Six dogs who spent Monday night involved in a police pursuit, car spinout and a run around the 710 Freeway are now at the Long Beach animal shelter, where they’re being checked out by a medical team.
The pit bull mix dogs appeared to be happy and healthy and no worse for wear after being impounded following a bizarre freeway pursuit that ended in Long Beach.
The dogs were all riding in a Mercedes when CHP officers did a so-called PIT maneuver, slamming the car into the center divider on the southbound 710 Freeway near Pacific Coast Highway.
When the driver, Tiffini Kuuipo Tobe, 47, of La Habra, finally surrendered, three of the six dogs came bounding out of the car, running around wagging their tails as officers made their arrest.
Animal control officers were brought in to wrangle the dogs and while Tobe went to jail in Orange County, the dogs were taken to the Long Beach animal shelter.
Tobe is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday morning. If she goes to jail or can’t make other arrangements for the dogs, they will eventually be put up for adoption.
“We don’t have any obvious signs of injury or illness,” said Ted Stevens, manager for Long Beach Animal Care Services. “Our medical team will give them a basic physical exam.”
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Two adult females, along with a mama and her three 4-month-old puppies, appear to be doing well.
“So far they’ve shown no aggression,” Stevens said. “They appear bright, alert, responsive, friendly.”
Court records show Tobe was charged in February 2015 with a misdemeanor count of keeping an animal without proper care.
La Habra Animal Control, where Tobe lives, said it found no records that any of these dogs are licensed to Tobe and that by law she can only own three dogs over the age of 4 months since she is not a licensed breeder.
One of the other dogs confiscated also gave birth recently.
Tobe is expected to be arraigned on charges of felony evading, suspicion of driving under the influence, and resisting arrest, which could land her in jail.
That means the dogs will remain in custody for the foreseeable future.
“I think any dogs that end up away from their home and family is a bit stressed. We’ll do our best to keep stress to a minimum,” Stevens said.
