Small Dog Captured After Chp Chase On Bay Bridge

Calvin

Calvin

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California Highway Patrol officers are searching for the owners of a small black Chihuahua that was caught running along westbound lanes of the Bay Bridge on Sunday morning.

The dog was unharmed after being followed by a motorcycle officer for a short while in the early-morning hours. The CHP posted a video of the chase on its Facebook page.

Chihuahua rescued from #BayBridge has been picked up by SF County Animal Care. Pls call 415 554 6364 if he's yours pic.twitter.com/x2c607XtR5

— CHP San Francisco (@CHPSanFrancisco) April 3, 2016
“High speed pursuit on the Bay Bridge this morning!” the CHP wrote. “One in custody. All are safe!”


Officials are working to reunite the dog with its owners. The circumstances of how the dog ended up on the bridge were not immediately known.

The dog was picked up by San Francisco County Animal Care and Control. Its owners were asked to call (415) 554-6364.
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Yes, I agree with above...just saw this a little bit ago on the news this morning!
 
The chihuahua-mix that led California Highway Patrol officers on a “high speed pursuit” across the Bay Bridge on Sunday morning has a new nickname and actor Erik Estrada couldn’t be more tickled about it.

The 4-year-old canine was named Ponch — the nickname of Officer Frank Poncherello from “CHiPs,” the popular TV series from the ‘70s and ‘80s that followed the escapades of two CHP motorcycle officers in Los Angeles.

Estrada, who played the role of Poncherello, caught wind of the chase and rescue of the pooch and sent out a message on Monday via Twitter to CHP, saying, “thank you guys 4 getting that dog of(f) the freeway safe.” The actor added that he has five dogs, including three chihuahuas.

Ponch the runaway pooch tried to outrun CHP officers for a little over a mile, slowing Sunday morning traffic as the chase unfolded in the westbound lanes of the Bay Bridge. After 5 to 10 minutes, one CHP car pulled ahead and distracted the dog, just in time for a motorcycle officer to take him into custody.

But, luckily for him, his paws were too tiny for handcuffs.

The Ponch was unharmed, but shaken by the excitement, officials said. He’s staying at San Francisco County Animal Care and Control as he waits for his owners to come forward. The furry fugitive has his own kennel in a quiet room reserved for more agitated dogs.

“He’s really frightened and still very nervous and scared after yesterday (Sunday),” said Deb Campbell, a spokeswoman for the shelter. “He’s slowly coming out of his shell.”

Ponch is starting to respond to treats, Campbell said, though he still shakes from time to time.

His energy level has dipped since his audacious Sunday morning run, which started around 7 a.m. when someone saw him scampering across a tight catwalk on the upper deck of the span, just west of Treasure Island.

Officers responded within minutes, said CHP spokesman Officer Vu Williams, who was in a patrol car following Ponch.

“He was quick,” Williams said. “Small but fast.”

Traffic came to a crawl behind the officers as they coordinated the capture. Williams’s patrol car sped in front of Ponch, getting his attention, as a motorcycle officer swooped in from behind and scooped him up. The whole affair lasted five to 10 minutes, he said.

How Ponch got on the bridge remains a mystery, but officers don’t think he was thrown out of a car because he doesn’t have any visible injuries.

The dog’s owners were asked to call the animal shelter at (415) 554-6364. Ponch will be put up for adoption if no one claims him in four days.
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http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/artic...up-on-chihuahua-Bay-7227911.php#photo-9751716
 
I wonder if the dog fell off a biker motorcycle and they didn't realize it. I have seen bikers ride with small dogs or cats in my city . There is skull hanging from the dog neck
so it 'could' be a biker's dog . I know other people like skulls too , I do .
 
Poor dog, beautiful and very lucky dog to be alive.
 
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The energetic chihuahua famous for leading a hot pursuit across the Bay Bridge last Sunday morning, is still sitting at Animal Care and Control in San Francisco after being unclaimed by his family.

The 4-year-old dog, nicknamed Ponch after the popular "CHiPs" character played by Erik Estrada, ran a little over a mile across the bridge, slowing traffic for a short time as officers attempted to catch him.

