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‘Freeway Frida’ German Shepherd Rescued After Living In Median For Five Weeks

By Nancy Bailey
Published on: 15:58 PST, May 19, 2016

A German shepherd was finally nabbed by police on Saturday, after periodic reports from motorists who saw her in the median of Highway 99 near Galt, California, over a five week period.

The dog, nicknamed “Freeway Frida” had been seen falling out of the back of a pickup truck.

Galt Police Chief Tod Sockman told the Sacramento Bee that drivers had reported seeing a German shepherd loose in the median in the C Street and Simmerhorn Road areas for five weeks, starting April 10, when someone saw her fall from a vehicle. From that day on, the police continued to get calls from drivers saying they had seen the dog and were concerned she would be killed on the freeway.

When officers responded, they were unable to catch the dog. On occasions when they did see her, she would escape into heavy brush in the median, favoring one hind leg.

Finally, on Saturday around 8 a.m., the California Highway Patrol blocked southbound traffic on Highway 99, which allowed police Officer Sylvia Coelho to walk into the median and catch the dog.

The German shepherd was taken to VCA Bradshaw Animal Hospital in Elk Grove with a broken leg. She was diagnosed with malnutrition and dehydration.

Judging from the dog’s condition, and the age of the fracture, it was surmised that “Frida” had lived the entire five weeks in the median. How she had survived there, no one knew.

She tipped the scales at 44 pounds, about 20 pounds lighter than her normal weight. She may have subsisted on trash or road kill, but she was smart enough to know that she shouldn’t try to cross the freeway.

Either that, or she was just waiting for her owner to come and pick her up. The loyalty and courage of the German shepherd breed is legendary, making them one of the most popular dogs in the country.

Frida has had some training, but is not micro-chipped, according to New York Daily News. She is around 5- or 6-years-old. Sylvia Coelho, the Galt officer who was finally able to approach Frida, has expressed an interest in adopting her. But a search is on for the dog’s owner, who has not surfaced.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIN71XETyn0

Meanwhile, Frida has captured national attention, Officer Coelho said.

“ABC World News called and Good Morning America.”

As of Wednesday, Frida’s weight had shot from 44 pounds to a fully hydrated 56 pounds. She looks and feels much better, despite the fact that she will need surgery in her hind leg, which has become infected.

Veterinarians believe the dog’s Achilles tendon was torn, or is caught in the break. Frida is being treated with antibiotics to combat the infection, while surgery is pending.

The dog’s owner has been allowed a week to come forward before the surgery is performed, the Sacramento Bee reported.

With all the attention, it is no surprise that Coelho has been inundated with calls and emails from people interested in adopting Frida. She is putting the word out to potential owners to consider adopting a shelter dog.

“There are so many dogs in pounds right now. And owners, please ‘chip’ your dogs. Just be a responsible dog owner.”

Coelho is working with a representative of a German shepherd rescue group in Sacramento. They are creating a GoFundMe page for donations to cover the cost of Frida’s surgery.

[Image via Aleksandra Dabrowa/Shutterstock]

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