Poodle On Tracks Prompts F Train Service Changes, Delays
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Thousands of subway riders were delayed by a dog Friday.
As CBS2's Ali Bauman reported, a little poodle went on a big adventure, and it took an even bigger hero to climb under the platform and rescue her.
The dog named Dakota has a face that will stop traffic – or at least the F train.
"We heard Control come on the radio that there was a dog that was lost in the system, and everyone was basically on the lookout," MTA supervisor Sanya Hill said.
A/C/F train riders, apologies for the delay- Dakota escaped from the dog park and- you guessed it- onto the tracks. Thank @MTA NYCT for the assist on the rescue, job well done by all, service back up & dog on the way to the vet for a minor injury- Appreciate everyone's patience! pic.twitter.com/gSA5ynPgGX
— NYPD Transit (@NYPDTransit) February 16, 2018
It was coming to the end of a long Friday for Hill when the alert went out that a poodle had escaped from her dog walker by the York Street subway station and was lost somewhere on the tracks.
"I basically respond to any situation that's going on that I'm in the area for," she explained, adding she's never responded to a situation like this.
The MTA re-routed the F train for about an hour, while police officers scoured the tracks for Dakota. As Hill's train was pulling into the Bergen Street station, a passenger said she spotted the poodle.
"Control held back the train so I could safely go down to the roadbed and look for the dog," she said. "As I was walking down, I actually saw the dog cuddled underneath the platform looking very scared. So I pattered her – I was a little leery at first, I didn't want to get bitten."
Good afternoon, we see that the NYPD has retrieved the dog off the tracks. We are in process of resuming normal serivce. ^JG
— NYCT Subway. Wear a Mask. (@NYCTSubway) February 16, 2018
Hill has worked for the MTA for more than a decade and said helping a passenger – whether on two feet or four – is all part of the job.
"She was very happy, she was excited that we found the dog and everything. She was in tears, which is a good thing," she said.
To top off the tale – it all happened on the Lunar New Year and the first day of the Year of the Dog.
Click here to check current conditions on the rails.