Police Get Dog Out Of Locked Car Ballarat

[Rozzie]

http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/1205335/police-rescue-dog-trapped-in-car/

BALLARAT police rescued a dog trapped inside a car yesterday afternoon, prompting calls from a canine behaviour expert for Ballarat dog owners to take their pet guardianship role seriously.

The calls come amid heartbreak for a Ballarat family, who buried their fox terrier on Christmas Day after it was mauled to death by two unrestrained dogs at Magpie.

The fox terrier’s owner, who asked not to be identified, was walking the small dog near Yarrowee River at Magpie with her nine year old son when the attack occurred just after 5pm on Sunday.

Two unidentified dogs, who the victims have described as “bull-mastiff-type” dogs, approached the little fox terrier and began mauling it as it was playing in the water.

The smaller dog’s owner jumped into the river to try and get the larger dogs to release her pet, but sustained several dog bites to her hands.

She said an unidentified man arrived on scene shortly after the dogs attacked and helped move them off her terrier, but it was too late. Her nine year old son watched the entire incident from a distance.

Yesterday, several police arrived to remove a trapped dog from a locked vehicle in Sturt Street just after 12pm.

Melbourne-based Canine Behaviourist Brad Griggs told The Courier both instances, while very different, could have been prevented by dog owners taking greater responsibility.

“Even when not fatal, canine heat stroke can have permanent side effects including brain damage, blindness and kidney problems,” he said.

“Responsible canine guardians just won’t take the chance... the very young, the sick and elderly dogs are particularly at risk.”

With regard to un-restrained dogs, Mr Griggs said dog owners needed to have constant direct supervision when in public areas with their pets.

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“They need to have the ability to intervene immediately and effectively and to have effective control over their dog at all times,” he said.

“Canine guardians need to consider the fulfilment of the dog’s physical and mental requirements and need to ensure appropriate containment.”

[Salukifan]

Hope the police had to smash a window or two to get the dog out.

Hope they were power windows. :)

You can't fix stupid.

[BlackJaq]

Hope the police had to smash a window or two to get the dog out.

Hope they were power windows. :)

You can't fix stupid.

I heard about an incident on the radio (perhaps the same one?) where police had to "smash a car window with consent)", because the owner accidentally locked the dog in the car (I assume with the keys in the car lol).

People do it to their kids, does not surprise me that they do it to their dogs, too :p

[Blackdogs]

What a strange and disjointed article.

[raz]

What a strange and disjointed article.

i totally agree. Very strange. Looks like the person who wrote that has the attention span of a goldfish. I was disappointed not to see Oh look, a butterfly.

[Red Fox]

It was 22 degrees in Ballarat yesterday, 15.2C at 12pm. Hardly what I would call hot. Certainly not hot enough to smash a car window to 'save' a dog..

If the owners accidentally locked the keys in the car could they not just call RAA? or a locksmith?

I accidentally locked my dog (and keys) in the car early Friday morning. Walked home and got the spare set, it took 10 minutes, the dog was fine. I would have been extremely pissed off if someone had smashed my window to get her out. Though to be honest anyone who tried would likely have lost a limb for their 'good deed'.

Locking dogs in cars on hot days might be stupid but I'm really not sure how this particular story is newsworthy?

[tdierikx]

The article looks like it was a setup for another excuse to put the boot in about dangerous off lead dogs.

Only 1 line of the article related in any way to the headline...

T.

[Rainers]

What a strange and disjointed article.

i totally agree. Very strange. Looks like the person who wrote that has the attention span of a goldfish. I was disappointed not to see Oh look, a butterfly.

This made me go into absolute hysterics...:p

[j]

It was 22 degrees in Ballarat yesterday, 15.2C at 12pm. Hardly what I would call hot. Certainly not hot enough to smash a car window to 'save' a dog..

If the owners accidentally locked the keys in the car could they not just call RAA? or a locksmith?

I accidentally locked my dog (and keys) in the car early Friday morning. Walked home and got the spare set, it took 10 minutes, the dog was fine. I would have been extremely pissed off if someone had smashed my window to get her out. Though to be honest anyone who tried would likely have lost a limb for their 'good deed'.

