Dog Takes the Subway Every Day, Authorities Put a Tracker on Him

While exploring Istanbul, one may encounter many sights such as a vendor selling delectable deep-fried pastries, stunning architectural structures, or even an unaccompanied canine riding the train.

A solitary canine had been regularly boarding public transportation, including trams and trains, for several months, arousing curiosity among the local residents regarding its activities. Consequently, they opted to notify the authorities in order to monitor the dog closely. However, they were completely unprepared for the destination to which the dog guided them.

Passenger Pooch

In late summer 2021, individuals began to observe an unexpected guest accompanying them throughout their urban expeditions. A docile canine frequently accompanied the passengers, maintaining his own space and seamlessly blending in as if he were merely another traveler.

As people encountered him again, they were curious about the dog’s origin.

A Mystery

The dog perplexed all those in its vicinity. He would wander without a collar, unaccompanied by another individual, guiding him from one train to another.

Each morning, he would consistently appear, moving from one location to another, as if he genuinely had certain destinations and possessed precise knowledge of how to reach there. However, he appeared to be entirely solitary. Concern arose regarding the whereabouts of the dog’s owner and the location of his residence.

Spotted Everywhere

The canine appeared indifferent to the prospect of being claimed by an owner. Instead, he would autonomously and effortlessly utilize transportation. He frequently used the metro, tram line, and even the ferries!

He hung out at the stops in between his trips. The dog would be lying out in the sun if it was nice outside. He would stay inside the stations if it was cold and wet. People walking by were confused by the dog’s strange behavior.

Getting On and Off the Train

A lot of people were interested in the dog when he was getting on and off the train. People in the train could tell he knew what he was doing just by looking at him.

He waits by the door while standing on the side of the platform. As soon as he hears the sound of the train, he runs to the end of the platform and waits there. A Getty Images photographer named Chris McGrath told CNN that he watched the dog for a day and said, “He knows exactly where the doors are.”

Contacting the Authorities

People started to worry about the dog that rides the subways by itself because it didn’t have a clear owner. The dog didn’t cause any problems or bother the other guests, but he did make people nervous, mostly about his health rather than being a bother.

People decided that calling the officials to make sure the dog was taken care of was the next step after watching the dog use the public transportation system for a few months. They didn’t know it yet, but the police already knew about the traveling dog.

Public Transportation Gets Involved

People told the Public Transportation Department about the train dog that got lost. “The dog caught their eye a few months ago,” Aylin Erol, head of customer relations at Metro Istanbul, told CNN. “They were already keeping a close eye on him.”

Erol could tell that the puppy was unique. “We saw a dog trying to use our trams, metros, and trains two months ago. He knows where to go and where to get off…””It was pretty cool, and now we’re following him,” he told CNN.

Taking Him to the Vet

People who work for public transit were interested in the dog, so they kept an extra close eye on him. But they did more than that. They felt responsible for taking care of him, but they didn’t kick the dog out or call animal control to get him back. Instead, the transportation officers felt compelled to take care of him.

The police took it upon themselves to bring this dog to a vet center and give him some routine health checks because it was clear that no one owned him. They were shocked by what they found.