Dog rescued from train track support beam in Philly

Animal protection officers save small shih tzu mix stranded on elevated SEPTA platform

Mar. 16, 2026 at 1:38pm

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Animal protection officers in Philadelphia rescued a small dog that had become stranded on a train track support beam at the 63rd & Market station. SEPTA maintenance brought a cherry picker truck to the scene, allowing an officer to safely remove the uninjured shih tzu mix, who was dubbed Dottie by rescuers.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the quick response and coordination between local authorities and animal protection services to rescue a pet in distress on the city's public transit infrastructure. Animal welfare is an important community issue, and this story demonstrates the dedication of first responders to protect both human and animal safety.

The details

According to the Animal Care & Control Team of Philly, witnesses had seen the small dog running along the SEPTA tracks before she became stuck on top of one of the elevated support pillars at the 63rd & Market station platform. SEPTA maintenance brought a cherry picker bucket truck to the scene, allowing an animal protection officer to carefully remove the dog from the beam.

  • The incident occurred on Sunday, March 16, 2026.

The players

Animal Care & Control Team of Philly

The local animal protection agency that responded to the scene and rescued the stranded dog.

SEPTA

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, whose police alerted animal services about the stranded dog and whose maintenance crew provided the equipment to facilitate the rescue.

Dottie

The small shih tzu mix dog that was rescued from the train track support beam.

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The takeaway

This heartwarming rescue story demonstrates the importance of collaboration between public agencies and animal welfare organizations to protect vulnerable creatures in urban environments. The quick thinking and coordinated response of SEPTA and the Animal Care & Control Team ensured a positive outcome for the stranded dog.