NewsCalifornia News

Actions

Dog that jumped into California safari park exhibit reunited with its owners

Screen Shot 2022-06-20 at 2.13.53 PM.png
Posted
and last updated

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — A dog that made national headlines last week after making its way into a gorilla enclosure at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park has been reunited with its owner.

Scripps sister station KGTV reported that on June 12, two dogs got loose inside the park, with one of them jumping into the gorilla habitat.

They said the two gorillas in the habitat were recalled by zoo staff, so humane officers could remove the dog, which they did safely.

The gorillas were also unharmed.

The dog, dubbed Mighty Joe Young by the organization, was transported to the organization's campus in Escondido to get looked over by veterinarians.

Besides several ticks being removed from the dog, he also received flea medicine and vaccines.

At the time, it was unknown to who the dog that jumped into the enclosure belonged to.

Well, on Monday, the San Diego Humane Society solved that mystery, posting on social media that Meatball, the one-and-a-half-year-old male shepherd, was reunited with his owners on Sunday.

"We’re thrilled to be able to reunite him with his owners and have helped them take measures to prevent this curious dog from going on any more solo adventures!" the organization said on Twitter.

,

Weather

Daily Forecast

View Hourly Forecast

Day

Conditions

HI / LO

Precip

Thursday

06/25/2026

Sunny

99° / 68°

0%

Friday

06/26/2026

Sunny

93° / 66°

0%

Saturday

06/27/2026

Partly Cloudy

87° / 62°

4%

Sunday

06/28/2026

Sunny

85° / 63°

1%

Monday

06/29/2026

Sunny

91° / 66°

0%

Tuesday

06/30/2026

Sunny

95° / 66°

0%

Wednesday

07/01/2026

Sunny

95° / 65°

0%

Thursday

07/02/2026

Sunny

93° / 66°

0%