TORONTO, Ont. – A Toronto police officer is getting praise from a dog owner after his quick thinking saved a dog from Lake Ontario.

The officer, Constable Greg Vanderhart, is now taking a few days off to recover from a minor arm injury and hypothermia sustained during the rescue effort.

The rescue happened around 4 p.m. Sunday and the owner now wants everyone to know about the officer she says went above and beyond the call of duty.

The incident began when the dog, Lucy, ended up in the water while chasing a bird.

Lucy’s owner then called 911, and Const. Vanderhart used some quick thinking to rescue the pup.

“She was holding on only by her paws, the officer tore out the backseat of his police cruiser, tied himself to a rope, put on a flotation vest and crawled out on the ice,” the owner told 680News.

Using the seat as a flotation device for the dog, the officer and the 100-pound Newfoundland dog were pulled back to shore by emergency workers.

“I would like this officer commended for his initiative,” the owner said.

Both the officer and dog will be fine after the incident.