HOUSTON — UPDATE: The family reached out to KHOU 11 on Saturday and said their dog was found dead and they had it cremated.
PREVIOUS STORY: A family visiting Houston for the holidays is asking for the public’s help to find their beloved dog that ran away after a hit-and-run crash on the East Freeway.
The crash happened the night of December 21 on the I-10 East Freeway near Mercury Road. It was near the end of a long journey for Taylor Polidore and her fiancé Jeroson Williams. They had almost finished their drive from Atlanta to Houston when a driver in a white truck crashed into their yellow Ford Bronco.
“Out of nowhere, a car hits us full speed” Polidore recalled. “After he hit us, he jumped out of his car and ran down the frontage road somewhere. So by the time police got there, the person who hit us he just left his car.”
Polidore said two good Samaritans pulled over to help her, Williams, and their dog get out of the car. Williams had broken his arm and their vehicle was severely damaged, nevertheless, the couple felt lucky it wasn’t worse.
“To walk away with bumps and bruises and a broken arm is a blessing and we’re grateful to be alive,” Polidore said.
Unfortunately, in the chaos of the moment, Polidore said her 1-year-old, copper-colored poodle named Halle Berry got scared and ran away.
“She was so afraid that she came out of her collar and leash, down the freeway, down the frontage road,” Polidore said.
The two good Samaritans, who previously assisted the couple, ran after the dog and spotted her in a wooded area nearby close to HCC Northeast. However, as they approached, the dog ran away again and hasn’t been seen since.
“I’m still devastated and I’m shattered," Polidore said. "She’s not used to being outside. She’s far from home. I do have hope that we’ll get her back."
The missing poodle is described as medium-sized -- around 45 pounds. Her demeanor is described as sweet and curious. The family is offering a $3,000 cash reward for their pet's safe return.
Anyone with information is encouraged to reach out to Polidore with the contact information on the flyer below.
