Rico, yorkie

Missing dog that survived drunk driver crash found, reunited with owner
By Larry Bingham, The Oregonian
January 07, 2013

His name is Rico and for most of Sunday, his face was all over the news and plastered on shopfronts around a patch of Northeast and North Portland.

Weir posted this photo on her Facebook page two hours ago and the words "On our way to the vet to get our little adventurer checked out! Thank you, everyone!"

The 6-year-old Yorkshire Terrier mix made the news after the parked car he was sitting in on North Williams Street, near the Northeast Shaver Street intersection, was struck by a drunk driver Saturday night, according to his owner.

Rico was in his crate, inside the car, while his owner, Nicole Weir, was having dinner at a restaurant, she told Katu Sunday.

The crash apparently popped open the dog's crate and Rico somehow escaped from the car and took off. He was last seen wearing a black-and-white jersey.

Weir and friends started a "Find Rico" Facebook page Sunday and it soon drew scores of viewers. Hundreds of people shared the cute pictures. Flyers showing photos of the car accident and the dog were printed and posted. Other stations aired the news and tips started rolling in. Weir and her friends chased potential sightings but didn't see Rico.

Until Monday morning, when Connie Petersen, a retired Oregonian employee, did.

"He was standing in my driveway when I left the house and eventually (my daughter Michelle and I) enticed him to come to us after following him across our busy street," she said. "It wasn't until we called the number on his ID tag that I realized who he was. I'd seen it on the 11 o'clock news last night and was so happy to find his owner."

How Rico got all the way from the crash site up to North Peninsular Avenue, three blocks north of Lombard Street, is anybody's guess.

By 11 a.m., Weir had Rico again in her arms.

"I wanted to thank everyone so much for your support and prayers and good thoughts and tips," she posted on Facebook. "I am absolutely overwhelmed by the response and offers to help. There are no words to fully express and I hope that once we are able to rest, I can better articulate my thanks!"

Source: http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2013/01/missing_dog_that_survived_drun.html
Print version: http://blog.oregonlive.com/portland_impact/print.html?entry=/2013/01/missing_dog_that_survived_drun.html
Video at http://www.lifewithdogs.tv/2013/01/dog-missing-after-drunk-driving-collision-is-reunited-with-owner/