Wal-mart fires employee for reporting dog locked in parked truck.
In one of those hard to believe news stories, Wal-mart fired an employee for confronting a customer who left a dog in a truck on a hot day, during the 2nd week of July.
This happened in Southern Ontario, in Kemptville; Southern Ontario is currently experiencing extreme high temperatures.
The concerned employee, Carla Cheney, had not yet started her shift at Wal-mart, when she noticed a dog being left in a parked truck in the parking lot. She found the windows rolled up leaving less than 1 inch open for limited air flow.
She was immediately concerned; another customer in the parking lot wrote down the license pale number, then the customer headed to the store to report the offender.
Cheney was sitting at an outdoor table when the man left Wal-mart and returned to his truck. He apparently pulled up to the table where she was sitting with other co-workers and said:
‘Hello, ladies, how are you?’ And I said, ‘You shouldn’t leave your dog in the car,'” Cheney said.
Cheney then responded that he said that it was “ none of my business and I said that that was fine” She then said that “if I saw him do it again I would just call the police next time”
The dog’s owner then apparently said : “don’t worry- I’ll never shop at Wal-mart again.”
During Cheney’s working day she was called into her manager’s office; this occurrence was discussed, including a previous one in which a dog was left in a car.
Cheney told her version of what happened, and the manager said that she first needed to come to him before involving the police.
Cheney said she wouldn’t do that; she would call the police if necessary.
Then she lost her job:
“He told me then that I was terminated.”
Apparently another employee had complained to the Wal-mart manager about a dog being left in a parked car, and that person was also fired.
She is now worried that employees won’t say anything for fear of losing their job. She was told by the manager that she lost her job because she was ‘rude to a customer.’
Cheney said: “I thought I was doing the right thing.”
Clearly she was, but Wal-mart thought otherwise.
Dr Jones Responds
The management of Wal-mart needs to get their priorities straight- Carla Cheney should be getting a raise, and serious recognition for advocating for an animal locked in a trapped, hot car.
This in itself should be criminal- it’s not legal to leave children alone in vehicles. As it stands now there is limited legislation protecting animals; they are still seen in the eyes of the law as ‘property’.
I applaud those who have vocally opposed this decision by Wal-mart- this is the kind of publicity a large corporation would rather not have.
I for one am doing 2 things:
1.There are now over 11,000 members of a Facebook page called “Animal Rights for Kemptville Wal-mart,”..
I suggest that you support Carla Cheney and signup for this Facebook page. I did. You can get it here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/355415201228556/
2.Don’t shop at Wal-mart until they publicly change their policy, including hiring Carla Cheney back. When the ‘pocketbook’ of a company is affected, then management is really motivated to change.
And Thank You Carla for standing up.
Best Wishes,
Dr Andrew Jones, DVM
The manager should be locked in an enclosed car on a 90 degree, with no water, and left for a few hours. Perhaps he might learn some empathy.( And if not, we might at least be rid of what seems to be a useless human being.)
I understand the frustration—seeing an animal in danger is upsetting. The important thing is that pets should never be left in a hot vehicle, even for a few minutes. Hopefully, situations like this encourage more awareness, better policies, and people speaking up when an animal’s safety is at risk.
Walmart was wrong—the woman did the right thing–they need to reinstate her—if notthen boycott that store.
I agree that looking out for an animal in distress is the right thing to do. Hopefully this situation encourages businesses to support employees who act to protect animal welfare. Thanks for standing up for our furry friends!
I think Walmart is a terrible company. I try not to shop there. i think she was right to do what she did. She should be re-hired. The manager should be fired.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I do think Carla was trying to protect a dog she believed was in danger, and that’s something worth recognizing. Hopefully this led to better awareness and policies that encourage people to put animal welfare first.
