Teddy the dog takes on the South Saskatchewan River - and survives!

A tiny, rotund canine lost his way playing at the Sutherland Beach off-leash recreation area in Saskatoon Thursday afternoon.

He ended up swimming across the South Saskatchewan River, despite a dangerous current.

Teddy's predicament was called in, and firefighters and police officers showed up to the sandbar on the west side of the river, only to discover he had made it to safety thanks to his new best friend, Maria Badong.

The little girl wrapped Teddy in a towel to keep him warm, after her father waded into the river to save him.

"We saw it, figured out it was a dog, and I had to go in and pick him up. He was really scared," said Shea Sowatsky, who guided Teddy to shore.

"He was just floating. He looked so tired," Maria said.

Teddy has been reunited with his owner, thanks to the Saskatoon Police Service.