A Miami Gardens Police K-9 named Gael is still missing after being struck by a vehicle Monday night, according to NBC6 Miami. The dog fled the scene near Northwest 195th Street and hasn’t been found despite a search by officers. Police put out a missing flyer for Gael and are asking residents in the area to report any sightings.
Timeline: how Gael disappeared near Northwest 195th Street
The 9:35 p.m. business alarm call that preceded the escape
Officers responded to a business alarm in the 200 block of Northwest 195th Street around 9:35 p.m. Monday, according to Miami Gardens Police. Gael was let out of a police vehicle during that call, and what happened in the moments right after set off the chain of events that led to his disappearance.
Gael’s run across Northwest 2nd Avenue and failed recall
Gael immediately ran eastbound across Northwest 2nd Avenue, according to police. The officer on scene tried to recall the dog, the command K-9 handlers use to bring a working dog back under control, but Gael didn’t respond. He kept going, moving out of the officer’s reach and prompting the search that followed.
What surveillance footage has revealed so far
Surveillance footage later captured additional details about the incident, according to Miami Gardens Police, though the department hasn’t released a full account of what the footage shows or said exactly where Gael was struck by a vehicle. Investigators are still reviewing available footage to trace his path after he crossed Northwest 2nd Avenue. No further specifics have been made public as of this report.
Miami Gardens Police’s search efforts and current status of the case
Officers searched for Gael after his disappearance Monday night, according to police, but couldn’t locate him. The department hasn’t said whether the search is still active on the ground or has shifted mainly to public tips and flyer distribution. As of NBC6 Miami’s report, Gael’s location is unknown, and Miami Gardens Police hasn’t given an update on his condition after the vehicle strike.
How K-9 recall failures and vehicle strikes happen during police operations
Police K-9s are trained to respond to verbal and hand-signal commands from their handlers, including recall commands meant to bring a dog back during a call. But sudden stimuli, loud noises, unfamiliar terrain, or the stress of an active scene can override that training, causing a dog to bolt instead of return. A busy roadway near a business alarm call is exactly the kind of unpredictable setting where a startled or highly driven working dog can run into traffic before an officer can step in. Once a K-9 is struck by a vehicle and keeps moving, finding the animal gets much harder, since an injured or frightened dog may keep running instead of staying near the point of impact. A failed recall followed by a vehicle strike is the scenario Miami Gardens Police say led to Gael going missing.
What the public can do: reporting sightings of K-9 Gael
Miami Gardens Police is asking anyone who spots Gael to contact the department rather than approach the dog directly. A K-9 that’s been struck by a vehicle and is still missing may be injured, disoriented, or defensive, especially around unfamiliar people. Reporting a sighting promptly gives officers the best chance of recovering Gael safely.
Details from the missing flyer
Miami Gardens Police released a missing flyer for Gael after his disappearance, using his image and available details to help the public identify him on sight. The flyer directs anyone who sees Gael to contact police rather than try to catch or contain the dog themselves.
Department protocol questions raised by Gael’s disappearance
Gael’s disappearance raises questions about what protocols are in place when K-9s are released from vehicles during active calls, particularly near roadways with traffic. Miami Gardens Police hasn’t detailed what safeguards, if any, are standard practice for handlers letting a K-9 out during a business alarm response, nor said whether this incident will prompt a review of those procedures. For now, the department’s stated priority is finding Gael. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to contact Miami Gardens Police directly.
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