Dog survives being tossed from car during wrong-way chase in north metro

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – Investigators say a puppy thrown from a car and left out in the cold is on the road to recovery.

A pit bull was thrown from a truck going more than 60 miles an hour during a police chase this week.

"It involved multiple car jackings and there were weapons involved," said Sgt. Dan Young.

Late Monday night, Ramsey County sheriff's deputies knew they were involved in a dangerous situation. They were pursuing a stolen truck, that had driven the wrong way down Interstate 694 in Arden Hills. Then, the people in the car did something else unusual.

"They noticed a small, white dog had been thrown from the vehicle being pursued at highway speeds on 694," said Sgt. Young.

After making a couple of arrests, deputies went back and searched for the puppy, but found nothing as nighttime temperatures dropped to negative 8 degrees. The next morning, they went out again - this time with drones, but not expecting to find the dog alive. So imagine their surprise when he was discovered wagging his tail in a snowbank.

"He was happy-go-lucky. We even got him up in the van and he was licking us. Very, very happy. We gave him a piece of pizza," said Sgt. Young.

They quickly named the pit bull Tahoe because of the Chevy Tahoes they drive and took him to a vet where it was determined Tahoe had a broken leg and lacerations but would survive.

A resilient dog who also remains a bit of a mystery. Tahoe was found without tags or a chip. So officers are still trying to determine who his owner is.

For now, he's staying with a Ramsey County employee and a fundraiser has already brought in more than $20,000 for vet bills. For Sgt. Young, a dog owner himself, this puppy is a walking miracle.

"We'll do our best to get him to a nice, loving family where he can live out the rest of his days in luxury. Because he's earned it," said Sgt. Young. "It's a feel-good happy ending in a world where we don't get those a lot."

Veterinarians think Tahoe is about a year old.

One of the arrested women admitted to throwing him from the truck.

Investigators are still looking for two men involved the carjacking who could be armed.