SPCA's CEO leaves dog in hot car
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The CEO for anti-animal cruelty group, Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Richmond SPCA), Robin Starr has admitted to leaving her 16-year old blind and deaf dog in a hot car for four hours. The dog, Louie, later died of kidney failure. Starr reports that she didn’t realize that Louie was in the car until noon. Her husband, Ed, told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that he had put the dog in her car as his wife was getting ready for work on August 19th, as she often took him with her to work. According to the National Weather Service, the temperature had reached 91 degrees by noon on August 19th. The (Richmond) SPCA has come forward to say that they still support Starr, who has been the CEO since 1997. She does not plan to retire. It is not clear at this time if charges will be sought in […]
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The CEO for anti-animal cruelty group, Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Richmond SPCA), Robin Starr has admitted to leaving her 16-year old blind and deaf dog in a hot car for four hours. The dog, Louie, later died of kidney failure.
Starr reports that she didn’t realize that Louie was in the car until noon. Her husband, Ed, told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that he had put the dog in her car as his wife was getting ready for work on August 19th, as she often took him with her to work.
According to the National Weather Service, the temperature had reached 91 degrees by noon on August 19th. The (Richmond) SPCA has come forward to say that they still support Starr, who has been the CEO since 1997. She does not plan to retire.
It is not clear at this time if charges will be sought in this case.
I feel for that dog. He died because of human carelessness. I’m sure that Starr “feels bad” for her “mistake” but that doesn’t bring back the dog. I believe that she should face charges just like any other person would have to. As aside from any of that…how could you not know that your dog is in the car? How unobservant do you have to be? I view it the same as those folks who leave their children in the car. If you are that absent-minded then maybe you shouldn’t be driving.
In an ironic twist, the ASPCA website’s front page has information about how to keep pets cool in the “dog days of summer”. Maybe she’s never seen the ASPCA website….
What do you think? Do you think she should not have any charges brought against her for animal cruelty? I know where my vote is….
via usatoday.com
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HELLO! I'm KD Angle-Traegner.
Writer, activist, and founder of Four Urban Paws Sanctuary. I’m on a mission to help people live a vegan life. Read more about KD…
The average dog, yes, would be immpossible to not know was in the car, but this was a 16 year old deaf and blind dog. It was probably sound asleep and not as easily woken, as a young dog would be.
I have never had that happen, but I try to think if I was in that situation how I would feel. I would die and never recover. Being charged would be nothing compared to the torture I would feel inside.
Since she didn’t put him in the car it makes it probably made it easier to not remember he was in the car. I don’t know what was in her head, but I know that horrible things like that happen with animals and kids and it is not always by uncaring people.
I hope the doggie rest in peace and I hope this story helps other to pay more attention to things in their life and slow down.
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Good post. Sad story all around. As an FYI, there is no affilation between the ASPCA and any local SPCA shelters. They are ALL unaffiliated. The ASPCA is just an outreach org and they run one shelter and HLE services in NYC, so they have no connection with the Virgina SPCA. (And if you donate to the ASPCA, the money doesn’t support your local groups.)
That is so sad! With out any doubt, I feel Robin Starr should be charged for her cruel acts and she should be fired from her job. I agree, how can you not know where your dog is. If I don’t see or hear my pets for ten minutes, I get worried!