A 12-year-old Shepard mix named "Woody" is safe and sound after he was trapped under a tree along the banks of the Schuylkill River.
Diane Murphy struggled to hold back the tears as she recalled Monday's events.
Murphy tells FOX 29's Lauren Cohn her dog was tied up in her backyard in Royersford when he somehow managed to get loose.
Even with a bad hip and arthritis, Woody managed to make his way down a big hill, across train tracks, a half mile from home.
He was spotted along the banks of the river by a passerby when suddenly the dog plunged 15-feet into the frigid water, getting himself trapped under a tree.
The passerby called 9-1-1 and Officer Mark Smythe came to the rescue.
"It was so dark and murky down there, hard to see him," Officer Smythe said. "I climbed down to where the tree came out and saw his head above water."
Knowing the dog had little time to spare, Smythe jumped in, not knowing just how deep and cold the water was.
In seconds, he got Woody out and rushed him to a local veterinary hospital for treatment.
When Murphy called police to report her missing dog, she learned just what had happened to her companion.
Murphy says Woody is okay, a bit shaky, but doing just fine. Her dog didn't have tags on at the time he went missing. Murphy says she will get him tags so if he ever runs away again, she'll be able to find him much faster.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 10:00 AM EDT2013-05-21 14:00:09 GMT
It feels like summer out there. We're expecting milder temperatures than yesterday: highs in the mid 80s. Just like summer, it'll be humid, with a chance of a few spotty showers during the day.
This pattern stays in place until Thursday, when strong thunderstorms usher in cooler air for the holiday weekend.
Monday, May 20 2013 11:08 PM EDT2013-05-21 03:08:39 GMT
An ugly business stained with sex, drugs and violence is exploding on the Internet. It's called sex trafficking, and it happens right here in our area.
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Monday, May 20 2013 11:07 PM EDT2013-05-21 03:07:00 GMT
A woman says she got kicked out of a Montgomery County mall for wearing a cancer-awareness hat. But it's the language, not the message, that got her into trouble.
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Monday, May 20 2013 10:20 PM EDT2013-05-21 02:20:18 GMT
Mike Kersten and his wife Lisa of Croydon, Lower Bucks County opened their front door over the weekend only to find police telling them to stay inside. A large black bear was spotted climbing one of
A black bear seen in Bucks County is still the talk of the area for residents.
Monday, May 20 2013 7:27 PM EDT2013-05-20 23:27:47 GMT
A century-old community staple in Cherry Hill was up for auction Monday. The Woodcrest Country Club has experienced some financial problems recently, and after efforts from the township and the Freeholders
Cherry Hill's Woodcrest Country Club went up for auction Monday, with a pending sale in place after an offer from a Marlton-based developer.
Officer Mark Smythe kneels next to "Woody," who was trapped under a tree Monday in Royersford. (Borough of Royersford)
