BRONX, NY (December 28, 2025) — New York State Department of Environmental Conservation officers participated in the rescue of two abandoned or endangered dogs in separate incidents this month, one in the Bronx and another in Oneida County.
In the Bronx County case, Environmental Conservation Officers Ableson and Toomey were conducting marine fishing compliance patrols on December 6 when a New York City Park Ranger alerted them to a stray dog without tags at Orchard Beach. Working alongside New York City Park Ranger Sergeant Tainow and New York City Parks Enforcement Patrol Officers Tovar and Capellan, the team successfully leashed the dog and transported it to the local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).
The SPCA confirmed the animal was not microchipped and was likely abandoned. ECO Toomey then contacted petRescue, a volunteer-based no-kill pet rescue organization in the Town of Harrison, Westchester County. The group agreed to take in the dog, which is now available for adoption under the name “Hooch” and is hoped to find a loving home.
Meanwhile, in Oneida County, a 10-month-old Great Pyrenees named Archie became trapped in the middle of a pond off Fairchild Road in the Town of Remsen on December 3. The Oneida County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance for an ice water rescue.
ECO Gates, a member of DEC’s Flood Incident Response Team, responded along with the Barneveld Fire Department Swift Water Rescue Team. Officer Gates, together with a member of the Holland Patent Fire Department and a member of the Barneveld Fire Department, used a boat and webbing to break through the ice. They also carried a piece of sharp cheddar cheese to help retrieve the dog. After a few attempts, the team successfully rescued Archie and reunited him with his owner without incident. The Remsen Fire Department assisted by securing the scene and providing traffic control.
This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.