I was actually banned from Wal Mart because one of the employees was telling my business conducted there to her neighbors and friends. Instead of comfronting the employee myself, I reported it to the store manager. Guess that was the wrong thing to do. I spent approximately $1,000 a month at that store but they did not seem to care about losing the business. Some businesses should not exist and I am afraid that Wal Mart is one of them. My local Wal Mart seems to be run by the store managers rather than the corporate headquarters. Sometimes you can do things that are morally right but the money man always comes out ahead and that has been going on since the beginning of time. I support anyone who acts on behalf of our furry friends and it is a shame that the customer could not see that the employee’s concern was for the dogs welfare and appreciate the fact that she cared.
Thanks for sharing your experience. It can be frustrating when you feel your concerns aren’t heard. I do believe that speaking up for an animal’s welfare is the right thing to do. Hopefully, stories like this encourage more compassion—for both pets and the people trying to protect them.
People who do this to animals and children should receive the same treatment! I wouldn’t have wasted my time with the managers I would have called the police in the first place. If I were Carla I would not want my job back. I would not want to work for someone without compassion for animals or people. (Yes, I know jobs are hard to find now days!)
Thanks for sharing your perspective. No pet should ever be left in a hot vehicle—it can become life-threatening very quickly. I always encourage keeping everyone safe by contacting local authorities or animal control if an animal appears to be in immediate danger. And yes, compassion for animals should always be part of the equation.
Walmart should fire the store manager!
Unfortunately, I can’t boycott Walmart as I am from Europe, but I will forward this article to all my animal-loving friends.
Shame on you Walmart!
Thanks for standing up for Carla and for animals in need. I agree that speaking up for a pet’s safety is always the right thing to do. Hopefully, companies listen when enough caring people raise their voices. Thanks for helping spread the message!
The employee absolutely did the right thing! The police should have been called as well to get the dog some relief. But before they arrive…in some some communities anyway, the dog or cat or child could be in serious trouble if not dead.
It is everyone’s ‘business’ when another life is in danger…regardless of species. It is everyone’s business to stand up to that offender and show them what is ‘right’ if they aren’t adult or human enough to, haven’t yet learned it or figured it out. It is everyone’s ‘business’ to protect those that cannot speak or fend for themselves.
It is time to substantially strengthen laws for animals as well and by calling, writing, forwarding this info to others, we can all
‘educate’ others and strengthen the ‘culture’ of what is ‘right’…vs. the predominating ‘culture’ of the almighty dollar. WalMart wants the MONEY…the CUSTOMER…times are tough..so employees are expendable. WalMart needs to HEAR it and FEEL it from us if they don’t act to rectify this situation with this woman.
WalMart should FIRE that Manager..and Underscore a ‘culture’ of social sensitivity, of what is RIGHT..and applaud and reward their employees for doing the right thing. It is WalMart’s IMAGE of Social Conscience as a community member that is highlighted here..and it is a DARK and Dangerous one.
If that employee even wants her job back…she should be immediately reinstated, compensated and held as an example to all coworkers of the RIGHT attitudes to hold. And especially management who set the ‘tone’.
And the man who left his dog in this situation should be investigated by the local Humane Society to see if the dog and any other animals are cared for correctly. HE has been left unscathed, to the detriment of all. And he may well do it again. His paltry threat about not shopping there is cowardly.
NO one should have to ‘ask’ a ‘boss’ for permission to call police or act on behalf of anyone or any living thing in danger …or inanimate property for that matter. Not standing up for what is right and helping those in need makes us ALL lesser humans as this attitude perpetuates and becomes accepted ‘norm’… and that puts us all in danger…and makes us all lesser beings.
Thanks for such a thoughtful comment. I think we can all agree that an animal in distress deserves a quick response. Speaking up when a pet’s safety is at risk is the right thing to do, and greater awareness, compassion, and clear animal protection laws can only help. Here’s hoping more people choose kindness first.
Walmart management Kemptville is absolutley despicable for taking this stand! I agree with J. David Scott and Teresa … fire the manager then leave him in a hot car. 🙂
However, not knowing anything about Walmart policies I am assuming that in this case it was the manager involved who acted badly and this is not necessarily a reflection of all Walmart management … but I will boycott all Walmart stores until this is addressed by the corporation.
Thanks for adding your voice. Carla was looking out for a dog she believed was in danger, and that’s something to be applauded. Hopefully, situations like this encourage companies to support employees who act with compassion and put animal welfare first.
