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Man's Car Stolen With Family Dog Inside
Story Has Happy Ending

POSTED: 10:32 am EST December 3, 2004

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- Robert Donahue didn't care about his stolen car. It was the pooch that was inside that he wanted back.

Donahue stopped at a Binghamton convenience store Thursday morning to get a cup of coffee and left his car running so his dog Chewey would stay warm.

While inside the store, a man jumped in the car and drove off with the five-year-old Maltese, who was wearing his pink and maroon winter sweater.

About four hours later, a Binghamton police officer discovered the car abandoned on the city's north side. Chewy, still wearing his sweater, was inside.

Police haven't found the car thief.

http://www.wsbtv.com/family/3968554/detail.html

Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2004 4:40 pm Post subject:

Yes, I do leave my dogs unattended in the car. No, they can't fight off a car theif. But I NEVER leave my car running or leave my keys in the car.

Implying that you should never leave your dogs in the car because your car might be stolen is like saying you should never leave your dog alone at home because someone might break in and leave the door open. (Which incidently happened to my sister's roommate).

Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2004 4:43 pm Post subject:

weird, that sounds almost exactly like what happened near here a few years ago. Some old guy went to a store in the morning with his dog (a maltese-type of dog) named Keanu. He went to the store every morning, part of his schedule, except when he came back out (he was only in the store for less than 5 minutes, and therefore left his car running), the car was gone. The article showed him showing a picture of the dog, and he looked heartbroken. I believe the dog belonged to his wife before she died, or she gave him that dog before she died. Either way, Keanu meant a lot to the guy. The article said that the dog was really shy, and was probably cowering in the back seat, "paws over his eyes" (to quote the guy). The next day, there was an article that said the car was found by a couple who'd read the story and kept an eye out for the car. Keanu was unharmed, just spooked out of his skin. The article had another picture with the guy holding Keanu, looking like he got the best birthday present ever. I still have both articles locked away in my room, lol

On the poll at hand, I don't let Jake stay in the car alone. As it is, any time he comes in the car is if we're going somewhere where dogs are allowed (pet store, dog park, etc.). We never bring him along if we're going grocery shopping or visiting friends.

Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2004 4:48 pm Post subject:

I'll admit to leaving my dogs in the car for a short period of time if I have to stop somewhere on the way home from PetSmart, the dog park, et....BUT, I leave the doors locked and the window cracked(depending on the weather, of course)

Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2004 4:52 pm Post subject:

NEVER have left Halo in the car unattended and NEVER plan on it. The problem is not theives, but the weather and the fact that he would go INSANE and do DOG only knows while in there!! Shocked

Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2004 5:05 pm Post subject:

I lock the doors and crack the window (only a teensy bit though) as my dog is a FREAK in the car. If anyone goes near he looks and sounds like he Kujo LOL You should see him when I try to get gas and the pump touches the car...I would only leave him if running into a Wawa, quick check, etc. Not for more than 5 minutes. I don't think there is any possible way someone would try to steal my car with Dirk in it : )

By the way, I'm surprised that man didn't get a ticket. Maybe it's just NJ (I didn't think so), but we have a law that you cannot leave your car running in a parking lot. It's supposed to be some new environmental law...I don't know, but all the Wawa's by my house have a sign warning people about it.

Mainly though, I'm just SO happy he got his dog back!!!

Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2004 5:18 pm Post subject:

My dogs LOVE going for rides, so sometimes I will take them with me to recycle cans, drop off film or return a video.
I ALWAYS lock the car!
I return to the car quickly to usually find Tigger (120 lb. Rhodesian Ridgeback mix) in the driver's seat! Ruby (87 lb. RR mix) is guarding the back seat.

I have to lure Tigger into the back seat with treats through the partially opened window. Otherwise, he will insist on exploring by jumping out of the driver's door when I get in. Rolling Eyes

P.S.- The dogs love rides because we take them to fun places like the park, pet food stores, etc.

Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2004 6:42 pm Post subject:

I leave my Isabel in the car if I have to run into a store for only a few minutes but I don't worry too much. If anyone even gets near my Jeep she gives them her "scarry Rottweiler bark." I don't think there are many people who want to risk getting into the car with her after they hear/see her! Very Happy

Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2004 6:46 pm Post subject:

I leave our dogs in the car for short periods of time but I don't worry about them as they act like raging rabid freaks if someone approaches the car.

Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2004 8:57 pm Post subject:

The first and last time I left a dog in the car "just for a minute", his collar got hooked on the wiper handle and if I had found him any later, he would have been choked to death. So no, weather and thieves are not the only reasons not to leave a dog unattended in the car.

Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2004 10:04 pm Post subject:

my dog is allowed in the back seat of the car only. we don't like him riding in the front seat and distracting the driver, plus airbags and all that. yes I'll leave him alone for a short period of time, but 15 minutes is the tops. He doesn't get to come with unless we're going someplace he can come too, or if we're picking someone up or something like that so we're not making any pit stops anyways. We lock the doors and all that. He's allowed in one car (my father hates the dog riding in his car so that's not an issue) and it has by far thee most sensative alarm that ever came with a station wagon. it drove us crazy the fist night we had it cause it kept going off in the garage everytime a squirral jumped on it. If you pull the door handle once when it's locked it'll go off screaming, lights blinking, the whole nine yards. My dog also has a rather vicious bark, and knowing him would get rather... shall we say upset, about someone else tried to take mom's car. we had a neighbor drive our dog to the vet once when we left, and our kitten car ride dog went psycho about someone not in his family driving him in his mom's car to a place he doesn't want to go... I feel rather confident that in the 15 minutes it takes me to run inside the supermarket to get the jug of milk, my dog probably wont get stolen with my car...

Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2004 10:05 pm Post subject:

Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2004 10:12 pm Post subject:

We have a Kia Sportage with a gate blocking them from getting anywhere near the front seat and instruments.

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