“It’s not fine,” the would-be pet Samaritan tells the owner.
“It is, I love my dog,” the owner replies.
The woman behind the camera snapped back: “You love your dog but you’ve left it in the heat, in a car.
“Do you know how hot it is? It’s 36C.”
The owner then argued the dog was still wet from a recent bath as the centre of the concern hopped from the car, tail wagging, to shake water from his coat.
Informed that police were on their way, the owner continued her defence.
“He’s gorgeous,” she said.
“Yeah, he’s gorgeous, and you’ve left him in the car,” the other woman replied.
“It’s cruel and my daughter’s a vet. You don’t do that to dogs. You’ve been reported.”
Commenters online were split over the passerby’s actions, with many praising her for taking action while others argued the dog did not appear to be suffering any ill effects.
Some accused the woman filming of being unnecessarily aggressive and praised the owner for “keeping her cool”.
The law
In Victoria, it is illegal to leave an animal unattended inside a car for more than 10 minutes when the temperature is at or above 28C.
In New Zealand, it is an offence under the Animal Welfare (Care and Procedures) Regulations 2018, to leave a dog in a hot vehicle if they are showing signs of heat stress, such as excessive panting, drooling or hyperventilation, and trying to seek shade.
Pet owners, whose dogs were found in this state, could be issued with a $300 infringement notice and owners can be prosecuted under the Animal Welfare Act if the dog’s welfare is significantly impacted.
On the SPCA website, the organisation recommends calling 0800 SPCA NZ or police right away if you see a dog left in a hot car.