Miami Gardens police continued searching for K-9 Gael after the dog was struck by a vehicle and kept traveling eastbound. Gael’s location, condition and the extent of any injuries remained unknown at the latest confirmed update.
The search began at approximately 9:35 p.m. Monday, when K-9 officers responded to a business alarm in the 200 block of Northwest 195th Street. A female K-9 officer opened the rear door of her patrol vehicle, where Gael had been located.
Gael immediately left the vehicle and ran eastbound across Northwest Second Avenue, police said. The handler attempted to recall him, but he did not respond to her commands.
All available Miami Gardens police patrol units joined the search. The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit also assisted from the air, but officers did not find Gael Monday night.
Nearby resident Ahie Smith described police vehicles circling the area and a helicopter directing light onto his yard for hours. Police later established that a vehicle had struck Gael after he left the initial location and that the dog continued eastbound afterward.
Authorities did not identify the vehicle or driver, specify where the collision occurred or say whether the vehicle stopped. Gael’s ability to keep moving did not produce a confirmed medical assessment, and police had not reported a recovery or verified sighting.
Police release details to help identify Gael
Police described Gael as 2½ years old, weighing between 55 and 65 pounds, with beige fur and brown eyes. He was wearing a black collar bearing the words “Mama says I’m special.”
Steadman Stahl, president of the South Florida Police Benevolent Association, said Gael specializes in recovering illegal firearms. He also said no sightings had been reported at that stage of the search.
Officers were canvassing the surrounding area while the search continued. Anyone with information was asked to call the Miami Gardens Police Department at 305-474-2100, according to the department’s public request carried by NBC Miami.
That reporting channel matters because a precise location, time and description can help authorities evaluate a possible sighting. General lost-dog guidance from Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter recommends giving police or animal control the animal’s description, name and last known location.
The county shelter also advises contacting local veterinary clinics and shelters during a lost-dog search. In Gael’s case, however, Miami Gardens police are directing the active response, and no confirmed search boundaries or public instructions about approaching him were included in the available update.
Gael’s eastbound direction after the collision gives officers a documented route from the initial location, but it does not establish where he went afterward. Until police confirm a sighting or recovery, both his location and physical condition remain unresolved. What would you do if your dog were in this situation? Share your thoughts in the comments.
By Sarah Mitchell — 8 years as a local-news reporter covering animal welfare, shelters, neighborhood disputes, and public-safety pet stories.
