Freeway Rescue Of Rudolph The Dog

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BALDWIN PARK (CBS) ? A 2-year-old dog with a penchant for running in freeway traffic will have a much happier ? and safer ? holiday season, thanks to a rescue operation carried out today by animal control officers and the California Highway Patrol.

The male pit bull mix had been living in the median of the San Bernardino (10) Freeway just east of the San Gabriel River (605) Freeway. CHP officers spotted the dog last weekend when he jumped the center divider of the 10 Freeway and darted in and out of traffic.

Following another episode this morning, CHP and county animal control officers met in a nearby parking lot to develop a rescue plan.

Around 1 p.m., CHP officers stopped traffic on the 10 Freeway, giving animal control a brief window to move in on the dog.

?Our officers are trained ropers and generally have a high success rate at quickly and safely capturing stray dogs,? according to Marcia Mayeda, director of the county Department of Animal Care and Control. ?This is one lucky dog.?

Mayeda said traffic was only stopped for a few minutes while the dog was captured and loaded into a truck bound for the department?s Baldwin Park Animal Care Center. The dog was named Rudolph, in honor of the holiday season.

Rudolph will be kept at the center through the holidays and be assessed by veterinarians. Mayeda said Rudolph has a friendly disposition, and barring any trouble, he is expected to be put up for adoption.

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