Dog Rescued From Ashland Reservoir As State Warns Of Ice Danger

ASHLAND, MA — Ashland police and firefighters rescued a too-curious dog from the Ashland Reservoir on Tuesday afternoon. The pup fell through a layer of almost nonexistent ice, officials said.

And he wasn't the first such casualty, a result this very mild winter. People have been rescued from icy bodies of water all across the region in recent days.

State police, the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the state Emergency Management Agency, and others issued a joint statement on Tuesday imploring residents to stay off the ice.

"With recent warmer temperatures across much of Massachusetts, state officials are warning the public of the dangers associated with walking on ice over bodies of water, including lakes, ponds, reservoirs, streams, and rivers," the statement reads, going on to warn about risks like hypothermia and drowning.

Falling into ice is a risk for adults, kids, and pets. Just a sampling of recent incidents: two fell into a pond in Sturbridge on Monday; four people fell into a pond in Boylston last week — three of them fell while trying to rescue the first person who fell in; and then there's Blue, who wandered into the Ashland Reservoir on Tuesday.

Blue's owner entered the reservoir to get the dog. But ultimately an Ashland firefighter in a survival suit had to go in and get him.

You can read the full warning about why you should avoid ice — and instructions on what to do if for some reason you or someone near you falls in.