Firefighters rescued a dog from the rocks beneath the Great Falls in Paterson Sunday.

The pit bull mix was located 75 feet below a bridge by a passerby.

Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh tells News 12 New Jersey that Capt. Scott Parken, whose very own father rescued two German shepherds at the same spot back in 1975, repelled down to get the animal.

Parken tells News 12 he lured the dog with treats, as well as talked to him and pet him to try and calm him down. After 15 minutes, he said he wrapped him in a net to carry him to safety.

“This is a great thing because if the dog ended up going down stream, it probably would have drowned especially with all the water we had the last couple of days,” says John Decando, of Animal Control.

The dog is being called “Paterson” and has been taken to Ramapo Bergen County Rescue for treatment. He is being treated for minor injuries and malnourishment.

"We are the rescue company of Paterson. We trained for this every day and without the support from the guys in my company and their knowledge, none of this could happen,” said Capt. Parken. “So I can't thank them enough."

It is still unclear how the dog ended up there.

News 12 is told that if no one claims the dog, the Paterson Fire Department would like to adopt him.