Highway running lucky dog reunited with owner

PHOENIX, Arizona (CNN) -- A yellow Labrador retriever who made a harrowing dash across a busy interstate is resting at home Friday after being reunited with her owner.

Terri Mahnert said the dog, Samantha, and her other dog, Raleigh, escaped from the back yard of their home Wednesday night. Mahnert blamed heavy thunderstorms for the dogs' escape.

VIDEO Correspondent Vielka Atherton reports on dog that ran into rush-hour traffic (July 5) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)

"Raleigh gets really nervous when that happens," she told CNN. "We went out to dinner that night and the storms hadn't started yet. When they did, he started banging on the gate until it broke free."

Mahnert said she learned of Samantha's daring dash across Interstate 17 during Thursday morning rush hour from a friend who saw the video on television.

The video showed Samantha as she scaled the interstate median and slanted her way across the freeway amid speeding cars that at times appeared to come within inches of hitting her. She ran in the same direction as the traffic flow and seemed to pay little attention to the cars and trucks around her.

She ran into a nearby apartment complex but eluded several would-be captors. Finally, apparently tired from her ordeal, she allowed a resident to approach her and put a leash on her.

Mahnert said that despite the trauma, Samantha is doing well.

"She is quite tired," she said. "We took her to the vet. She was very dehydrated, so they put some fluids in her. Her pads are completely worn down, so she's kind of lying around a lot."

Mahnert is still searching for her second dog.

"My son and I went out looking for him this morning at a couple of the animal shelters and we couldn't locate him yet," she said. "We're still hoping that we'll find Raleigh."