A runaway pug dog may have been just trying to get home Thursday morning after it escaped from the vet and was caught by an Oregon State Police trooper.

OSP

SLIDESHOW: Pug rescued

Employees from the Banfield inside the PetSmart on Southeast 82nd were looking for three-year-old “Bristol” after it slipped out of it’s collar and triggered the automatic sliding doors.

OSP Lieutenant Gregg Hastings said dispatchers got three calls around 8:30 a.m. about the dog crossing the heavy traffic on Interstate 205 near Johnson Creek.

OSP Senior Trooper Duane Larson spotted Bristol on the freeway around 9 a.m., parked his cruiser on the shoulder and was able to call the dog over to him.

"Bristol stopped, turned around and walked back to me. I picked him up like a football and put him in back of my patrol car so he could be returned," Larson said.

Another driver saw the whole thing and told Larson that people from the Pet Smart had been walking up and down the freeway, looking for Bristol.

A spokesperson from Banfield said employees followed all policies properly, which includes double-leashing dogs, but sometimes with pets being pets, they can get away from handlers.

"At Banfield we are deeply committed to the safety and well-being of all Pets and their families.  We are extremely happy that Bristol has been reunited with his family,” Banfield Vice President of Client Advocacy Dr. Karen Johnson said. "We are grateful that our hospital team swiftly mobilized to find Bristol and especially thankful that OSP Senior Trooper Larson was able to assist in Bristol's safe return."

Employees planned to honor Trooper Larson's actions, Banfield said.