On Tuesday night, a heartwarming incident unfolded on the Staten Island Expressway as a group of compassionate motorists joined forces to save a dog that was seen running across the busy highway.
Arden Heights resident Katie Marie captured the video on her dashcam while she was heading to Euro Pizza after work. As she tried to enter the westbound side of the expressway through the Hylan Boulevard entrance, she faced heavy traffic and tried to find an alternate route.
While on the road, she noticed a small Chihuahua running around with other people from Staten Island chasing after it.
Marie recounted how her instincts took over the moment she laid eyes on the dog, with her sole focus being the dog’s safety.
Marie and another woman initially tried to steer the dog towards the right, hoping to lead it off the Clove Road exit of the expressway. However, their efforts took an unexpected twist.
Marie shared a video that captured a heart-stopping moment. In the footage, a Chihuahua was seen calmly walking along the right lane before suddenly darting to the left. It skillfully maneuvered its way under Marie’s car and into the oncoming traffic of the HOV lane. Concerned for the dog’s safety, Marie honked her horn and quickly positioned her own vehicle as a barrier between the approaching cars and the runaway dog.
Marie recounted their efforts to keep the dog in the HOV lane, mentioning how they continuously tried to tire him out.
The video captures the sound of multiple vehicles honking as they try to corral the wandering dog.
The Chihuahua quickly evaded a vehicle that tried to cut it off, showcasing its agility. In the footage, a woman stepped out of her car and began chasing after the dog on foot. The pursuit persisted as they moved beneath an overpass.
A second vehicle attempted the roadblock strategy again, and this time, the increasing number of kind-hearted individuals managed to trap the dog underneath the vehicle. Although the dog was scared and showed signs of aggression, the group eventually succeeded in securing it.
Marie expressed her gratitude and amazement at the sight of more than 20 cars coming together to help. She found it incredibly heartwarming to witness the strong sense of community among Staten Islanders, as they all gathered on a bustling highway to assist a dog in need. Marie acknowledged that without the collective efforts of everyone present, the situation could have taken a much more dire turn.
A Safe Return Home
The Chihuahua that ran away has been confirmed to be a missing dog who has now been reunited with its owner.
Kaitlyn McGinley, a resident of Rossville and an operating room nurse at Staten Island University Hospital in Ocean Breeze, was the one who successfully rescued the dog. According to McGinley, she was driving home from Brooklyn on Wednesday night when she noticed several vehicles abruptly stopping and a woman chasing after the dog on the Staten Island Expressway.
McGinley was taken aback when he witnessed a woman running on the expressway. He couldn’t understand why someone would be doing that. However, his curiosity turned into concern when he noticed a Chihuahua accompanying her. As a dog mom herself, McGinley’s heart broke at the sight. She couldn’t help but wonder who the little dog belonged to and felt a deep sadness for its uncertain situation.
In a swift move, McGinley swiftly pulled over to the side of the road in front of the chase, taking immediate action to help secure the animal. The Chihuahua quickly darted under her vehicle, but with persistence, she managed to safely capture it and place it inside a bag provided by a kind-hearted motorist.
McGinley recalled the moment when several cars stopped, and she quickly gathered the dog into the bag. She initially assumed that it was the lady’s running companion, but it turned out to be a surprising twist.
McGinley took the Chihuahua into her vehicle and immediately reached out to her husband, Harrison Ferber, and her local veterinarian to inform them about the situation. She was determined to find out who the dog belonged to.
McGinley was surprised by the dog’s reaction as she recalled, “Once I got him in the car, he calmed down. He was shaking like a leaf before, but then he finally sat down and relaxed. It was just wild. I didn’t expect that to happen on the way home.”
McGinley was referred to Greater Staten Island Veterinary Services by the local veterinarian. Although they couldn’t take the dog, the veterinary services were willing to scan for a microchip. McGinley mentioned that it was discovered that the dog didn’t have a microchip.
In his search for the owner of the Chihuahua, Ferber took to the “Staten Island neighbors” Facebook page and shared a picture of the dog. Within minutes, the post garnered numerous responses and even led to the identification of the owner.
According to Ferber, individuals began sharing screenshots of the owner’s page, which contained details about her lost dog and how to get in touch with her.
The dog stood out with a noticeable patch of missing hair just above its right eyebrow.
According to Ferber, McGinley promptly returned the dog to its owner “within the hour after getting saved.”
Bean, the Chihuahua, was safely reunited with its owner in Stapleton.
According to McGinley, the dog did not have a microchip and was not wearing a collar. She expressed her confusion about how the dog managed to run all the way from its home to the expressway.
According to McGinley, the owner asserts that Bean got scared by a barking pit bull and ran away.
McGinley expressed her satisfaction, stating, “I am happy that I was able to safely return the dog to her.”
The dog owner expressed her gratitude and, as McGinley noted, mentioned that she had ordered an Apple AirTag for Bean’s collar.
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