RAYMOND – If you’re a dog that likes to explore, it helps to have a sister watching your back. 

A few guys in cold water rescue gear are also useful.

A dog was plucked from the frigid water of Notched Pond on Wednesday, but only after her sister led a team of rescuers to the scene.

It happened around 10:30 a.m. near 24 Inlet Pond Road and the rescue was no simple affair. Cold water rescue teams responded to the scene from Gray, Raymond and New Gloucester.

Gray Fire Chief Kurt Elkanich was the first on scene and immediately took command, according to Capt. Scott Doyle of New Gloucester Fire & Rescue. Before crews could reach the dog, Mishka, they first had to scale 50-foot embankments covered in ice and snow, and then wade into the frigid pond where the dog was struggling to stay afloat 150 feet from shore.

It was all about teamwork.

Gray’s Cold Water Rescue Team donned cold water suits and entered the water shortly after arriving, according to Doyle. Within minutes Gray’s team retrieved the dog and hauled her ashore.

New Gloucester’s Cold Water Team took Mishka to their rescue truck to warm the dog. Raymond firefighters took over the care of the dog, wrapping her in multiple towels and blankets, along with applying warm heat packs. Raymond’s team kept the dog warm until the owner’s family could bring the dog to a local veterinary hospital.

She was reportedly in stable condition later Wednesday.

It was a bold and successful rescue that wouldn’t have happened at all if Mishka’s sister Senga hadn’t been keeping watch.

Fire officials said it was Senga who led a neighbor to Mishka, who had been barking in distress after falling into the water. When the neighbor found Mishka, she was clearly exhausted by the strenuous work of trying to stay afloat in the freezing water.

Rescuers suspect that Mishka ran into trouble after stepping out onto what appeared to be solid ice. It’s a wintertime mistake that can happen to anyone, officials say, man or beast.

“People need to be mindful that the ice is not safe, anywhere,” Elkanich said. “If any person or pet falls through the ice or is in the icy waters, call for emergency personnel or the next victim could be you.” 

It was a wild rescue, but it was not the first of its kind this season.

“This is the second call that we have been on, in a couple weeks where a dog led someone to an emergency,” Doyle said. “Our EMS personnel assisted an elderly man recently when his dog got the attention of a home keeper. The dog led the home keeper to the barn where the elderly man was injured.” 

Clearly Senga would approve.