Vancouver SkyTrain delayed after dog ran onto tracks

Riders on the Canada Line Thursday afternoon were held up after a dog got loose and began running down the SkyTrain tunnels.

Cst. Amanda Steed with Transit Police says it happened just before noon as a passenger in a motorized scooter was boarding the train.

“Somehow, the doors managed to close before the dog could get onto the train and in the confusion, somehow the dog ended up in the guideway, so [she] was in the tracks,” she told CityNews.

Mosha, a female golden retriever, then took off into the tunnel between the Oakridge-41st and Broadway-CityHall stations.

Mosha’s leash got caught in a Canada Line train’s doors after her owner made it on board, but she didn’t. Thrown into the guideway, Mosha was unhurt, but scared, and ran into the tunnel. Luckily our officers & @TransLink staff found Mosha & reunited her with her human. pic.twitter.com/Wwu8NbGhsc

— Metro Vancouver Transit Police (@TransitPolice) January 13, 2023

“Canada Line staff shut down the power on the tracks, stopped all the trains moving within the tunnel so we could go in on-foot and corral the dog,” Steed explained.

Steed says the dog has since been reunited with her “very grateful owner.”

“The dog will be taken to the vet just as a precaution, but at this time no injuries have been reported,” she said.

The incident, Steed says, serves as a reminder for those taking dogs on transit to be vigilant of their furry friend.

“The number one tip we have, whether it’s a service animal or not a service animal, is just to make sure that the dog is on a leash and that you’re in control of that leash at all times so that an incident like this can be prevented,” she said.