Commuters in San Francisco experienced unusual delays Monday evening as a dog described as "determined and elusive" made its way onto the Muni transit system's underground tracks. The disruption began at West Portal around 6 p.m. and continued for hours, with the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) alerting passengers to service changes and shuttle bus alternatives.
As reported by SFist, the SFMTA was swift to begin directing trains to slow down following the sighting of the canine intruder. Commuters posted their frustrations on X, with one user inquiring about the ongoing situation, to which the SFMTA responded at 7:15 p.m., "Not yet. The dog is very determined and elusive."
The dog's adventurous sprint continued through multiple stations, from West Portal to the Embarcadero, and was last seen bolting from the tunnel at Ferry Portal, near the iconic Ferry Building. Despite efforts by the agency and Animal Care & Control officers, the agile animal managed to evade capture, leaving Muni operators to resume inbound and outbound service at 7:40 p.m., though the dog had not yet been snared according to a post from the SFMTA cited by SFist.
ATTN: Report of a lost dog in the tunnel near West Portal. IB/OB #subwaysvc will experience slow moving service btwn WP and Forest Hill as we conduct a safety check.
— SFMTA (@SFMTA_Muni) January 23, 2024
On social media, the incident stirred up chatter amongst locals. SFMTA kept the public informed with periodic updates via X. In a final statement on their page, SFMTA admitted defeat at 9 p.m., saying, "Unfortunately, our attempts to get the dog were not successful." The clear, direct admission was reported by CBS News San Francisco. Following the canine chaos, normal service was restored, but shuttle buses remained available until 10 p.m. to accommodate the transit disruption.
At this time, there's no confirmed update on the dog's whereabouts or status. With the evening's shenanigans brought to a close and commuters finally reaching their destinations, the city's collective wish is surely that the dog finds its way safely home. Nonetheless, this incident will likely remain a memorable anecdote in San Francisco's transit lore.
