Jake Gyllenhaal brings NY traffic to a screeching halt to save terrified Dalmatian stuck at an intersection: 'He really was a hero'
Being a dog lover, actor Jake Gyllenhaal could not stop himself from jumping into the middle of a busy street to save a terrified Dalmatian.
According to Page Six, the 'Spiderman: Far From Home' actor was walking at Laight and Hudson streets in Tribeca, New York, at about 10:20 a.m. Thursday, October 17, when he spotted a huge Dalmatian standing in the middle fo a busy intersection.
An eye-witness said that it was not a lost or a stray dog as the Dalmatian was attached to a leash. Only moments before, the dog had gotten away from its owner, as the person walking it could not keep a hold on it due to its bulky stature.
The source told the publication that as soon as Jake saw the dog in the middle of oncoming traffic, frozen to the spot, he started to try and communicate with it.
“I noticed that it was Jake Gyllenhaal, and I saw him turn and look into the street — I thought he was trying to flag down a cab or something," the eye-witness said.
However, the witness was wrong as the 38-year-old actor was actually motioning to the dog, which refused to budge, standing still on the street. “It was like the dog was in shock or something,” said the witness.
When he noticed that the dog was not moving, he left his female companion and walked into the busy intersection, bringing traffic to a screeching halt. He calmed the panicked dog and led it safely back to its owner. He even spent a few minutes advising the anxious dog owner on the different types of leashes and on how such a situation could be prevented in the future.
“He really was a hero," the source said.
Jake owns several dogs, including puggle Boo Radley and German shepherd Atticus.
“I love dogs, I just love them. They are so playful. I think they bring that out in us, if we allow it. I don’t think I’m that playful, generally. I need to be reminded of it. So, they remind me of that," he told W magazine last year. "When I housebroke my dog, it was probably one of the proudest moments I’ve had. [At least] of the past three years. It was such a tremendous triumph.”
