SALINA, Kansas. - Gabe Siem was not about to let his beloved dog, Porter, slip away to an icy grave.

He tried repeatedly to pull the big black lab from a frozen pond where the dog had broken through the ice and was struggling to stay afloat.

But despite heroic efforts by Siem and assistance from friends, Porter remained stranded.

Siem's friend called 911 and emergency crews arrived, but an attempt to reach Porter with a long tree branch only sent Siem and Animal Control officer Jane Trostle through the ice into the freezing cold water.

They got out with no problems but Trostle knew that time was short for Porter, who was still struggling in deeper water several yards away.

She came up with a plan that included using a long electrical extension cord as a lifeline and proceeded to shimmy back out onto the ice to attempt the rescue once again.

Just as she reached the dog, the ice collapsed and Trostle again went into the water. But this time she had ahold of Porter.

Cold and exhausted, the pair were pulled back to shore with the extension cord.

"My thing was I just didn't want the boy to back out on the ice and I knew I had to do something because otherwise he would have," Trostle said of her rescue effort.

After being checked out by medical personnel at the scene, Trostle returned to duty and finished her shift.

Siem's family said they were grateful for her efforts to rescue Porter, who recovered from the ordeal.