Hmmmm. You tell me. What should happen to this women?

[Heidict]

In Venice people used to have to appear before a masked Council to answer various charges (often anonymous). Simply by being ordered to appear before the Council there attached to the person an appearance of guilt. The poor person had no idea who was charging him, or whom his judges were. The trials were swift and often consisted of the masked judges counseling with each other, perhaps with the occasional interruption to ask a harsh and leading question to the person. Judgment would then be pronounced and the guilty party quickly taken away over the Bridge of Sighs, often still bewildered about what he (and often she) were charged with. The fate of the person was frequently unknown. They disappeared into utter darkness.

Thus on anonymous boards such as this. These poor people lost their 16 year old dog in an accident, by leaving the dog in the back of a car. Before the internet it may have been a local sensation for a day, then quickly forgotten. Those who knew the people would quickly realize the truth of the matter and there would be no loss of reputation or occupation.

Now, however, these poor people are being tossed around the anonymous Internet, subject to the outrage and condemnation of anonymous posters. Yesterday, only a few people knew these peoples names. Today, due to the wonder of the Internet, thousands will know their names before this day is over. Many of those thousands will mentally condemn these people for being careless, etc. This story will be copied and pasted to other message boards.

Why were these people’s story brought before this anonymous crowd by an anonymous poster? We have no idea. All we know is that someone unknown has brought forth these peoples names for us to consider, asking “hmm’, what do we think should be ‘done’ to these people.

It is, in many ways, just as frightening as what used to happen to those people of Venice of years long ago.

Nobody on the internet is charging her with a crime and nobody is walking her out a door to her "punishment". She isn't going to mysteriously disappear because of someones judgement.

You don't think her coworkers, neighbors, friends and people in her town are talking about it and deciding for themselves if it was an accident or not and if she should keep her job or not? They are doing the same thing we are. This story will die down and by next month people won't even remember where it took place in, let alone her name.

Also, the majority of the people on the thread, and in other places I have seen this story, all agree. It was a horrible accident and she should not be charged with anything, let alone lose her job. Not sure where the thousands that are outraged and condemning them are.

I don't understand how any one can not know there is an amimal or child in there car.

If the child is in a car seat it is very visible. And the same with a dog. When I get in my car /van every day I look inside the windows and when I get out I look inside the windows. Do not believe that this can happen.

Sorry they all deserve to be punished.. Those kind of accidents don't just happen.

So, you think that EVERYONE looks throughout their car every time they leave or enter it? I would have to say that you are in the minority. Just the other day I parked my car in a parking garage, went to work and at the end of the day went back. Low and behold, the back window on the drivers side was halfway down. Freaked me out for a second, thinking someone broke in. Then I realized that I accidentally must of lowered that window and not realized it. I even got out of the car and walked right by it without seeing it. So, yeah, I believe that you could overlook an animal if you didn't know it was in your car. Just because you are thorough doesn't mean every one is.

I'm sure it was an accident, but the article said she often took the dog to work with her. Wouldn't it be a habit to look for it when you got to work if you are use to him being in the car?

If she didn't put the dog in the car she would have had no reason to check for him though.

This is not a Mike Vic here its just a sad sad thing ! If she was NOT working for the SPCA would that have made a diffence to anyone ? Just asking . (

If she wasn't working for the SPCA, we probably never would have even heard of the this story.

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

For everyone screaming for charges to be brought against these people. What about when dogs get outside of their fence and get hit and killed by a car? Should that be neglect as well? Should criminal charges be brought on because of a horrific accident?

That isn't neglect. The fence is there to protect the dog, but some dogs can break through it (like my roommate's Labrador/Weimeraner mix...he's broken through twice since I moved in and I will not let him out in the back yard without keeping a close eye on him now) or figure out some other way to sneak out. Failing to inform your wife that you've put the dog in her car is idiotic. I would never put Kody (the Lab/Weimeraner mix) in my roommate's car and not tell him he was there (of course, he's a little too big and a little too vocal for my roommate to miss anyway, but I would still tell him he was there.)

 

[sbell111]

For everyone screaming for charges to be brought against these people. What about when dogs get outside of their fence and get hit and killed by a car? Should that be neglect as well? Should criminal charges be brought on because of a horrific accident?

Absolutely not. Some dogs are natural escape artists. We had to work hard to fortify our back fence to keep our last dog in. She was known to actually break through the wooden privacy fence to get out and enjoy the neighborhood. It was an ordeal to make the yard 'escape proof'.

That being said, I think that those people who let their animals freely wander the neighborhood should be caned.

 

[lisajl]

The dog died of Kidney failure, not heat stroke. At least that what the OP put up there. The dog probably already had kidney issues, no water in the car for 4 hours, etc, etc.
I am sure she is a responsible pet owner, her husband should have told her the dog was in the car.

 

[sbell111]

The dog died of Kidney failure, not heat stroke. At least that what the OP put up there. The dog probably already had kidney issues, no water in the car for 4 hours, etc, etc.
I am sure she is a responsible pet owner, her husband should have told her the dog was in the car.

Acute renal failure is often caused by heat stroke.

 

[lisajl]

Acute renal failure is often caused by heat stroke.

Yes, but isn't it possible that the dog was already sick? This just pushed it along? Not that is was right, but 16 is pretty old.

 

[dakcp2001]

It was a horrible accident, no one would ever intend to hurt their beloved pet that way, I feel very very sorry for them and their dog! It was a careless accident, not intent to hurt the dog.

I think they will be punished enough just by the loss and how it happened.

I truly feel very very sorry for them & their family, I don't know how anyone could live with that.

 

[sbell111]

Yes, but isn't it possible that the dog was already sick? This just pushed it along? Not that is was right, but 16 is pretty old.

Sure, it's possible.

As far as kidneys go, the general rule of thumb is that you are born with awesome kidneys and they generally lose function slowly throughout your life until they kill you or something else does.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

I think its important to understand who this lady is. She is the CEO of the Richmond SPCA. Had this been one of us making this “mistake” do you think she would be calling our actions accidental? It’s the irony of the situation that truly defines it.

Who knows? Maybe she would have, maybe she wouldn't have, or maybe she would have thought it was the husband's fault. Making assumptions about what she might have done is irrelevent, IMO. She should be judged like anyone else, based on what occurred, not who she is.

Have you been hassled by the SPCA or something? You seem to have it in for this lady, simply because of where she works. (just kidding, well for the first part, anyway.)

 

[agame2323]

Who knows? Maybe she would have, maybe she wouldn't have, or maybe she would have thought it was the husband's fault. Making assumptions about what she might have done is irrelevent, IMO. She should be judged like anyone else, based on what occurred, not who she is.

Have you been hassled by the SPCA or something? You seem to have it in for this lady, simply because of where she works. (just kidding, well for the first part, anyway.)

...Had this been one of us making this “mistake” do you think she would be calling our actions accidental?
okay first of all ...that's a question not an assumption. Big difference.

If you go through the previous post, most people on this board have been making “actual assumptions” in their reply. Simply calling it an accident is an assumption. You nor I have no idea what really happened. We know what was reported but there is always two sides to every story. Stay tuned.

Secondly I don’t really have it in for this lady but she has yet to own up to accepting responsibility. I find that weak. There seems to be a lot of finger pointing going on. If she is going to issue a statement about what happened, the first thing out of her mouth should have been something about HER making an error, even if she is feels different internally. The FACT is that she or her husband was responsible for the caring and well being of that dog. She knows this better than anyone else. Now to make excuses is very weak on her part. SOMEONE has to be held accountable. There is no getting around it.