11 December 2013
A Scared and Stray Dog is Running Across the Freeway – Need Experienced Rescuer to Help Save Her!
Guest Post by Maryann Izzarelli, The Puchelli Foundation
NOTE: Please do not chase this dog; he/she is fearful and may run into traffic endangering her and the people traveling along the roadway!
CONTACT if you are a skilled stray dog rescue and have the traps needed to save this dear dog: izzarelli@gmail.com and 817.875.7390
Yesterday my two sisters and I spent over an hour trying to save a stray dog (approx 30 lbs) that was trapped between various parts of theHighway 114 in Grapevine. My first call was to Grapevine Animal Control where I was told it was Southlake, to call there. So I called Southlake to which goes to their police department to explain that it was a huge traffic hazard and we needed help. They stated that it was a Grapevine issue so that started a string of calls back to Grapevine.
Stray Dog in Danger on in traffic on 114 in Texas
Over the following 45 minutes 911 was called over 4 times that I know of (from different people), Animal Control called numerous times where they said the officer was on dispatch and once he got back they’d send him. It was almost an hour before seeing any official assistance for this problem. Two of us asked personally for help from a police officer because cars had to swerve into other lanes at high rates of speed. At no point were we ever assisted by any city official other than the animal control officer below. Several citizens stopped and tried to help during this time however.
During this hour the poor dog is running back and forth in a panic across the service road, the big entry ramps onto the highway, across the west bound lanes and back again essentially trapped by cars. People are slamming on brakes, swerving, this became about much more than saving a dog, it was also about taking steps to avoid a major auto collision on a very busy, high speed stretch of highway.
Once Animal Control showed up approx. 55 minutes after the 3rd call, he got out of the truck w/ a leash and treats, walked up to the edge of the highway and said there was nothing he could do but was pretty certain she was going to be hit. He couldn’t legally do anything with traffic and although it was sad he wasn’t going to risk causing an accident by trying to trap her. I, in turn, asked whose responsibility it was to leave a known hazard frantically running back and forth across the highway, which could quite possibly cause a major accident. He had no response and stated the city has no plan of action for animals in this situation except knowing they will probably be killed. He also had no suggestions or made any effort to help the situation further and left the scene within 10 minutes of arrival.
My question to anyone really and specifically the City of Grapevine is whose responsibility is it? Yes, I suppose as he stated it’s “just a dog” but on the flip side of that you have a major highway with thousands of cars you essentially are leaving unprotected to a known danger. The lack of response from the police department about the traffic risks and the lack of interest from Animal Control were disheartening and concerning. I know of other cities who have approached this problem completely differently so this stance of hands off is obviously not an across the board policy with cities.
The red marks on the map are where our two cars were located, the blue arrows show the various roads the dog repeatedly ran back and forth across. I am interested in hearing what other cities do in situations involving traffic and also suggestions on how to save an animal in this situation. Please feel free to share.
I just left there, after checking on my lunch hour; she is limping but still running from me into traffic, Grapevine Animal Control has the same stance, it is too much liability. If someone can capture her we will take responsibility for her care.
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