CRANFORD — Three Cranford police officers kept the holiday season from turning tragic for a local family on Friday night when they acted quickly to rescue a choking dog.

Cranford resident Donna Stone said she was playing with Leo, her 140-pound Great Dane/German shephard mix, in the field adjacent to Walnut Avenue school when he swallowed a lacrosse ball and began to choke.

"I tried to get it out myself, but every time I got near him he was scared and fought me," Stone said. "I was panicked, and I really didn't know what to do, so I called 911."

Shortly after 7 p.m., police received the call and Officer Robert Jordan was the first to respond to the field.

Police said Jordan encircled Leo with his arms and attempted to clear his airway using abdominal thrusts. Officers John Rattigan and Brian Trotter arrived and assisted in the rescue, police said.

When the ball was partially dislodged and the responding officers detected that Leo was able to breathe, officers took Leo and Stone to Westfield Veterinary Group & Wellness Center, where waiting staff performed an emergency procedure to completely remove the ball.

"They were amazing," Stone said. "I couldn't have asked for anything better. They saved Christmas for us. Leo was born on Christmas day, so we were just approaching his second birthday. He’s part of our family. I didn’t want to lose this dog."

Leo came home that same night and is doing fine, Stone said.

“As an animal lover myself, I am well aware of the relationship that exists between dog and owner,” Cranford Police Chief James Wozniak said. “I’m glad we were able avert a heartbreaking incident for this family during the holidays.”

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Jessica Remo may be reached at jremo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessicaRemoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.