fans from around the world have been leaving messages.
Though it is unclear how the animal ended up in such dire straits, some believe he may have been walking on a frozen river when a bit of ice broke off and floated down towards the sea.
The story illustrates the importance of avoiding walking - or in the case of humans also skating or fishing - on frozen water reservoirs as the ice may be thin and give way.
According to Wired.com, those who fall though ice should avoid hyperventilating but take slow, deep breaths. They should face the direction they came from, stretch their arms over the ice and shimmy their body up until most of the torso is resting on the ledge.
Once out, it is best to logroll to shore and warm up by sipping a tepid decaf beverage rather than a hot drink.
