ST. LOUIS COUNTY — Police rescued a dog from the Mississippi River Sunday after it got trapped, surrounded by rising floodwater.

At 6:30 p.m. Sunday, two St. Louis County Police Officers — Kevin Martin and Jared Ruhland — and Sgt. Daniel O’Neil of the South County Precinct were called by residents living near Cliff Cave Park after they heard a woman screaming for help, police said.

When police got to the woman, she said that her border collie named “Murphy” had broken off his chain and had chased two deer in the woods, police said. The dog owner told police that she and her mother had been looking for the dog, but could not find him.

The officers searched the dark woods, then heard a dog “whimpering and whining on a dry spot” on the river about a mile from where he left his owner. Murphy was standing on a dry spot in the river and was too frightened to cross 40 yards of fast moving water.

Martin and O’Neil waded into the cold water up to their necks to rescue the dog. Ruhland held a spotlight so the officers could see where they were gong.

When the officers got to the dog, he was scared of them. One officer had brought a sandwich and offered it to Murphy to gain his trust, police said.

The officers then grabbed the dog and carried him back to his owner. Murphy was sent to a veterinarian “as a precautionary measure,” police said. He is fine and back with his owner.