A “cruel” dog owner left his dog locked inside his car for at least 45 minutes on a hot day and then laughed when confronted by concerned passers-by.
Photos posted online showed the dog. she called Gracie, sitting in the back seat of the car with all the windows closed at Warringah Mall on Sydney’s northern beaches on Monday.
In one of the images, the poor dog appears to be panting.
Temperatures reached 28°C on Monday, but the heat in the car would probably have been much higher.
Claire claimed that she and her mother were parked next to the dog’s owner and sat in the parking lot for 45 minutes while the woman shopped and left Gracie to swelter in the hot car.
A woman was reported online for leaving her dog Gracie (pictured) locked inside her car during a hot day in Sydney.
“My mother and I waited until she returned. It was around 3:15pm and she didn’t return until just before 4pm,” Claire said. Yahoo News Australia.
While the woman shopped, Claire called the center’s security, who attempted to contact the dog’s owner at the phone number printed on Gracie’s harness.
Claire claimed she also called the police and the RSPCA but was told there wasn’t much that could be done.
When the owner finally returned, Claire told him that the pet had been “panting and drooling,” but the owner “laughed and mocked” before leaving.
Outraged by the woman’s behavior, Claire shared photos of the owner and the dog online and branded her an “absolute idiot.”
“People like you should not own animals, people like you need to be called out for your absolute irresponsibility and disgusting behavior,” Claire wrote.
‘Not only did you think it was funny, but you tried to run me over while running away as fast as possible!
“Let’s not let people like this think it’s perfectly okay to casually abuse their animals.”
Gracie was also photographed panting while sitting in the back seat of the car on a hot day.
While some commenters agreed that the woman’s behavior was “absolutely horrible,” others claimed that the dog would have been fine since the car was secretly parked.
“The car is covered up for one, and for two, the dog doesn’t seem hot or distressed at all,” one wrote.
But another argued: “Covert or not, you don’t lock a baby in a car, you don’t lock an animal in a car, there’s no excuse.”
Another viewer who claimed to know the dog’s owner defended the woman.
They claimed that Gracie was “very pampered and happy” and that the car had a feature that allowed the air conditioning to run when the engine was not running.
An RSPCA spokesperson said that, although they are not aware of Claire’s complaint, it is always dangerous to leave dogs locked in cars.
“There is no excuse for leaving your dogs locked in unattended cars,” they said.
“When it’s 22C outside, the inside of a car can reach a sweltering 47C and this is not an environment for a dog,” the spokesperson said.
“Dogs cool themselves by panting and are especially at risk of heat stress in a hot car. If the air around them is too hot and there is no access to cold water, dogs cannot lower their body temperature to where it should be.
Sydney shopper Claire shared photos of the dog and her owner (pictured) after allegedly waiting 45 minutes for the woman to return to her car.
“If the dog has heat problems, it is considered an act of cruelty and our inspectors can investigate it.
‘Symptoms of heat stress in dogs include panting, drooling and restlessness. Over time, they may weaken and the color of the gums may change. They may also begin to stagger and experience vomiting, diarrhea, or seizures.
Australians who encounter an animal in distress are urged to contact the RSPCA or local police.
If the report refers to an animal locked in a vehicle, it is recommended to note the make, model and license plate number of the vehicle.
If possible, the person reporting the incident should stay with the animal until help arrives.