A lost dog caused a major traffic jam in Boston after wandering into a tunnel on the Massachusetts Turnpike, nearly getting hit by a car before being rescued.
The black-and-white pooch was seen trotting against traffic in the Ted Williams Tunnel on Thursday morning as cars and trucks zipped by during rush hour. Surveillance video from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation shows the pup appearing unbothered by the danger, walking down the middle of the busy highway before moving toward the side wall of the tunnel.
Eventually, six Massachusetts State Police vehicles arrived on the scene and blocked oncoming traffic while troopers worked to rescue the wandering furball. The surveillance footage captured multiple police cars, staggered and stopped behind, as a trooper bent down to lure the dog over.
As the officer beckoned the dog toward them, it briefly ran away before hopping into the back seat of a cruiser on its own.
After rescuing the dog, early-morning drivers were able to resume their commutes. Law enforcement then tracked down the dog’s owner, according to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.
The furry friend was later picked up and returned to its owner from Boston Animal Care and Control. Officials did not release further details about the owner or how the dog got loose and began wandering down the Ted Williams Tunnel.
Earlier that morning, the roaming dog was seen walking near the economy parking area at Boston Logan International Airport. Logan International Airport sits near the east entrance of the tunnel.
Dog lovers flooded the comments of a video of the encounter posted by NBC10 Boston on social media, commending the police for the swift rescue and expressing relief that the pup was safely reunited with its owner.
“Thank you to everyone involved, including those stuck in that traffic not knowing what was happening. That poor soul must have been so confused & scared, and it was just the ‘up with humanity’ story I needed to see today,” wrote one user.
“Thank God he was used to jumping in cars!” said another.
“He hopped in! Smart dog. He’s like, ‘Get me outta here!’” joked another commenter.
“Love how he/she just hopped right into the cruiser without any prompting. It was like, ‘I know cars. Cars are fun. I like cars. I’ve had enough adventure for one day. Home, James,’” wrote one more.
