Stow Away on the 507
Ticket Agent Reunites Lost Dog with Owner

Last month New Mexico Rail Runner Express Ticket Agent Melanie Martinez was making her way through the train to collect fares and noticed an unusual passenger.  A small Jack Russell Terrier named Sparky was walking down the aisle and jumping on unsuspecting passengers. 

The New Mexico Rail Runner Express doesn’t allow pets on the train, so Melanie was determined to find the owner and point out our policy. “I asked the passengers who owned the dog,” said Melanie.  “No one claimed it.  But a gentleman sitting near the door said the dog jumped on the train in Downtown Bernalillo right before the doors closed”.

At this point, there was no turning back.  The dog was on his way to Albuquerque.  Melanie called her supervisor to let him know of the unusual situation.  Since she had worked at Pet Smart for 10 years before coming to work for the Rail Runner last December, Melanie knew someone in Bernalillo would be looking for their dog. 

When Train #507 terminated at the Downtown Albuquerque Station, Melanie decided to take the dog to the Sandoval County Animal Shelter since the dog’s owner probably wouldn’t know to look for their pet at an Albuquerque shelter.  However, on her way, she thought back to her days working at Pet Smart and remembered they had a microchip scanner.  “I was doubtful that it had a chip, but it was worth a shot.” Melanie called her former Pet Smart manager and explained the situation.  When she arrived, they scanned the dog for a microchip and much to her surprise it did had have one.    

Store personnel called the owner to let her know they had her dog, Sparky.  “The dog’s owner was at work in Albuquerque and didn’t even know her dog was missing, much less about the adventure that Sparky had that day,” Melanie explained.  Pet Smart agreed to keep the dog at their Montaño location until the owner could get there on her lunch break to reunite with her pooch.

“After working with pets for 10 years, I knew this was not just an animal to someone,” Melanie explained.  “This was a family member who needed to find his way home.  It’s exactly what I would want someone to do for me if they found my pet.”