Man who left dog in hot car freaks out on concerned citizens (video)

Here's today's local viral video.

It shows what happened after two Vancouver pet store workers saw a bulldog left in a hot car and decided to bring it inside.

After one of them opened one of the car's unlocked doors, the dog's owner angrily confronted them.

Part of that outburst was captured in this clip.

Update (4:30 p.m.): The worker who originally posted the video has hidden it from public view, and is asking people to think about the harms of social-media shaming.

On Facebook, Jennifer Thi wrote:

Hey everyone, so I was recently informed that the man in the video has a mental disorder and isn't in the best situation already without the shaming as a result of the video I've posted so I have privated it.

As important as it is to make sure you don't leave dogs or any other pets or toddlers in hot cars, it's also important to think about what you do on social media and how it affects others and I didn't think about the latter half carefully enough. I know it's too late and that too much damage has been done already, but please try to understand the man's situation and avoid shaming him further.

As much as the guy was mean and rude, please, just remember that the safety of the animal is what should have been the main concern and I would appreciate it if further degrading comments about the man stop.

I wanted to share the video because I thought it brought attention to the issue of leaving pets in unattended, hot vehicles, but I didn't think of how much the public would focus on other things.

There is another side to any story and I encourage all of you to think about that as well.

Update (July 29): We've removed the video in response to readers' concerns.

Comments

19 Comments

Good job ladies! :)

Jul 28, 2015 at 5:05pm

Irregardless of his mental troubles, you did a good thing. Bravo. He is of sound enough mind to have a pet and a vehicle so he cant be thaaaaat mentally challenged. I think he should still be shamed

um

Jul 28, 2015 at 8:08pm

Try telling the dog there was another side to the story.

If he has a mental health issue that prohibits him from taking proper care of the dog than that is reason enough for him to not be allowed to have a dog. If this video is a way to help with that then great.

Kid needs an attitude adjustment.

Jas Phoe

Jul 28, 2015 at 10:18pm

Should Georgia Straight continue to sensationalism this & show his face & licence plate. Where is your media responsibility?

No, I don't condone his abusive, idiotic & aggressive behavior but don't encourage a social media lynch mob to destroy him either.

Your staff needs to watch this : https://youtu.be/wAIP6fI0NAI

Anonymous

Jul 29, 2015 at 8:53am

For all the verbal abuse,you should call the police.

nowhere somewhere

Jul 29, 2015 at 9:17am

What a foul mouth his has..good for this person to rescue this dog..should take that dog from him!!

Just leave...

Jul 29, 2015 at 10:20am

You're both idiots. Recording a stupid situation. What is wrong with people nowadays? Just leave!! And calling the cops over verbal abuse?? You're an idiot. They can't do anything about that...

Kim

Jul 29, 2015 at 12:11pm

The world is full of do-gooders that just have to show us their concerns valid or none valid.
Cheers

Honestly

Jul 29, 2015 at 1:18pm

I don't know, I've sort of lost faith in societies formal processes.

The internet lynch mob is the only thing that offers long term repercussions - don't want to be on the internet screaming at women? Then take your fucking thorazine and don't scream at women.

out at night

Jul 29, 2015 at 1:19pm

Just how hot was it that day? In real, scientific terms the guy might have had a point: a car will heat up quickly in the sun and pets (or people for that matter) can expire, but if it was, say 21 C and the windows were cracked and the fellow was really only 5 minutes, well then, just suggesting that it's POSSIBLE the dog was perfectly safe and comfortable and the owner completely innocent. On the other hand, maybe it was much hotter, the 5 minutes was really 10, I don't know.

I do know this: I see a lot of hysteria over how dogs and cats are treated and it does get a bit hard to take when we all are completely 100% aware that people all over the world are starving, tortured, enslaved and exploited, all while your pets, cute, cuddly and innocent as they are, are creating significant carbon footprints in a dying ecosystem. I mean, why not start taking video of people driving big cars towing jet skis and shaming the hell out of them? In my worldview that's at least as egregious as this incident but good luck getting it to go all viral/witch-hunt. Not nearly sentimental enough for ye olde internet shaming ritual I s'pose...

cazinvancouver

Jul 29, 2015 at 1:47pm

Why do people feel the need to digitally capture and then post their every social (or anti-social) interaction with others )? People who do this seem to think that they are some kind of urban correspondent, the everyday version of a journalist reporting from a war zone. It is a seriously disturbing trend. The person who made this video should be ashamed. They may or may not have saved a dog from a heated car, but why the need to broadcast it and 'shame' the dog owner? Too late now, the damage has been done. Think first, not later.