CALIFORNIA IN BRIEF : MERCED : Dog That Hitched Ride Gets New Home

Lucky, the dog whose daring freeway joy ride made him a San Joaquin Valley hero, has a new home. The 9-month-old white dog was taken home by Castle Air Force Base aircraft inspectorWarren Abbott. The county animal shelter had received about 25 calls from would-be adoptersand held a drawing to select the new owner, choosing Abbott. Lucky won local fame for hisgutsy ride on the running board of a truck heading up California 99. The driver, who had parked the truck momentarily in Stockton, later said Lucky hitched a ride when he wasn’t looking. Abbott said Lucky will replace Benny, his 7-year-old dog who died four months ago. He said the dog will be treated “pretty much as part of the family” if he stays off the furniture.