​¡​Ay, Chihuahua! Dog Boards Austin School Bus, Comedy Ensues

AUSTIN, TEXAS — ¡Ay, Chihuahua! is an exclamation commonly uttered by residents of Mexico and some members of its diaspora, uttered as an expression encapsulating the full range of human emotion: Annoyance, dismay, shock, surprise or resignation. It's an allusion to a state in northwestern Mexico rather than the canine breed native to the country, but it's also a great segue to this story.

Earlier this week, schoolchildren being transported by an Austin ISD school bus downtown, along the 3100 block of East 4th Street, got a surprise when one furry passenger entered the vehicle. Not a funny-looking kid, this, but a docile Chihuahua dog.

AISD Police Chief Ashley Gonzalez saw the opportunity for a compelling tail, er, tale to be told here, via Twitter. "Apparently the word is out about @AustinISD education and excellent transportation," he quipped in an April 3 post, complementing his dispatches with photos of the errant beast.

The little dog didn't furfill, um, fulfill its quest for a human education. Instead, the little guy was retrieved by Austin Animal Center wranglers who transported him to a safe space awaiting to hear from its owners. If the little critter isn't claimed, shelter officials said the cute doggie will be put up for adoption.

There's a children's book in this somewhere. Is there a children's author in the house?

Austin Animal Shelter officials put a paws, ahem, pause in the narrative to remind pet owners on the protocol for reclaiming a lost animal companion:

• Visit the Austin Animal Center to reclaim a pet.
• Bring proof of ownership such as veterinary records and/or a photo identification of the pet. It goes without saying pet owners should also bring their own ID, such as a driver's license or consulate cards.

Could this be your Chihuahua? If so, use reference number A791797 and note Kennel D-06 in your recovery quest.

Because we try to be helpful at Patch, we offer working titles on this school-related saga for a possible screenplay, with allowances made for Hollywood's penchant to re-cast character roles to their own liking. Here's some ruff, sheesh, rough ideas:

• The Breakfast Pug.
• Ferris Bulldog's Day Off.
• Superbad dog.
• School of Rottweiler.
• Stand and Deworming (ewww).
• Napoleon Daschund

Got jokes? Put them in the comments thread and get a small prize for the funniest offerings. Patch snagged some gift cards during a recent outing to the National Taco Championships last weekend. If you like jokes and you like tacos, comment below.

We got some Eldorado Bucks (two cards) good as currency at Eldorado Cafe, 3300 W. Anderson Lane. Have you tried House of The Rising Tanuki-San bar and kitchen at 120 W. 5th St.? They put a unique Asian twist to the Mexican staple with delicious results. We got two cards for 20 percent off lunch and one for $10 off a meal there.

Send them jokes our way!