The chihuahua was recovered unharmed, but is now sitting in a kennel at ACC generally reserved for "more agitated" dogs, per an earlier report. His family has yet to claim him (they have until 6 p.m. Thursday), but beginning as soon as Monday, Ponch could be put up for adoption.

First, however, the ACC is hoping he'll calm down a bit. "We're going to assess him," Deb Campbell at Animal Care and Control told SFGATE. "He's still really nervous, so we want to make sure he goes to the right home."

Ponch is a little confused about becoming an international celebrity while he was getting some much-needed R&R. He is...

Posted by Animal Care & Control San Francisco on Wednesday, April 6, 2016

It's still unclear how Ponch got loose on the bridge, but officials at Animal Control does not suspect he was thrown, due to a lack of visible injuries. However, that doesn't mean the ACC doesn't have serious questions for the owners. "The officers want to speak to them, [and] find out how he got into such an unsafe predicament," Campbell says.

It seems everyone has heard of Ponch except his family! @CHPSanFrancisco @ErikEstrada @MarkKellyKPIXhttps://t.co/MjBg8MCW8c

— SF Animal Care (@SFACC) April 5, 2016
Despite all the mystery surrounding his Big Sunday Adventure, Ponch is attempting to cope with the excitement of last weekend's events. "He's sweet; he comes out of his shell occasionally," Campbell notes. "He eats treats and he likes working with our behaviorist, but we want to make sure if he goes to a home that they know he's going to need a lot of socialization and continued training."

Should Ponch go up for adoption, there is no shortage of interested new families. As Campbell says, since the media attention from the likes of "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon," "The Daily Show," and ESPN, the ACC has received inquiries about the chihuahua. The shelter is even preparing to create a special adoption application for interested parties, which have come forward from as far off as from as Connecticut, Texas, and Maryland.

Even @SportsCenter has jumped on the #BayBridgeDog bandwagon, but don't contact @CHPSanFrancisco Ponch is at #SFACCpic.twitter.com/pznapSijao

— SF Animal Care (@SFACC) April 5, 2016
As for his nerves, Campbell and ACC are waiting to see if he'll mellow as time progresses, and are hoping that "he just had a really exciting and strange day," and that he'll recover in time.

"Chihuahuas are kind of nervous animals as it is, so that just may be who he is: a shy, nervous guy," she adds. "We definitely don't want to tell him how famous he is, that will just make it worse — the pressure!"

In any case, it looks like this story will get a nice ending after all.

"No matter what happens, I think he'll have a happy life," Campbell says. "He could probably have his own TV show at this point."
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http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/...unclaimed-by-owners-7232390.php#photo-9751718
 
Calvin,
are you're going to try and adopt him?? I would if still lived in Ca. Look at that sweet face . :aw:
 
Has there been any update about Ponch being adopted ? I hope he has a nice new home by now .
 
It's now up for adoption:

Ponch the dog has had a real exciting 2016 so far. After mysteriously winding up sprinting across the Bay Bridge with no known family, he eventually found his way to Animal Care and Control in San Francisco.

After several days without being claimed, Ponch — who was named so after the CHiPs character played by Erik Estrada — is finally ready to be adopted.

The pup seems to still be having some anxiety, possibly because he is still recovering from all the action of that day, and the ACC is making sure he goes to "the right person."

They've authored a special adoption form just for the dog, which asks about potential owners' experience with dogs, pet history, and offers room for a short essay to explain why they want to adopt Ponch.

"A gentle, mellow adults-only home will help our hero blossom into a confident city-savvy dog but this will take time and patience," an Animal Care and Control Facebook post reads. "While shy dogs are not for everyone, Ponch will make the right person a very lucky adopter indeed."

There are also several requirements for those who'd like to take him home. First, aspiring adopters need to have had experience with a small dogs, and must not have small children in the household. In the event applicants are renters, they must also be able to prove they are allowed to have a dog.

Those interested in adopting Ponch should email their information to acc@sfgov.org by 6 p.m. April 22.
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http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/...-up-for-adoption-to-7249534.php#photo-9810940
 
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