A lost and freezing dog rode "shotgun" recently after Candian volunteers rescued it from a snowbank as temperatures dropped to -30 Celsius.

Animal rescuers in Steinbach in Winnipeg were alerted that a dog had been spotted behind a snowbank in the early hours of February 13.

The dog appeared aggressive initially and was limping but after some food and tender words agreed to go with the volunteers.

After spending one night at the rescue shelter, she was reunited with her family.

A message came in just before midnight. A dog was spotted behind a snowbank in -30C temperatures (-35 celcius with the wind chill and dropping steadily). The dog growled when approached so the finders didn't know what to do. The Steinbach and Area Animal Rescue is a volunteer organization that operates on a foster-based system. It does not have a team of trained animal rescuers, or special equipment and is not on-call, but when the urgent message for help came in the midnight rescue ensued. The dog was cold and limping but so worn down when we arrived with food and some tender words, she was happy to come with us (and even called "shot-gun" for the ride to a foster's home for the night!). After a warm, safe, night in rescue she was reunited with her loving family the next day. It takes very little effort to stop and help and the rewards are immeasurable!