NEW YORK, Sept. 21 (UPI) -- A video of a rat attempting to carry off a slice of pizza in the New York City subway has gone viral since its upload Sunday.
Bystanders were simultaneously delighted and horrified to see a large rodent drag an entire slice of cheese pizza down the stairs at the First Avenue L train station. Onlooker Matt Little caught the moment on video before the animal abandoned its prize.
"#PizzaRat" began trending on social media, with many identifying with the rat's love of pizza and humorous struggle. Several people also joked the rodent was Splinter taking home a slice to the pizza-loving Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
The video inspired others to share similar media, including neurobiology student Kurt Fraser's photo of "#cigarettecrab." #PizzaRat has been viewed hundreds of times since its upload, and covered by news outlets worldwide.
Pizza Rat is just trying to work hard, play by the rules, and take home a jumbo slice or two every once in a while
— Adam Serwer (@AdamSerwer) September 21, 2015Splinter is such a good father figure #PizzaRat pic.twitter.com/EJspkVI3su
— James Grebey (@jgrebes) September 21, 2015
