Lucky rover adopted by fireman

A Rottweiler mix who was stranded on an ice flow in a New Jersey river has been adopted by one of the firemen who came to his rescue.

Kearny fire captain Tom McDermott said he planned to change the dog’s name from Rover to Lucky. The fire chief paddled a rowing boat for hours last week to rescue the dog.

“When I saw him out there on that ice floe, he was helpless and all by himself,” McDermott said. “At that point I said if somebody doesn’t claim him, I would be interested. I knew I wanted him.”

The dog belonged to an elderly couple who have since said they are unable to care for the animal, a Rottweiler Labrador cross, and surrendered him to an animal rescue agency.

McDermott took his two chocolate Labrador retrievers – Abigail and Smokey – to the shelter earlier this week to get them acquainted. “They seemed to get along,” he said. “I’m sure it’s going to work.”