This is one lucky dog!

[Rue]

This is so cool...such a lucky dog!

I'm surprised though...why do so many people come forward to claim an animal that isn't theirs? For the supposed fame? Seriously...how many people lose their dogs on ice floes on a daily basis?

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/1...nd_rescued_dog

Dog drifting on Baltic Sea ice floe rescued by Polish ship, now dilemma over finding his owner
2 hours, 24 minutes ago

By Monika Scislowska, The Associated Press

WARSAW, Poland - A frightened, shivering dog has been rescued from the Baltic Sea after floating alone on an ice floe 15 miles (24 kilometres) off the Polish coast. Now his seamen saviours just have to figure out who really owns him.

Four people have already claimed him, but so far rescuers say there's been no wagging tail of joy from the miracle dog nicknamed "Baltic."

His frozen saga comes as Poland suffers through a winter cold snap where temperatures have dipped to -15 Celsius (5 degrees Fahrenheit).

The thick-furred male dog was found adrift Monday by the crew of the Baltica, a Polish ship of sea scientists carrying out research in the Baltic Sea. Natalia Drgas, a oceanologist with the Baltica crew, said the rescue was difficult and at one point it seemed the dog had drowned.

"It was really a tough struggle. It kept slipping into the water and crawling back on top of the ice. At one point it vanished underwater, under the ship and we thought it was the end, but it emerged again and crawled on an ice sheet," Drgas said.

At that point, the crew lowered a pontoon down to the water, and a crew member managed to grab the dog by the scruff of his neck and drag him to safety.

A firefighter on duty in Grudziadz, on the Vistula river 62 miles (100 kilometres) from the Bay of Gdansk, told The Associated Press the dog was spotted floating on ice through the city on Saturday. Firefighters tried to save the dog but could not approach it on the shifting ice sheets, said the officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Baltica crew, since moored in the port city of Gdynia, have named the dog "Baltic" as they search for his owners, ship captain Jerzy Wosachlo said.

But Drgas said so far four people have claimed him - and Baltic has not claimed any of them back.

The dog didn't recognized the first two people to come for him, keeping his distance and showing no recognition to a couple on Wednesday and a woman on Thursday who both said he was theirs.

Two other would-be dog owners were still on their way to Gdynia on Thursday for a possible reunion.

A veterinarian who examined him Monday after he was brought to shore, Aleksandra Lawniczak, said the dog was clearly frightened but in strikingly good shape and had suffered no frostbite.

She described him as a friendly dog who was clearly well treated before getting lost.

Wosachlo said the research team is prepared to adopt Baltic if his original owner is never found.

[Lukenasia]

Saw this on the news this morning, was an amazing story but I think its terrible that some families are pretending to own the 'famous' dog, though not all of them might be, just find it abit odd about how many people lost their dog that looks the same to the North Sea!

Poor Doggie though :( If it were mine I'd be giving him lots of love and cuddles and spoiling him till his fur turns purple

[Northernguy]

These people claiming to ownership should be investigated and charged if the dog isn't theirs.
They just want to pull off some sort of scam for bucks.
Kudos to Baltica for saving it!

[Lukenasia]

These people claiming to ownership should be investigated and charged if the dog isn't theirs.

Though if they can prove they had a dog before in old photos and such that looks just like it and they had lost it recently, then you shouldn't charge em' :P

I'd be devastated if one of my cats didn't come home one night, found a lead with the local RSCPA office to find not only its not my cat, but I'm getting charged for it It would be adding insult to injury

[Northernguy]

Most neighbors know whether or not you have a dog.Just ask!lol

[Rue]

An update! That was fast! The dog is doing well. The ship will be happy to keep him if his 'real' owners don't show up...

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/1...nd_rescued_dog

Dog rescued from Baltic Sea makes himself at home, finds friends on ship that saved him

Fri Jan 29, 10:07 AM

By Monika Scislowska, The Associated Press

WARSAW, Poland - A dog rescued from the Baltic Sea after braving a 75-mile journey on an ice floe is making himself at home on the Polish research ship whose crew rescued him, the captain said Friday.

Jerzy Wosachlo, the captain of the Baltica, said the dog slept on a blanket in the ship's laboratory, then shared a sausage breakfast with the crew. He said the dog often sticks close to the mechanic who saved him but also has started moving around as he pleases, enjoying the company of people.

"We have enrolled him as a crew member," Wosachlo said.

Nicknamed "Baltic," the dog - furry and friendly - will continue in that capacity unless his owner is found, the captain said. The ship is preparing to sail Feb. 10 on a brief mission - with the dog, unless he is afraid, Wosachlo said.

With the ship in the port of Gdynia on Friday, the black-and-brown mongrel was occasionally taken on land for walks, he said.

The Sea Fishing Institute that owns the ship sent a bowl and a squeaking toy, and the scientists on board brought dog food. And Wosachlo was receiving numerous calls from people offering money to feed the dog or wanting to adopting him.

After news of the dog's rescue broke, four people called saying he was theirs. But the dog kept his distance from the first two, showing no recognition. Two other putative owners who had planned to come for the dog Friday cancelled, Wosachlo said.

President Lech Kaczynski, himself a dog owner, sent the crew a letter praising its action in saving the dog's life.

"Such gestures make our world a better one," Kaczynski wrote.

The dog was first seen Saturday on the Vistula River, 60 miles (100 kilometres) inland, drifting on a piece of ice past the city of Grudziadz. Local firefighters said they failed to save him then.

He was spotted again Monday, 15 miles (24 kilometres) from land in the Baltic Sea, when he was rescued by the Baltica's crew.

The rescue was difficult because the dog kept falling into the water. Fearing he could drown, the crew lowered a pontoon to the water and the mechanic, Adam Buczynski, managed to grab the dog by the scruff of the neck and pull him to safety.

In port, the 44-pound (20-kilogram) dog was taken to a veterinarian, who found him in surprisingly good condition and estimated he was 5 or 6 years old.

The veterinarian, Aleksandra Lawniczak, said a dog with thick fur and a layer of fat can survive cold conditions for as long as eight days if it has water to drink.