Emergency responders in Maynard, Massachusetts, collaborated on a freezing rescue mission on Tuesday night, pulling a dog to safety after it fell through thin ice at a local pond.

It happened around 9 p.m., when firefighters and police received an urgent call from a pet owner reporting that their dog Rufus had broken through a hole in the ice and was trapped in the frigid water below.

Video footage taken from the scene shows two firefighters, secured with safety ropes, carefully walking across the unstable ice surface to reach the stranded animal. One brave firefighter jumped into the icy water to lift Rufus to safety while his partner helped pull the frozen dog out onto the ice surface.

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Maynard Police provided crucial support by deploying a drone to guide the rescue team safely across the treacherous pond in darkness, helping them avoid other potential weak spots in the ice. Within 10 minutes, Rufus was safely back in his owner's arms and able to return home with no serious injuries.

"A pet falling through the water, in these freezing conditions, is any pet owner's worst nightmare," Fire Chief Angela Lawless said. "This could've been far more serious if Rufus was in the water for a long period of time, but our crews made sure that would not be the case."

Senior writer Chris DeWeese edits Morning Brief, The Weather Channel’s newsletter.