Golden Retriever In Good Shape After Being Rescued From Frozen Pond

A four-year-old Golden Retriever who was plucked from a frozen Oklahoma City pond is doing just fine following her rescue on Christmas Eve.

“She had run out, we don't know how long she was out there,” said Harper’s owner James Etzler.

Harper, a Golden Retriever, a breed characterized for their gentle and affectionate nature, found herself in trouble Christmas Eve while living up to her name.

“Being a retriever, she likes the ducks and likes the geese,” said Etzler.

Unbeknownst to her family, Etzler, who was running errands at the time, said Harper had darted out of a blown open gate and into the neighborhood pond.

“Ran out to go get them and she fell into the lake,” said Etzler.

A neighbor alerted Etzler's wife. And after unsuccessful attempts to rescue the dog, the neighbor called Oklahoma City firefighters for help.

“I pulled up to the house, there were four fire trucks, they were fishing her out,” said Etzler.

A neighbor tethered Harper to a rope and held on as firefighters utilized a paddleboat to inch across the frozen pond.

“She was pretty scared, she'd been trying to get out of the lake for a while,” said Etzler. 

After falling through the ice, Harper’s lower body was submerged in the frigid water for nearly twenty minutes. According to her owners when help arrived Harper was eager to cooperate.

“She was ready to get, out she was cold. She ran inside, she was done for the day,”

A picture of the happy dog was taken just hours after her rescue.