A dog named Happy was dragged hundreds of feet by a light rail train at a North Phoenix stop near Rose Mofford Park after his leash got caught in the closing doors, leaving him bleeding and injured while his owner shouted and cried out. The train eventually stopped, but not before witnesses say it took agonizing extra seconds to do so.
The incident happened on October 6, when Happy, who was wearing a body harness, had his leash trapped as the light rail doors shut, according to FOX 10 Phoenix. Happy's owner, Sarah Bass, told the station that she was attempting to get off the train and dropped belongings as Happy ran off the platform and the doors closed on his leash, a detail that suggests the moment unfolded in a matter of seconds.
As the train began to move, Happy was dragged along the tracks and started bleeding while his owner shouted and cried out, the station reported. Nearby witnesses tried to alert the driver by pulling the emergency stop, but it still took time before the light rail came to a halt, according to the same report.
Witness Says Those Involved Should Remain at Scene
Once the train stopped and then took off, at least one anonymous witness told FOX 10 that those involved in a major incident should remain at the scene. The witness compared it to protocol for other serious incidents, saying those involved in a major incident involving a commercial vehicle should remain on scene rather than continue on.
Happy was ultimately treated by a veterinarian for several injuries across his body and is now recovering and doing better, per the station's report. FOX 10 said it reached out to Valley Metro for its perspective on the incident and was still waiting to hear back.
A Similar Scare Played Out in Melbourne Weeks Earlier
Phoenix is not the only city to see a leash get caught in train doors this fall. In Melbourne, Australia, a guide dog named Dottie was dragged along the platform at Flinders Street Station in early September after her leash became caught in a train door, according to ABC News Australia. That train continued on toward its next stop even as passengers repeatedly pressed the driver intercom and a station worker signaled for it to stop, the outlet reported.
Dottie suffered a minor toenail injury, and Metro Trains later apologized and said it was reviewing the incident for lessons learned, per ABC. The operator also said its doors were designed to prevent movement when obstructed, but acknowledged that the thinness of the leash did not stop them from closing. In the aftermath, the CEO of Guide Dogs Victoria called on Metro Trains to provide more driver education, while the Public Transport Users Association said the company should look at whether its cameras and door sensors needed to be upgraded.
Back in Phoenix, it remains unclear whether Valley Metro or any other agency is reviewing what happened to Happy, and FOX 10's report did not include details on the operator involved or any onboard camera footage. For now, the only confirmed update is that Happy survived the ordeal near Rose Mofford Park and is on the mend.
