Dunedin City Council compliance, animal and parking services team leader Peter Hanlin said staff had been in touch with a family member of the arrested man, who would collect the dog on Saturday.
Mr Hanlin said the large Rottweiler, left by a man in his vehicle as he fled police yesterday afternoon, appeared unharmed and in good spirits.
"It's a beautiful looking dog.''
A police spokesman said the 34-year-old man was due to appear in the Dunedin District Court on 25 January, on charges of failing to stop, driving recklessly and driving while disqualified.
The man abandoned both his dog and car during a police pursuit in South Dunedin yesterday afternoon.
The action began shortly before 3pm, when the motorist fled from police after an officer attempted to pull him over in King Edward St, a police spokeswoman said
The officer gave chase, until the white Subaru Legacy station wagon mounted the kerb in Andersons Bay Rd heading into Midland St, when police decided to abandon the pursuit due to the erratic nature of his driving.
Shortly afterwards, the man driving the Subaru abandoned the vehicle in the nearby Edgar Centre car park, fleeing on foot and leaving his large Rottweiler in the car.
Police, including officers from the dog section, swarmed South Dunedin, searching for the man, who was seen near a supermarket car park.
Following a short foot chase, he was arrested by an officer.
The car, still containing the dog, was towed to Dunedin Central Police Station to be impounded.
