A Philadelphia man has been reunited with his beloved dog Pinto after the pet bolted from the scene of a January 14, 2026 car crash in Germantown.
Brian Rademaekers told News Of Philadelphia that a professional dog walker was out with Pinto when the pair were struck by a car at West Rittenhouse Street and Wayne Avenue. The driver remained to check on the walker, but Pinto was spooked and ran.
At a Glance
- Pinto disappeared after being startled by a car accident
- A Good Samaritan found the dog and responded to a Facebook post
- Owner says the experience taught him to add a collar with contact info
- Why it matters: Simple ID tags can speed reunions when pets panic and flee
Rademaekers turned to Facebook that night, posting a plea for help. A woman soon replied that she had taken Pinto in shortly after the collision.
“So, I called this woman, and she had him, and I just burst into tears,” Rademaekers told News Of Philadelphia. “There was so much weight that came off my heart.”
The Germantown resident said the scare drove home a lesson for all dog owners: Pinto is microchipped but wore no collar with a name tag or phone number.
Microchips help when pets reach shelters or vets, yet visible ID tags let any passerby return a frightened animal on the spot, Rademaekers noted.
Key Takeaways
- Keep a secure collar with current phone number on your dog at all times
- Microchips work as backup, but tags offer instant contact info
- Social media can be a powerful tool for spreading word about lost pets
- Stay calm and act quickly if your pet disappears after a frightening event
