Heartbreaking Video Shows Dog Chasing Police Car After Owner Arrested
A dog filmed desperately chasing after a police car carrying his arrested owner is now safe in foster care, thanks to a group of determined Good Samaritans who stepped in to help.
Emily Casso was sitting in her car in a parking lot in San Antonio, Texas, when she witnessed the heartbreaking scene. After a man was taken into custody, she watched as his dog — now named Rusty — circled the police cruiser and ran after it as it drove away.
She filmed the confused pup chasing the vehicle, allegedly left behind with no one to care for him.
Casso, an animal advocate, tried to rescue Rusty but said it was too dangerous due to traffic and the busy location. She later wrote on Facebook: “I attempted to call him over and catch him, but he was too focused on following the only person he knew as they were taken away.”
“I tried for the life of me to catch the dog but the traffic and location of where this is made it difficult. I lost him after other Good Samaritans tried to help,” she continued.
Worried Rusty might be hit by a car or fall into the wrong hands, Casso contacted the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) to file a report and posted the video online asking for help. The footage quickly went viral.
Friends joined the search effort, and within a day Rusty was located. Cecilia Chavez saw Casso’s post and made it her mission to find him, even sharing the call to action live on her podcast.
“She was actually live on her podcast when she got a tip that he was spotted,” Casso shared.
Chavez rushed to the area and was able to pick Rusty up. The moment he got into her car, he fell into her arms — visibly relieved to be off the streets.
Meanwhile, Casso and others had been searching for hours when Chavez called with the good news. “The excitement was unmatched! It was a huge relief to see him safe with her,” Casso wrote.
Rusty was placed in a foster home, where he immediately curled up in his crate and fell fast asleep. He remains in foster care, safe and recovering from the ordeal.
The incident has since sparked an investigation into the officer’s actions. SAPD released a statement, noting:
The San Antonio Police Department is aware of an incident involving an SAPD officer who took an individual into custody while the individual’s dog was left behind. SAPD has procedures specific to animal care when their owner is taken into custody, and we take these responsibilities seriously.An investigation into whether the officers violated policy is currently underway. If we determine that policy violations occurred, the officers will be disciplined in accordance with our policies and procedures.
Chavez later posted on Facebook: “I 100% back the blue, but in this situation I believe the individual was wrong. I hope this officer takes the opportunity to be educated on how to better handle situations like this in the future.”
Casso also told KENS 5 News, “Somebody needs to be held accountable.”
Still, she says she’s grateful Rusty is safe and proud of how the community came together. She wrote, “Working together w our southeast community helped find Rusty…! We need to continue working together because we can make a bigger impact!”