Stu Schenker poses with the dog that boarded an S94 bus in Graniteville Wednesday morning.

These fare beaters are getting to be real animals.

Commuters headed toward the Staten Island Ferry got a break from the usual routine Wednesday morning when a large pit bull mix boarded the S94 on Richmond Avenue in Graniteville. The dog jumped on the bus at Deppe Place [MAP LINK] at about 7 a.m., trotted to the back of the bus, past a crowd of riders, took a seat and didn't pay the fare.



"It was an interesting day," said New York City Transit dispatcher Stuart Schenker, who was called to the scene by S94 driver Deborah Samuels.



The dog did not have a collar, but she appeared clean, well kept and well behaved, according to Schenker.



"She's a wonderful dog," Schenker said. "I'm sure somebody is missing her right now."



Most customers didn't even bat an eye as the dog rode the bus Wednesday morning, as one man sitting near the pup looked up from his newspaper, looked over at the dog and just went back to reading, Schenker said.



Eventually the bus driver called for backup, drawing a large emergency response.

The wayward dog displays some affection for S94 bus driver Deborah Samuels. (Photos courtesy of Stu Schenker)

"When I drove by -- I don't frighten easily -- but when I saw nine police cars, emergency Service Units and multiple MTA cars, I thought something serious was happening," said Annadale resident Phil Fox. "At first it wasn't so funny because it seemed serious. But apparently Staten Island has some animals who refuse to pay the fare."

James Catanzaro, the MTA's Staten Island

superintendent in buses, road operations, approached residents in the area with a picture of the dog trying to locate its owner before it was taken to the [Charleston] animal shelter, said Judie Glave, an MTA spokeswoman.

"The dog appeared very friendly," Ms. Glave said. "We would love to see someone come forward to claim this dog."

The dog is now in possession of Staten Island Animal Care and Control,

, in the Staten Island community of Charleston, and the owner should go to the center to claim her.