ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Family members let out cries of joy when they were reunited with Teddy, their 7-year-old chocolate Lab that had been missing since Thanksgiving Day.
Teddy's owners posted a photo of him on Facebook to get the word out, but it was Cpl. Ben Thorpe, with the Orange County Sheriff's Office, who brought Teddy home.
"On my way to work, down the 408, (I was) going westbound (and) I noticed the traffic was starting to stop," Thorpe said.
That's when he noticed Teddy running on State Road 408, in danger of being hit by a car.
"I don't know how he got from all the way on the outside of traffic, to the inside lanes," Thorpe said. "He looked terrified. (I) got out (and) tried to grab the dog. He tried to wiggle away from me a little bit, but I was able to calm him down."
When Thorpe got to the Sheriff's Office, it didn't take long to figure out who Teddy belonged to. A bandana around the animal's neck helped trace the dog back to his veterinary clinic. About 30 minutes later, the family was located.
"They were incredibly emotional when they got him back," Thorpe said. "And I guess there's a 4-year-old boy he belongs to, so I'm happy to be able to do that for them."
Thorpe said all of his own dogs have been strays he's found, so this wasn't the first time he's helped a dog -- and it won't be the last.
"It's been known to happen a couple times," Thorpe said. "I'd want somebody to do that for me if it was my dog, so I was more than happy to help them."
The Sheriff's Office said Teddy has been checked out and the dog is doing well. "Teddy Bear," as the family calls him, is back with his 4-year-old boy.