Dog found floating for 75 miles in icy sea rescued, nicknamed 'Baltic' (Photo, Video)

In Poland, a dog was rescued after drifting for a total of 75 miles down a river and into the frozen Baltic Sea. The dog survived by floating on a chunk of ice, reports the Associated Press.

The black and brown dog, estimated to be about five or six years old and weighing 44 pounds, almost didn't make it.

"It was really a tough struggle. It kept slipping into the water and crawling back on top of the ice. At one point it vanished underwater, under the ship and we thought it was the end, but it emerged again and crawled on an ice sheet," researcher Natalie Drgas told the Associated Press.

The dog, nicknamed Baltic, is lucky to have a thick, furry coat and a boatload of sailors determined to rescue him.

Four people have claimed the dog belongs to them, but Baltic gave no sign of recognition upon meeting them, so the dog remains unclaimed.

"A dog with thick fur and a layer of fat can survive such cold conditions for as long as eight days if it has water to drink," reports the Associated Press. The dog appears to have been well-taken care of.

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