The only way to ‘ wake up ‘ Walmart is to stop shopping at their stores ! Until they show respect for animals , shop somewhere else people !
Well said. Companies do pay attention when customers speak with their choices. Hopefully, this situation reminds everyone that animal welfare matters, and that showing compassion is always the right decision.
Walmart (and all stores) should have a policy. IF an animal is reported in hot car they should announce on the PA system:
1) Will the owner of license # come to the service desk please?
Then tell them:
2) “it has been reported” that there is an animal locked in your car in extremely dangerous temperatures.
3) You need to remedy the situation immediately in case the person has called the police.
4) We will have our security guard check the car within 10 min.
If the situation has not been remedied, we are legally obligated to report the incident and make available security footage showing date stamped images as required by police & ASPCA.
OR PUT A LARGE SIGN on the FRONT DOOR saying something like:
ALERT:
When the temperature is above 80 degrees, the temperature *inside* your car can heat up to XX degrees within X minutes. It is illegal to leave an unattended animal in a car in these conditions. If noticed, we are legally required to report the incident.
*IF you are reporting an animal locked in a hot vehicle, if possible, we ask you to take a date/time stamped picture of the car including license plate & animal.
Don’t leave it up to the clerks to take the responsiblity Walmarts.
Observe the law. Surely if someone came in that was contageous or stank badly or something, you’d ask them to leave so as not to offend the other customers. People who neglect the innocent are offensive to most of us & you will lose clients if you do NOT take action & reinstate those employees.I hope those employees who were fired write to all the local radio stations & newspapers (letters to the editor) about what happened).
Thanks for the thoughtful suggestions. Clear store policies can help everyone respond quickly and consistently when an animal may be in danger. The most important thing is acting promptly to protect the pet and contacting the appropriate local authorities when needed. Hopefully, more businesses continue to put animal welfare front and center.
Forgot to add that the fired employees might ask pet owners to contact Walmarts & inform them there will be a boycot on their pet items until appropriate action is taken and policy is in place & enforced.
Yeah, I’m pretty tough about stuff like this. Anyone with a heart & a brain would be -….that could be their slogan:
Use YOUR heart & brain so they don’t lose theirs: DO NOT leave unattended animals locked in cars in extreme temperatures.
I appreciate your passion for protecting animals. Raising awareness and encouraging responsible pet ownership can make a real difference. Hopefully, this story inspires more businesses to have clear policies in place—and reminds everyone that pets should never be left unattended in hot vehicles.
Well.—I love walmart but this is just outrageous policy on their part, yes we should all boycott Walmart for this, as stated before, they should not fire people even if they do confront or report shoppers who leave animals in a car.
I called someone’s cell number and left a message about their dog once, and received a very abusive text for my trouble, but I would do it again. Yesterday at Target they announced a dog in a car and gave their licence number, and reported as soon as the dog was rescued.NOW THAT IS SERVICE
I say, yeah Target.
Thanks for sharing that. It’s great to hear about businesses taking quick action when a pet may be in danger. A simple announcement can make all the difference. At the end of the day, protecting an animal’s safety should always come first.
I wrote to Walmart about this when I first heard it and to this date have had no response. I guess they really don’t care about animals.
Thanks for taking the time to write to them. It’s always disappointing when concerns about animal welfare don’t receive a response. Every voice helps raise awareness, and hopefully the more people who speak up, the more likely positive changes will follow.
“As it stands now there is limited legislation protecting animals; they are still seen in the eyes of the law as ‘property’.”
Dr. Jones, I distinctly recall you defending the animals as property rationale. Have you changed your mind?
This will keep happening while other species are considered property. To start a change show your support for the guardian campaign.http://www.guardiancampaign.org/
One more reason not to shop at Walmart.Here is a petition to sign.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/587/691/476/canadian-women-who-reported-dog-locked-in-a-hot-car-fired-from-her-job-at-walmart/?z00m=20598023
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I think we all want the same outcome—better protection and welfare for animals. Regardless of the legal terminology, encouraging stronger protections, responsible pet ownership, and speaking up for animals in danger are all positive steps forward. Thanks for being an advocate for pets.
