Two four-legged fugitives led Bellingham Police Department officers and a Whatcom County Sheriff's Office deputy on one of the more unusual pursuits in recent memory early Saturday morning, ending with a safe reunion between the donkeys and their owners near Marine Drive.
Corporal C. Puhan and Officer C. Brearley were dispatched to the Alderwood Avenue area near Bennett Drive after a call came in about two escapees matching a very specific description: a little over three feet tall, long ears, gray hair, and large dark eyes. Both suspects were spotted walking in the middle of the road.
A Slow-Speed Pursuit on Marine Drive
When officers arrived, they found themselves face to face with two donkeys enjoying an early-morning stroll. WCSO Deputy Wanlin joined the response, and together the three law enforcement personnel employed what BPD described as their emergency vehicle operations training to gently corral the animals without a lasso in sight.
The low-speed pursuit concluded at Whatcom County Fire District 8 on Marine Drive, where officers successfully secured both animals. The Whatcom County Sheriff's Office confirmed the cooperative effort, and BPD noted the teamwork with pride in a post on their Facebook page.
"Not too many escaped donkey calls for us in the city in the past few decades," BPD wrote, adding that the donkeys are cherished pets who "got a little too smart for their own good, escaped their enclosure, and gave freedom a chance — albeit a short-lived one."
Why It Matters for the Bellingham Community
Stories like this one offer a lighthearted reminder of what makes living in the Bellingham area distinct from a big-city experience. The presence of donkeys walking on roads connecting residential neighborhoods to Marine Drive speaks to the semi-rural character of sections within and around Bellingham city limits, where hobby farms and livestock operations sit just minutes from downtown.
The City of Bellingham and surrounding unincorporated Whatcom County have long accommodated a mix of residential and small-scale agricultural uses. Animal-at-large calls are handled routinely by both BPD and WCSO, though donkeys in the road remain a novelty even for experienced officers.
WCSO and BPD regularly coordinate on calls that cross jurisdictional lines, and this incident is a good example of that partnership in action. The call required patience, good humor, and just enough vehicle maneuvering to guide two stubborn animals to safety without incident.
The Animals Are Home Safe
Both donkeys were reunited with their owners following the early-morning adventure. BPD noted the animals are well-loved pets, which helps explain their bold bid for freedom. No injuries were reported to the animals, the officers, or any drivers who may have encountered them in the roadway.
Motorists in areas near Alderwood and Marine Drive where livestock are kept nearby are reminded to slow down and watch for animals near roadway edges, particularly in the early morning hours when low light can make it difficult to spot animals in the road. If you see livestock loose on a public road in Bellingham, contact Bellingham Police at their non-emergency line. For incidents in unincorporated Whatcom County, contact the WCSO non-emergency dispatch.
For more unusual dispatches and neighborhood news from around Whatcom County, the local events and public safety beat has been busy this fall.
