In a bizarre video that has gone viral on Facebook, a woman’s shoplifting attempt spiraled into chaos. The footage captures the woman being stopped by quick-thinking store staff as she tries to make her escape. When they block her exit, the shoplifting woman attempts to get her poor dog to attack the hapless employees.
The brazen shoplifting takes place in Kelowna in British Columbia, Canada. Not quite what you’d expect from the famously laid back Canadians.
As well as outrage, the scene has sparked online, notably for the dog. The canine, caught in the crossfire, appears visibly anxious and reluctant to follow the shoplifting woman’s commands. Despite her attempts to weaponize the pet, the dog eventually cowers, retreating into fear rather than aggression.
What’s most alarming isn’t just the shoplifting but the visible signs of neglect and abuse the dog exhibits. Many viewers quickly pointed out the animal’s body language. As one commenter lamented, “The dog is demonstrating fear aggression… its most aggressive stance is barking, and it becomes fearful when the man approaches him.” Another noted, “You can tell it’s not in the dog’s nature to attack, but he’s trying to act fierce because it’s what his awful owners want.” It’s clear the shoplifting woman should never be allowed to own a pet, not least weaponize it.
Unfortunately, stories like this aren’t new. Another viewer chimed in with a personal anecdote: “Happened at my job. A repeated shoplifter used her dog as a weapon until it bit someone and got put down. The dog always pays the price for their owner’s stupidity.”
The consensus online is that this dog is in desperate need of a better home. Many commenters shared their heartbreak, noting the dog’s apparent history of abuse. “It tucks its tail and cowers when they raise their hand—it’s terrified,” one person observed. “That poor dog will eventually get put down when it bites someone. This isn’t its fault, but it’ll pay the price.”
While the incident left many fuming over the dog’s plight, it also reignited conversations about animal cruelty laws and their enforcement. The shoplifting woman’s attempt to unleash the dog on store employees may legally qualify as assault, with one commenter remarking, “This is assault. Freeing a dog on a leash and urging it to attack is assault.”
Let’s not forget the poor store employees. Making the understandable snap decision to try to stop the shoplifting woman, they nearly pay a grim price. If the dog were better trained as an attack dog, the situation may have become really serious. Fortunately for the employees, the man handling the dog pulls it and the woman away before any major injury. The vile woman leaves with parting death threats, no less.
What began as a shoplifting fiasco quickly unraveled into a distressing example of animal abuse. While the woman’s actions were met with mockery and disdain, the real tragedy lies in the fate of her dog. It’s obviously caught between loyalty to its despicable owner and the fear instilled by apparent mistreatment.
For now, the video continues to spread across social media, a grim reminder that sometimes the collateral damage of human misdeeds is paid by those who can’t defend themselves. As one commenter poignantly said: “That poor dog deserves so much better than this.”
