Commuters on I-595 and I-95 in Fort Lauderdale faced an unexpected delay this morning when traffic came to a halt due to a loose dog. Florida Highway Patrol troopers and good Samaritans became involved in a chase to catch the dog, a female pit bull, that ran across lanes on the eastbound ramp from I-595 to I-95, according to WSVN. The dog caused a brief shutdown of the ramp, and efforts to capture it proved challenging. 7Skyforce captured aerial footage of the scene. "Officers for a while were trying to get this dog and this dog is violating FHP rules as far as listening to commands here," Steven Gray from 7Skyforce remarked.
NBC Miami reported that the highway was briefly closed at the exit ramp to Davie Boulevard as the pursuit unfolded.
The situation was resolved when a female officer proposed a creative solution. She suggested opening the car door and having others chase the dog around it, which successfully led the dog into the vehicle. The dog was then taken into care by the Broward Humane Society, which reported that she was shaken but would be given time to calm down before being introduced to the public.
Despite her attempts to escape on the busy highways, the dog eventually gave up. She found herself caught between two good Samaritans and an officer, and with her tongue out and panting, she turned around and jumped into the back of the patrol car through the open door without any further resistance. The dog was unharmed during the incident, and it is still unknown how she ended up on the highway.
