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Thruway Traffic Comes To A Halt For Wandering Dog

NEW YORK(CBSNewYork) -- Traffic was at a standstill on the New York State Thruway interchange in Elmsford on Monday morning when motorists tried to save a wandering dog from itself.

Alarmed motorists stopped traffic on their own after a spooked but spirited family dog roamed out into traffic and refused to leave, CBS 2's Lou Young reported.

One woman even put out a dish of water which the dog lapped up before continuing to avoid humans.

The incident began at a nearby motel on the Saw Mill River Parkway where the dog's owner was staying, according to police.

"The dog has a history of going on the lam as we say. His dog just sashayed out the window and took off running," NY State Trooper Dave Katz explained.

The adventure ended with a 45 minute standoff at the I-287-Thruway interchange. The dog was in trouble but didn't seem interested in being rescued.

At one point the dog, named Applesauce, tried to jump over the Jersey barrier that separates the roadway from a steep drop.

CBS 2's cameras were rolling when the State Police arrived and Trooper Katz did his best to rope the dog like a rodeo calf.

"I aimed at it and had it quite a few times and just couldn't get him right away. It's kind of my first lassoing attempt. I'm not really trained in that. It just kept going off his head and neck," Katz said.

Katz finally snared Applesauce when the animal hid under an SUV.

The dog suffered cuts to its paws and was treated by a local vet before being released into the custody of its worried owner.

No charges were filed in connection with the incident but authorities advised against stopping traffic on the highway to help animal. They advised calling the police and remaining in your car.

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