A wandering dog caused a stir in the Ted Williams Tunnel on the Massachusetts Turnpike, nearly getting hit by traffic and creating backups in Boston before being safely rescued.
The little black-and-white dog was captured on surveillance video darting against the flow of vehicles on Thursday morning, a chaotic time with cars and trucks busy during rush hour, as per the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.
Remarkably unfazed by its surroundings, the pup made its way down the middle of the busy highway before finally moving to the side of the tunnel.
Eventually, six Massachusetts State Police vehicles arrived and strategically blocked traffic to ensure the dog’s safety while officers attempted to help it.
Footage showed the police stopping behind the dog, with one officer bending down in an effort to coax it toward safety.
Initially hesitant, the dog ran away but soon jumped into the back seat of the police cruiser all on its own.
Once the pup was safely secured, commuters were able to continue their journeys, and officers successfully located the dog’s owner, according to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.
After the incident, the dog was later adopted from Boston Animal Care and Control and reunited with its owner.
Details surrounding the owner or how the dog ended up wandering through the tunnel haven’t been disclosed.
Reportedly, the dog was first seen meandering near the economy parking area at Boston Logan International Airport, which is conveniently located near the tunnel’s eastern entrance.
A video of this entire encounter quickly went viral, garnering numerous comments from dog enthusiasts on social media. Many praised the swift action of the police and expressed joy over the happy reunion of the pup with its owner.
“Kudos to everyone involved, including those in traffic who had no idea what was happening. That poor thing must have been bewildered and scared. This is the kind of uplifting story I needed today,” one viewer commented.
A second user also chimed in, “Thank goodness he was familiar with jumping into cars!”
“Smart dog! He jumped right in like, ‘Let’s get out of here!'” joked another.
”It was really impressive how he hopped into the cruiser without any coaxing—just like, ‘I know cars. Cars are fun. I’ve had enough adventure for today. Time to go home,’” another commenter added.
