Dallas Animal Services is looking for the owner of a German shepherd rescued from the high occupancy vehicle lanes of the Martin D. Love Freeway Wednesday morning.
From a Texas Department of Transportation camera, the dog could be seen standing in the U.S. 67 HOV lane just north of Loop 12.
Traffic reports in the area indicated that the dog may have traveled from Interstate 35E at Illinois Avenue south to U.S. 67 near Loop 12/West Ledbetter Drive.
Police blocked the HOV lane to keep the dog from escaping and getting onto the other lanes of the highway.
Animal Control officers were able to get the dog on a leash, loaded him into a van and took him away.
All HOV lanes were reopened shortly after the dog was rescued.
Dallas Animal Services said the German shepherd is about 8-years-old and in good shape. He had no collar, no tags and no microchip.
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“For him to have made it across that traffic without becoming injured is just amazing and he really is fortunate to be alive,” said Jody Jones, manager at Dallas Animal Services. “Most animals that end up on the highway don’t get that lucky.”
Animal services nicknamed him "Polk" since that's the street nearest the highway where he was picked up. But when officers showed up to the scene around 7:30 a.m., the lost dog seemed to respond to the name Elvis.
“He's that social and friendly, he just came right up and was just so grateful to have a ride out of there,” said Jones.
Now, the dog sits alone in cage 48 at animal services. Other dogs around him are barking, while the German shepard quietly and patiently waits for his owner to come take him home.
“We would assume that he is owned because he really is a nice guy he enjoys being with people,” said Jones. “He appears to be house broken.”
The public can call Dallas Animal Services at 214-670-6800 if the German shepherd is theirs, but they must show proof of ownership. He will be held in lost and found for three days and then he will be eligible for adoption.
NBC 5's Johnny Archer contributed to this report.
