KINGSTON - Police Sgt. Joel Johnson experienced deja vu on Christmas Day when he jumped into Country Pond to save his brother’s dog, a Saint Bernard named Toby, that had fallen through the ice.

Thirty years before, Johnson had saved his family’s Saint Bernard, Heidi, who had also fallen through the ice on the same pond.

On Dec. 25, the Johnson family was gathered at their parents house on Concannon Road to celebrate the holidays. Earlier in the day, while everyone was milling about the house drinking eggnog and chatting, Johnson’s brother asks if anyone has seen his dog. Johnson said this was about 11:30 a.m.

His brother, who lives next door, left to stop by another local Christmas gathering. When he arrived back at his parents house, he asked a second time if anyone had seen his dog. This time it was about 4:30 p.m.

Johnson said a light went off in his head and he had a flashback to 30 years ago when Heidi fell through the ice on Country Pond.

"I asked my brother if he’d checked the ice," Johnson said. "He said no. Then I rushed down the hill to the water’s edge, and I could hear him splashing and pawing (the ice), trying to get out."

Toby had walked about 100 feet out on the ice before falling through a patch of thin ice. Johnson broke through the frozen layers of ice to get to the hole where Toby fell in. Once he reached the dog, Toby was able to doggy paddle his way to shore in the path that Johnson had cleared for him.

Johnson said Toby didn’t experience any health problems associated with the experience. They just warmed him up with towels and space heaters in the garage. Johnson said Toby was playing around an hour later.

"My brother mentioned he hadn’t seen his dog in hours. I think he must have been out on the ice or in the water for nearly four hours," Johnson said. "They can handle the cold."

Thirty years ago on the same pond, Johnson said he, his five brothers and some friends saved their family’s dog, Heidi, that fell through the ice. They used a ladder to reach the dog and pull her to safety.

"I don’t recommend anyone or any animals going on the ice, period," he said. "The ice doesn’t always freeze. There are spots where it’s not safe."