Dog pulled from freezing lake safe and well (From Your Local Guardian)

Dog pulled from freezing lake safe and well

12:57pm Wednesday 15th February 2012 in News By Alexandra Rucki

A dog with nine lives rescued from a freezing lake on Saturday has made a speedy recovery.

Jimmy, a two-year-old dachshund, was out for a morning stroll with his owners in Battersea Park and sped off onto the frozen lake.

But he quickly fell through ice and had to be rescued by firefighters in an inflatable dinghy.

He was rushed to Elizabeth Street Vets in central London with hypothermia and is now back at home.

Owners Kate Sissons, of North End Road, Fulham and 12-year-old son Jack Staveley have confirmed he is now safe and well, but still in the dog house.

She said: "I am embarrassed, it was the most awful days of our lives.

"I was not convinced he was going to make it, he was in there for 30 minutes. Afterwards the vet told us he has webbed feet.

"I felt for the children as there were kids watching getting upset."

The interior designer said she struggled to hold back her son from jumping into the lake himself to rescue Jimmy and sends her thanks to the couple who helped stop him.

She has also made a thank you donation and given chocolates to the fire service and Parks Police.

Jimmy will now be kept on a permanent lead so he will not be able to dash off again.

It is not the first time the pooch has been close to dying, with owners saying he is "the dog with hopefully nine lives."

He was in the Royal Veterinary College last summer after his lungs packed up and was run over in Chelsea Bridge when he was a pup.

Jack has also made a Facebook page to let people know he is back on his paws.

Visit facebook.com/pages/Jimmy-the-dachshund.