Owner searches for dog that escaped car crash
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PORTLAND, Ore. – A Portland woman is searching for her dog that was alone in her parked car when a suspected drunk driver crashed into it Saturday night.
Nicole Weir said her 6-year-old Yorkie named “Rico” escaped from his crate inside the car after the crash. There were no signs that he was hurt.
"I just started running because I knew he was in there," Weir said. "I got scared. As we got closer, I saw the car wasn't even recognizable anymore. The firemen couldn't tell what type of car it was."
Her car was parked near the corner of Northeast Williams Avenue and Shaver Street.
She’s worried Rico could be terrified, hiding somewhere. Weir and her friends are posting flyers around the area.
“He’s my little man. I’ve had him since he was seven weeks old, and he’s part of the family,” she said. “He’s really energetic. Always a happy dog, squirming and wiggling around. Loves people and other dogs.”
KATU heard about this story from a KATU news tip. If news happens where you live, let us know with an email to newstips@katu.com

my heart is very much with her...you can tell how much she loved Rico and it would be so heartbreaking to have that happen! I hope she finds him and I hope everyone in the area who sees this will be on the lookout for him. Poor dog, so scary for that to happen to him too.
Not every person who leaves their dog in a car is a bad person. My dogs are my kids, yes I'm one of "those" people. I take them almost everywhere with me. It's sad to see that if this happened to me, I'd be having do deal with the sadness over my dog missing and the crappy comments and character assaults by strangers on top of it.
I'm in that neighborhood a lot. Â I'll keep an eye out for sure.
This is news?
@I812 Have a heart! You are obviously not a dog lover!
 @I812 I'd rather see this than another shooting or DUI victim.  This can still have a happy ending!
Good luck Nicole and Rico . . .I hope for a happy outcome . . . K2, please let us know what happens
See you people don't understand. There is quite a cast of trolls who regularly post on any dog related thread. What they say they want is for dogs to be better cared for by being left home, never off a leash, etc. What they really want is for dogs to go away. They hate dogs. They hate dog owners. And it doesn't matter what we do with our dogs, they hate it. I see these people all the time. I can be walking my dog on a leash, no problems, cleaning up after him and I still get the stink eye if I dare let my dog wander into the same time zone as they are. I can be standing there with a blue plastic poop bag on my hand ready to scoop it up, and I still get "You better clean that up!" I sincerely hope this lady finds her dog. She most certainly deserves to have her friend and companion back. The rest of you can take a chill pill and find something else to complain about. How about bicyclists? I'm sure you hate them, too.
If she doesn't have a good reason for leaving the dog in a car, then maybe he found a better owner and doesn't want to go back to her.
 @boomer A dog is an animal. I'm sure it is JUST FINE in the car. I hate it when people are like...OMG, did you see that abusive owner leave his dog in the car for 2 minutes with all the windows down? That dog is panting, he is probably going to die from thirst! Look at his eyes, "I" can tell that he is hurting. Go tell someone how to raise their kids, you are going to be a very disliked person.
@boomer Really?? She had him responsibly in a crate in the car while she was having dinner at a local restaurant! Geez...get a heart!
 @boomer Why don't you go help search?
 @boomer Shame on you.  What is wrong with her leaving him in her car for a little while if he is warm and secure? You want her to bring him in the cafes and stores? No? Then pipe down. She was right there, BTW.Â
 @boomer My wife and I spend quite a bit of time in this neighborhood and have never second guessed letting our puppets rest if we must venture inside for a bit...we typically go back out every 15-20 minutes to check on her if we're indoors for more time than we expected.  Of course, if the weather is warm, than we are outside with her at all times and trade going inside as needed.  I think you're missing the point of this news cast...cold and heartless on your part I believe...the owner has been out all last night and all day and into the evening searching the neighborhood.  You're entitled to your opinion certainly, but give it a rest and troll elsewhere!
 @boomer She was right there and ran towards the car. What part of that got by you and the rest of the maroons on this thread??
Ok...read the poster...he is a mix...now someone please find him!
I doubt he's really a Yorki....possibly a mix. People familiar with the way a Yorki looks might be looking for an entirely different dog :( Either way, I sure hope he's found. It's so cold outside and being frightened and lost...gosh....someone please find him :(
 @fracas He has been shaved down and that is not uncommon - you are thinking about 'Lisa Douglas's' Yorkie on Green Acres - they come in many sizes...
@boned @fracas No...I'm talking about my grandmother's Yorkie, Francie. Tiny little thing...purebred and adorable of course :)
Why was the dog left alone in the car??? I'm asking because in my N. Portland neighborhood, people come to the bar around the corner and leave their dogs in their cars, parked on my street. They cry, whine, and howl the whole time. People think that's better than leaving them home? Either way the animal is heartbroken and people are disturbed. Leaving them alone in a car isn't the brightest thing in the world to do to an animal.
 @DAVH Why is leaving a dog alone in a car worse than leaving it alone at the house?  Is it going to get bored because there's no cable TV in the car?  My dog loved being in my car, but hated being home alone.  Then again, if I left her in the car it was typically for five minutes or less to pick up my food, but how does leaving a dog in a vehicle by itself become something bad?
 @DAVH Where does it say in the article all that opined? Please tell me?? I left my Silky Terrier in the car all the time and he never complained because he go to 'bye-bye' like you...
@DAVH The people that do that are the disturbed ones. Poor dogs.
 @iamtroglodite@yahoo.com And that is why you use yahoo.com...
 @iamtroglodite@yahoo.com  @DAVH Um... I take both of my dogs with me... almost everywhere I go. I do this for two reasons, 1, they love it. 2.. protection. One time a guy tried to make me get into my car and my male dog immediately showed up at my door and growled, the guy took off. Police told me I was smart to take my dogs along while they were taking the police report.
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It is not your job to judge why she does what she does. It's not your life, and it sounds as if that dog was spoiled with his clothes and such.Â
 @summer8 ^agreed.  Thank you.Â
 @fburks  @iamtroglodite@yahoo.com to all of you..I actually know this owner personally and this dog is like her child..it goes everywhere with her. He is about as spoiled as can be. The owner is not a drunk, and was not out of the car that long. If you read the flyer, he was dressed in a coat and put safely in a crate. He is used to traveling everywhere with her. Since he is a dog with a fur coat, AND a coat on, he would not have been cold, and happier in his crate then in a restaurant. Lets focus on finding him and not judging her. Luckily SHE was not in that car, as if she had come out 5 minutes earlier, may not even be here.
 @iamtroglodite@yahoo.com   I know Nicole Weir personally - she isn't a drunk and was having dinner.Â
@Breazy @iamtroglodite@yahoo.com @DAVH Damn, chill out! I take my dog with me too, BUT I sure as hell don't leave him in the car for hours while I sit in a bar getting messed up. I have no problem at all with dogs barking, I have a problem with drunks leaving their dog in a cold car for hours. You don't like my opinion, well tough!
I hope they find him soon! Poor little guy.
Cute face and pretty markings..! Â Â Hope they find him soon - he must've been sooo scared..! Â Â
i hope they find him safe
I hope the dumb*** drunk driver is in some serious pain right now.
Poor darling. Hope they find him soon.