A ‘cruel’ dog owner left his dog locked in his car for at least 45 minutes on a hot day and then laughed when confronted by concerned passers-by.
The dog could be seen in photos posted online. Gracie called as he sat in the backseat of the car with all the windows open at Warringah Mall on Sydney’s northern beaches on Monday.
In one of the images, the poor dog appears to be panting.
The temperature reached 28 degrees Celsius on Monday, but the heat in the car would probably have been much higher.
Claire claimed that she and her mother parked next to the dog owner and sat in the parking lot for 45 minutes while the woman did her shopping and left Gracie to brood in the hot car.
A woman has been called out online for leaving her dog Gracie (pictured) locked in her car on a hot day in Sydney
‘My mother and I waited for her to come back. It was around 3.15pm and she didn’t get back until 4pm,’ Claire said Yahoo News Australia.
While the woman was shopping, Claire called the center’s security, who attempted to contact the dog owner using the phone number listed on Gracie’s harness.
Claire claimed she also called the police and the RSPCA but was told not much could be done.
When the owner finally returned, Claire told her that the pet had been “panting and drooling,” but the owner “laughed and scoffed” before driving away.
Outraged by the woman’s behaviour, Claire shared photos of the owner and the dog online and branded her an ‘absolute bastard’.
“People like you should not own animals, people like you should be called out for the absolute irresponsibility and disgusting behavior,” Claire wrote.
“Not only did you think it was funny, you tried to run me over while getting away as quickly as possible!”
“Let’s not let people like this think it’s okay to casually abuse your animals.”
Gracie was also pictured panting as he sat in the backseat of the car on a hot day
While some commenters agreed that the woman’s behavior was ‘absolutely appalling’, others claimed that the dog would have been fine because the car was parked under cover.
“The car is undercover for one, and twice the dog doesn’t look hot and sad at all,” one person wrote.
But another argued: ‘You don’t lock a baby undercover in a car, you don’t lock an animal in a car, no excuse.’
Another viewer who claimed to know the dog owner defended the woman.
They claimed that Gracie was “very spoiled and happy” and that the car had a feature that allowed the air conditioning to work when the engine was not running.
A spokesperson for the RSPCA said that while it has no record of Claire’s complaint, it is always dangerous to leave dogs locked in cars.
“There is no excuse for leaving your dogs unattended in cars,” they said.
“When it is 22 degrees Celsius outside, the inside of a car can reach a stifling 47 degrees Celsius and this is no 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 cool water, dogs cannot bring their body temperature back to where it should be.
Sydney shopper Claire shared photos of the dog and its owner (pictured) after reportedly waiting 45 minutes for the woman to return to her car
‘If the dog suffers heat, this is considered an act of cruelty and our inspectors can investigate.
‘Symptoms of heat stress in dogs include panting, drooling and restlessness. Over time, they can become weak and the color of the gums can change. They may also 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 complaint concerns an animal confined in a vehicle, it is wise to note the make, model and license plate of the car.
If possible, the person reporting the incident should remain with the animal until help arrives.