Watch N.Y. Deputy in Helicopter Rescue Dog from Frigid River
What to know
- Onondaga County sheriff's deputies used a helicopter Monday evening to rescue a dog struggling in the near‑freezing Seneca River in Van Buren.
- Sgt. Jim Farley maneuvered the aircraft low enough for Deputy Levi Taylor to reach out and pull the goldendoodle, Cooper, from the water after a 9-1-1 call reported the dog swimming in the river.
- The shivering dog was warmed before he was reunited with his owner.
Deputies found a goldendoodle named Cooper struggling to stay afloat in the middle of the river near Overlook Drive, according to Newton.
Sgt. Jim Farley guided the helicopter down, and Deputy Levi Taylor was able to climb out onto the side of the helicopter and pull the dog from the river, Newton said.
Farley took the chopper so low while rescuing the dog that it touched the water, video of the rescue shows. Taylor, strapped to the helicopter, leans over and grabs the dog.
By 6:15 p.m., deputies pulled Cooper out of the water.
The dog appeared to be very cold and shivering, so they took him to the Diane Reeves Memorial Ball Park at 2277 Downer St. where Baldwinsville Fire Department personnel were waiting with blankets.
Farley and Taylor helped rescue another dog, as well as two men from a marsh just a few weeks ago.
Cooper’s owner had reported him missing on Facebook earlier on Monday, Newton said. Cooper was returned to her.
It is unclear how Cooper ended up in the river, Newton said.
Temperatures outside were around 35 degrees when Cooper was rescued, according to data from the National Weather Service.
________________
©2026 Advance Local Media LLC.
Visit syracuse.com.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.