A viral dashcam video of a runaway dachshund darting across a major motorway has led to the dog being safely reunited with his owners.
The footage shows the sausage dog, Sanji, running along the M1 between the Gold Coast and Brisbane, causing drivers to slow traffic and form a rolling blockade in an effort to keep him safe.
Several drivers attempted to catch the dog as he weaved through traffic, with one motorist failing to grab him before he wound up leaping into Jeff Tapsall’s four-wheel drive.
“His little dachshund leg somehow got up inside the car by himself. He was quite tired, he was obviously panicked,” Tapsall said.
Sanji had been missing for two days, with his owners unaware of his whereabouts until the dashcam footage began circulating online.
“A friend in the UK messaged me and he said, ‘oh, imagine if that was your dog?’ Sent me the clip of him running around the M1 and yeah, mate, that’s Sanji,” owner Bryce Speechly said.
Owner Tahne Speechly described Sanji as “so tenacious and stubborn” after seeing the footage of his motorway ordeal.
Although the dog became an online sensation, his family said the attention has allowed them to thank those who helped bring him to safety.
“Absolute legends. Every person we’ve dealt with has been so helpful,” Bryce said.
The family says Sanji will be keeping a much lower profile in the future.
Images: 7NEWS
