Dog rescued after falling down river valley embankment; Pet owners reminded to be cautious

Edmonton Fire Rescue Services saving a dog that was stuck after going down an embankment on Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. (Instagram/EFRS)

Edmonton dog owners were reunited with their pet after it went down an embankment and was stuck earlier this week.

On Monday, a dog was separated from its owner and wandered too close to a steep edge along the river valley, Edmonton Fire Rescue Services wrote on social media.

The dog went down the embankment and ended up stuck in a spot its owners couldn’t safely get to.

The owners did the “right thing,” according to Edmonton Fire, and called for help.

Because of how steep and close to the water the embankment was, a Technical Rescue Team — firefighters trained in high-angle, confined space and water rescues - responded.

“After some coercing that they were the good guys (just without any treats), the dog allowed them to put on a harness and help bring it to safety and its owners,” Edmonton Fire wrote online.

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Pet owners are encouraged to keep their animals leashed near embankments and on low-lying trails near water, especially during freeze-thaw cycles.

“If a pet becomes unreachable down an embankment or falls through ice, call 9-1-1,” a spokesperson for Edmonton Fire told CTV News Edmonton.

“Do not attempt to rescue them yourself.”

The same advice applies to bystanders who see animals or people fall through the ice or get stuck near rivers, stormwater ponds, drainage outfalls and other bodies of water.

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Edmonton’s is set to see temperature highs above 0 C throughout the weekend, potentially making embankments slippery and dangerous and ice thin.

The city reminds residents that “it is never safe to walk on the ice of the North Saskatchewan River, no matter the season.”

Ice and pet safety tips are available on the city’s website.