Locking dogs in cars on hot days might be stupid but I'm really not sure how this particular story is newsworthy?

22 degrees outside, much hotter inside a car and it doesn't take long for animals or small children to be affected by heat. It also doesn't mention how long the dog had been in the car. If it was only 10 minutes, probably okay. If someone had been watching the car for half an hour or more, absolutely ok to be concerned about it's welfare.

[mantis]

I had coffee with a friend on friday the 28th & she mentioned about the attack at Ballarat. She was in Ballarat on Boxing Day to drop her kids off at her Ex's & evidently the Ex lives in the same street as the poor Foxy owner.

She said that both dogs were wearing electronic collars & asked me what they were, as she had never heard of them. Seems that the collars didn't work on these two dogs & it makes me angry that someone with large dogs relied on them to keep the dogs contained, better fencing or runs would be the better option.

[Staffyluv]

Hope the police had to smash a window or two to get the dog out.

Hope they were power windows. :)

You can't fix stupid.

I agree but have to admit to leaving Zig in the car at training, with the windows down just a few centimetres and my keys on the front seat.

He had never climbed into the front of the car before but this day he did and he stepped on the keys and locked the car.

I was so lucky someone had a piece of wire in their ute to make a hook to get the keys from the front seat and unlock the car.

I will never leave the keys in the car again.

[Guest Clover]

Unfortunately there is no where safe to walk your dogs here anymore. I am sticking to exercise at home and if we are feeling brave a walk around lake wendouree ( even then I am not convinced we will be totally safe).

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

Unfortunately there is no where safe to walk your dogs here anymore. I am sticking to exercise at home and if we are feeling brave a walk around lake wendouree ( even then I am not convinced we will be totally safe).

Sadly there are many of us feeling the same way these days.

RIP little Foxie. Hope the two offending dogs are found, their irresponsible owner should not get away with this and they should not be inflicted on innocent people and their animals.

The poor child who had to witness his dog being mauled to death will probably have nightmares for years to come.

Edited January 2, 2013 by dogmad

[BlackJaq]

Many people around here with small dogs walk them with a big stick or even horse whip.

I used to wonder why and asked a lady with a SWF once, and she said she had actually had to beat dogs off her dog with that broom stick repeatedly in the past. I was totally amazed.

Edited January 3, 2013 by BlackJaq

[Staffyluv]

Many people around here with small dogs walk them with a big stick or even horse whip.

I used to wonder why and asked a lady with a SWF once, and she said she had actually had to beat dogs off her dog with that broom stick repeatedly in the past. I was totally amazed.

I used to walk my old stafford with an umbrella years ago - when we had some real losers at the park who used to let their dogs off to run at anyone.

The scariest day was a bit Rotty coming at us and Ollie wasn't well. I just put myself between them and yelled at the dog to get.

It's owner was less than impressed - yelling back that she is really friendly.

I told her Ollie was sick and really didn't need a big dog all over him.

Some people have no idea..

DA dogs should never be off lead where there is a chance they can run into other dogs..

[Sheridan]

On the topic of dogs in cars, I was in Bunnings today. 30+ degree heat when a call came over the tannoy for the owner of a car to get back immediately because of an animal in the car.

[Panto]

What a strange and disjointed article.

i totally agree. Very strange. Looks like the person who wrote that has the attention span of a goldfish. I was disappointed not to see Oh look, a butterfly.

I was also wondering which idiotic editor approved this disjointed story.

SQUIRREL!!!

(reference from the movie 'UP')

on a serious note, how horrendous for the foxie and the 9 year old boy.

When fur-panto was a pup I had a very old car and accidentally locked the keys in the car amidst setting up a market stall on a hot morning. The car was luckily parked in the shade and she had water in the car, but I realised as soon as I shut the door the keys were on the front seat. Called the NRMA straight away and the lady on the phone was incredible, ensured I was calm, and dispatched a patrol car straight away - he got there in less than 10mins and told me he had abandoned whichever job he was on as he was nearest to me. I was so impressed and humbled by their helpfulness I was justabout in tears. These days if you call NRMA roadside, the first option on the machine is 'if your child or animal is locked inside a car, press...". hats off to them.