A furry four-legged fugitive with a wagging tail and a complete disregard for the speed limit gave West Shore RCMP the runaround during an unusual ‘high-speed chase’ on Sooke Road.
To the disbelief of drivers, a dog was seen running on Highway 14 between Langford and Sooke, tailed by an RCMP cruiser – and according to witnesses, a Capital Regional District (CRD) bylaw officer in hot ‘paw-suit’.
Among those caught up in the action Wednesday afternoon (Oct. 8), was Mikayla Hansen and her husband Dane, who were driving from the Highlands to a house viewing in Sooke, when traffic slowed to a crawl.
“We were joking, thinking it was maybe the Sooke traffic already starting up,” said Hansen. “But then my husband spotted a bylaw officer … and then the RCMP pulled out in front – that’s when we spotted the dog."
The bylaw officer, she said, pulled over early and jumped out to chase the dog on foot, leaving most of the pursuit to the Mountie behind the wheel.
Travelling at roughly 20 km/h, Hansen estimates roughly 100 vehicles were backed up behind them, with traffic travelling in the opposite direction also affected.
Hansen filmed the chase, which shows what appears to be a husky-type dog bounding down the highway.
“It looked like it was just having a little run – it didn't seem scared or anything,” said Hansen. “We just thought he was going for an adventure.”
Hansen said the RCMP followed the canine for roughly eight minutes — about two kilometres – before managing to get ahead of it near the approach to Sooke.
The officer left their vehicle and was able to guide the dog safely onto a driveway.
"Thankfully with some 'paw-some' teamwork between our officer and a member of the CRD animal care team, there was a 'paw-sitive' outcome," said West Shore RCMP media relations assistant Hayley Ferguson. "They were able to get the pup off the road together and then get in touch with the owner thanks to the dog having a tag.
"A good reminder to have a contact tag on the collar and to register your animal with CRD."
For Hansen and her husband it will be a experience they won't forget in a hurry.
“We were pretty mind blown by the whole thing,” she said. “It's not something you see every day.”
