A wealthy venture capitalist has been criticized for leaving her dog locked inside her car on a hot day.
Joana Tieu was branded an “animal abuser” by the angry crowd who saw the dog trapped in the Lexus on Wednesday.
According to furious witnesses, the dog was parked on a San Francisco street in 73-degree heat for more than half an hour.
But when confronted about her behavior, Tieu told the SF standard group, “should focus their attention on the things they need to focus on, like homeless people sleeping on the streets.”
The car window was slightly broken, however, the Humane Society states that this may have little impact on the temperature inside a vehicle, which can reach 116 degrees in an hour if it is 72 degrees outside.
A wealthy venture capitalist has been criticized for leaving her dog locked inside her car on a hot day.
Tieu is vice president of Walden International, a global company that invests in technology and semiconductors.
Video taken at the scene shows the dog barking repeatedly while concerned bystanders talk to animal control on the phone.
A man can be seen checking how much time is left on the parking meter as the group speculates when the car’s owner will return.
Joana Tieu was branded an ‘animal abuser’ by angry crowd who saw dog trapped in Lexus on Wednesday
“I’m going to publicly embarrass them,” the man says while filming the Lexus before Tieu enters the frame.
“We’re trying to locate the owner,” he tells her, causing her to turn around in surprise.
‘Of the dog?’ She responds, gesturing toward the vehicle.
‘Yes, the dog was locked inside, everyone was worried, do you see all these people?’ He asks.
As she gets into her car, another woman approaches saying that animal control is at stake.
The dog remained parked on a San Francisco street in 73-degree heat for more than half an hour, according to angry witnesses.
“You left your dog in the car for over half an hour in this heat, it’s your fault,” he shouts out the window.
‘Do you want to talk to animal control? You are the owner of a fucking dog. What a shame. What a shame.’
As Tieu walks away, the woman yells at her, calling her an “animal abuser,” while another woman yells, “Never leave your dog in a hot car.”
In an interview with SF Standard, Tieu claimed that his dog only stayed in the car for a short time while he attended a doctor’s appointment, but was run over.
‘He can’t be alone because he feels miserable. He’s not used to it,’ he said. ‘I don’t have anyone to watch over him. I have to take him with me.’
She also accused the concerned crowd of being “rude” to her.
But the Human Society warns that it is never acceptable to leave a dog inside a vehicle.
“Leaving pets locked in cars is never safe,” the nonprofit says. ‘But when the weather gets warmer, it can be deadly. High temperatures can cause irreparable organ damage and even death.’