Woman exposes shopper's ‘disgusting behaviour’ in shopping centre car park
- Replies 7
In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, we often forget the responsibilities that come with pet ownership.
One such incident recently occurred at Warringah Mall in Sydney's north, where a woman allegedly left her dog locked in her car while she shopped for up to 40 minutes.
This incident has sparked a heated debate about the ethics of leaving pets unattended in vehicles, even in seemingly mild conditions.
On that fateful day, when temperatures soared to about 28 degrees, a woman named Claire noticed a fellow shopper park her car next to hers in the undercover car park.
The woman exited her vehicle, leaving her shaggy dog alone in the back seat.
Upon seeing the unattended pet, Claire contacted the security, who tried to reach the owner via a mobile number on the dog's harness.
Claire attempted to report the incident to both the police and the animal welfare organisation, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), but received no assistance.
‘Myself and my mother waited till she got back,’ Claire stated. ‘It was around 3:15 pm, and she didn’t come back till just before 4 pm.’
When the owner returned, Claire confronted her about the apparent neglect of her pet, which she claimed was ‘panting and drooling’.
However, the woman merely laughed off the accusation and drove away hastily.
Claire took to social media to share her frustration, posting pictures of the dog and criticising the owner for her 'absolute irresponsibility and disgusting behaviour'.
She added: 'People like you should not own animals.’
The incident sparked a debate on social media, with some arguing that the car was parked under cover and likely cool enough for the dog.
‘The dog doesn't look hot and distressed at all,’ a social media user pointed out.
Others, however, vehemently disagreed, stating that it's 'simply disgusting' and 'cruel' to leave a dog unattended in a car, regardless of the conditions.
‘Undercover or not, you don't lock a baby in a car, you don't lock an animal in a car. No excuses,’ another commented.
The RSPCA advised that leaving a dog inside a car unattended is 'always dangerous', regardless of the location or outside temperature.
Even on mild days, temperatures inside a car can rapidly increase, reaching double the outside temperature.
'Dogs cool themselves through panting and are particularly at risk of heat stress in a hot car. If the air around them is too hot, and there is no access to cool water, dogs cannot lower their body temperature back to where it should be,' an RSPCA spokesperson explained.
‘If the dog is heat distressed, this is considered an act of cruelty, and our inspectors can investigate,’ they added.
‘Symptoms of heat stress in dogs include panting, drooling and restlessness. Over time, they can become weak, and their gum colour can change. They may also begin to stagger and experience vomiting, diarrhoea or seizures,’ the spokesperson shared.
If you come across a pet in distress and cannot locate the owner, contact local police or RSPCA as soon as possible.
Here are the contact numbers of the organisation per state:
It is advised to note down the car’s make, model and licence plate number or take a picture of it and, if possible, stay with the dog until help arrives.
What are your thoughts on this incident, members? Have you ever witnessed a similar situation? Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments below.
One such incident recently occurred at Warringah Mall in Sydney's north, where a woman allegedly left her dog locked in her car while she shopped for up to 40 minutes.
This incident has sparked a heated debate about the ethics of leaving pets unattended in vehicles, even in seemingly mild conditions.
On that fateful day, when temperatures soared to about 28 degrees, a woman named Claire noticed a fellow shopper park her car next to hers in the undercover car park.
The woman exited her vehicle, leaving her shaggy dog alone in the back seat.
Upon seeing the unattended pet, Claire contacted the security, who tried to reach the owner via a mobile number on the dog's harness.
A woman noticed that a shopper left their dog inside the car in a shopping centre car park. Image source: Facebook
Claire attempted to report the incident to both the police and the animal welfare organisation, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), but received no assistance.
‘Myself and my mother waited till she got back,’ Claire stated. ‘It was around 3:15 pm, and she didn’t come back till just before 4 pm.’
When the owner returned, Claire confronted her about the apparent neglect of her pet, which she claimed was ‘panting and drooling’.
However, the woman merely laughed off the accusation and drove away hastily.
Claire took to social media to share her frustration, posting pictures of the dog and criticising the owner for her 'absolute irresponsibility and disgusting behaviour'.
She added: 'People like you should not own animals.’
The incident sparked a debate on social media, with some arguing that the car was parked under cover and likely cool enough for the dog.
‘The dog doesn't look hot and distressed at all,’ a social media user pointed out.
Others, however, vehemently disagreed, stating that it's 'simply disgusting' and 'cruel' to leave a dog unattended in a car, regardless of the conditions.
‘Undercover or not, you don't lock a baby in a car, you don't lock an animal in a car. No excuses,’ another commented.
The RSPCA advised that leaving a dog inside a car unattended is 'always dangerous', regardless of the location or outside temperature.
Even on mild days, temperatures inside a car can rapidly increase, reaching double the outside temperature.
'Dogs cool themselves through panting and are particularly at risk of heat stress in a hot car. If the air around them is too hot, and there is no access to cool water, dogs cannot lower their body temperature back to where it should be,' an RSPCA spokesperson explained.
‘If the dog is heat distressed, this is considered an act of cruelty, and our inspectors can investigate,’ they added.
‘Symptoms of heat stress in dogs include panting, drooling and restlessness. Over time, they can become weak, and their gum colour can change. They may also begin to stagger and experience vomiting, diarrhoea or seizures,’ the spokesperson shared.
If you come across a pet in distress and cannot locate the owner, contact local police or RSPCA as soon as possible.
Here are the contact numbers of the organisation per state:
It is advised to note down the car’s make, model and licence plate number or take a picture of it and, if possible, stay with the dog until help arrives.
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