As a dog owner, I couldn’t watch this video without feeling furious. A couple in Colorado left their dog locked in a hot car outside a Home Depot for over 30 minutes, and the man who filmed the incident did exactly what I hope any decent person would do in that situation: he called the humane society, waited by the vehicle, and when the couple finally returned, he confronted them face to face.
The temperature that day was 92 degrees. Inside the car, it could have easily hit 120 within minutes. There were no windows cracked. No water. Just a helpless dog, trapped and panting in the heat, while its owners were off shopping.
As you can see above, when they return to the parking lot, the man doesn’t yell, but he doesn’t hold back either. He tells them how long he’s been standing there; that he called the Humane Society; that they were contacted three times before finally picking up. The woman gives a weak “I’m sorry” and the man mumbles something indistinct, but what stood out to me most was what wasn’t said.
There was no real concern in their voices. No explanation. No acknowledgment of the danger their dog had been in. If I had made that kind of mistake– an error that could have cost my dog her life–, I would be visibly distraught. I would’ve explained that this was completely out of character, that I usually go out of my way to protect her from even minor discomfort, let alone heatstroke. These two, though… their body language read as annoyed and embarrassed, not remorseful.
After they leave, another man in a passing car pulls up and tells the filmer, “You did the right thing.” And he did. Notably, the idiotic couple don’t even crack the windows as they drive off.
Colorado law agrees. The state allows bystanders to break into vehicles to rescue pets in danger legally. People who leave their animals in overheated cars can be charged with animal cruelty, facing fines up to $999 and nearly a year in jail. That’s the kind of law that exists for a reason, and this situation is exactly why.
Reddit lit up after the video was posted. “They clearly did not give a f***. Some people do not deserve dogs,” one comment read, echoing what I felt while watching. Others suggested the man should’ve gone further and broken the window. I understand that impulse, but the fact he followed protocol and still made his point with that camera rolling probably did more in the long run. This wasn’t just about saving one dog. It was a message to anyone else who thinks a quick errand justifies risking a pet’s life.
Some users pointed out that the woman apologized, and that alone was rare. But I wasn’t convinced. It felt like the kind of hollow apology people give when they’re caught, not when they truly understand the weight of their actions.
The truth is, it shouldn’t take a public shaming or threat of legal action to do the bare minimum for your pet. If you’re lucky enough to have an animal in your life, you’re responsible for its safety, always. Leaving a dog in a hot car isn’t a mistake you shrug off. It’s a decision that shows where your priorities really are.
So yes, they should be fined. They should face legal consequences. Because what happened in that Home Depot parking lot could’ve ended a lot worse. And next time, it might.
