Run, Joe, Run

Run, Joe, Run
Created by	Richard Landau
Starring	Arch Whiting Chad States
Opening theme	Richard LaSalle
Ending theme	Richard LaSalle
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	26
Production
Executive producer(s)	Wm. P. D'Angelo
Producer(s)	Dick O'Connor
Running time	22? minutes
Release
Original network	NBC
Original release	7 September 1974 – 4 September 1976

Run, Joe, Run was a Saturday-morning television program that aired on NBC from 1974 to 1976. It centered on Joe, a German Shepherd dog in the military's K-9 corps, and his master, Sergeant Will Corey (played by Arch Whiting). One day, during training, Joe was falsely accused of attacking his master, a crime for which the dog would be euthanised as punishment. However, he escaped before being killed and a $200 bounty was put on his head.

Sgt. Corey believed Joe was innocent and also pursued him, hoping to find Joe before the authorities did. While on the run, Joe helped people he encountered.

During the show's second season, Sgt. Corey, having never found Joe (although he always came close), was called back to duty. Joe then teamed with a hiker, Josh McCoy (played by Chad States), and continued to help others, all the while still on the run.

The show was considered as a cross between Lassie and The Fugitive. Like The Fugitive, and later, The Incredible Hulk, it centered on a falsely accused person (in this case, the "person" was a dog) running from authorities and helping out people he meets along the way. The show was produced by D'Angelo Productions, which also produced the NBC young adult drama, Westwind, and other live-action series for Saturday mornings.

...
Wikipedia