On Sunday, April 3, traffic was halted on the Bay Bridge in California as police officers tried to apprehend an animal on the road. A chihuahua led the chase on the upper level of the bridge connecting Oakland and San Francisco. Police safely cornered the dog and he’s now being kept with the Department of Animal Care and Control as they search for his owner.
There are many times where officers have had to help animals on the road. Here are 3 other amazing animal rescues from busy roads and highways.
In January, a sloth began crossing the Quevedo Ring Road, a highway in Ecuador. The sloth made it to the middle of the highway and immediately clung to a post on the guardrail in fear.
The Transport Commission of Ecuador posted photos of the sloth on their Facebook page and the sloth became a social media sensation.
Officers were able to take the sloth to a veterinarian, who gave it a clean bill of health and gave officers the okay to release the animal back into its habitat.
Also in January, an Arizona Transportation Department worker was monitoring Phoenix traffic cams one weeknight when State Route 51 caught his attention.
The man saw a puppy on the highway, dodging the speeding vehicles. He watched as the puppy made it to the concrete median and attempted to jump up on the median several times. She finally made it on top of the median and froze, laying down on the median.
The employee jumped in his vehicle and drove several miles to save the puppy. By the time the man reached the barrier, the puppy had been waiting on the small median for an hour.
Arizona Equine Rescue Organization took her in and are looking for her owner. Although the shelter usually only takes in horses, the team said something about the puppy’s story made them branch out.
They have given her the name Dottie (a nod to the department of transportation) as they continue to look for her owner.
In June 2015, a mother duck and her ducklings decided to take Highway 101 in Santa Maria, California to get across the road. The California Highway Patrol spotted the ducks and shut down two lanes of traffic to help the duck and her ducklings get across the highway safely.
An officer guided the ducks to the shoulder and an animal control officer arrived shortly after to capture the ducks. Both the animal control officer and police officer worked to successfully catch the mother duck and her 10 ducklings.
The family of ducks was taken to a wildlife center where volunteers rehabilitate animals.
Whether it’s a puppy or a group of deer, nobody wants to hit an animal. Slow down when you see warning signs (like deer crossings). If you’re driving at dawn, dusk, or night, be extra alert because these are the times most animals would cross the road.
Do not swerve to avoid hitting an animal, because you could cause an automobile accident that would be even more dangerous. If you swerve to avoid an animal, you may run into a vehicle next to you or swerve into oncoming traffic.
The best way to reduce your risk of hitting an animal is to remain focused and keep your eyes on the road at all time.
If you’ve been hurt in an automobile accident, contact the Colley & Colley law firm in Tyler, Texas for a free consultation. We’re dedicated to providing you with the best legal counsel in East Texas.
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Austin, TX 78738
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