Updated

An animal welfare group says despite a valiant effort by firefighters to save a cat found frozen to a New Hampshire pond, the animal had to be euthanized due to other ailments.

Lisa Dennison of the New Hampshire Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals tells NH1 News she "applauds the effort" of all those who offered their help and support for the cat.

The Newton Fire Department received a call about the cat Thursday. The cat's back paws and tail were frozen in the ice, and it had a chunk of ice on its back.

Authorities and an animal control officer used warm water, towels and a heating pad on the cat.

There was no ID on the cat, and police posted a photo on Facebook. Police believe it was feral.

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This story has been corrected to show an animal control officer, not the Accountable Care Organization, helped rescue the cat.