SO sad and sickened to here that a person gets fired for trying to protect the week.
I agree—it’s heartbreaking. Looking out for an animal that may be in danger is an act of compassion. Hopefully, stories like this encourage more people and businesses to support those who speak up for pets in need.
This is ridiculous, the windows were down an inch not clkosed up,and most people don’t spend all day at a Walmart just a few minute to get what they need , the dog would have been just fine.
Thanks for sharing your perspective. It’s true that every situation can have different details, but the important reminder is that pets can overheat very quickly in vehicles, even when windows are cracked. When there’s concern, taking a moment to check on the animal and make sure they’re safe is always the best approach.
Well my family would be bailing me out of jail because I would bust out the window & dognap it. They don’t deserve this dog.
I understand the strong emotions behind wanting to protect an animal. When a pet may be in danger, the safest approach is to contact local authorities or animal control so the situation can be handled properly and the animal gets help as quickly as possible. Our pets depend on us to be their voice.
I am a huge animal advocate, but I disagree with everyone here. This employee did not do anything to help the dog. She did not say anything to the customer until he was out of the store, back in his truck and leaving. Everyone seems to overlook that. She was not fired for sticking up for the dog, she was fired for being insubordinate to her manager and rude to a customer.
Thanks for sharing a different perspective. It’s always important to look at the full picture. The biggest takeaway is that when an animal may be at risk, quick and appropriate action—such as notifying store staff, authorities, or animal control—can make the biggest difference. At the end of the day, we all want the same thing: safe, happy pets.
Too many people don’t take action. Whenever I have seen an animal in distress, I act immediately. I was 15 years old and the youngest person in a group. I stepped forward, broke a car’s window and pulled out a cat and a dog.
I can say that although I am not a millionaire, am not famous, can barely add 2 + 2, but I am proud of standing up for our fellow animals, always. It only takes one person to make a difference. Look at what Gandhi accomplished, for example.
Thank you for sharing your story. It’s inspiring to see people willing to speak up for animals who cannot speak for themselves. Every situation is different, and it’s important to act safely and within local laws, but compassion and awareness can truly make a difference. Our pets rely on us to be their advocates.
Pet owners have to take some responsibility. Cars become hot very quickly. It does not take long for a pet to suffer from heat stroke. As much as I love my dog and want to keep him with me. During really hot weather, I simply leave him home in the air conditioning where he can be comfortable. I think the managers actions were a little harsh. Just another reason for me to avoid WalMart. I pray that the employee gets another position very soon and a better one!
Well said. Leaving pets at home during hot weather is often the safest choice, and prevention is always better than dealing with a heat emergency. Our furry family members depend on us to make those choices for them. Thanks for caring and for speaking up for animal safety.
The employee did the right thing. Wal-Mart should thank her for being the caring person that she is.
Pet owners should know better and if they don’t and someone sees that and animal is in a car, then it is up to them to point it out to the person that is stupid enough do leave a pet in a car.
I am a pet owner and my pet loves going everywhere with me. I have to fight (not really) with her, to get out of the house on hot days without her. But when the temperatures are cool then she is with me.
Thanks for sharing. It’s clear you care deeply about your furry companion! Many of us love having our pets by our side, but on hot days the safest adventure is often staying home where they can relax comfortably.
A little awareness and a quick reminder can go a long way in preventing a tragedy. Our pets count on us to make the safest choices for them.
I immediately wrote to Walmart after hearing this and this is their reply. Sometimes we do better when we ask our questions.
“Thank you for your message.
Dear Lisa,
Thank you for your inquiry. The associate in question was absolutely not let go for trying to help a dog in a locked car. The decision to dismiss an associate is one that we take extremely seriously and must follow a comprehensive process. However, out of respect for the associate and for privacy reasons we cannot provide specifics about why this associate was let go.
Walmart is a major supporter and advocate for animal rights. Over the past year alone we have made donations to local SPCAs, the Humane Society and Animal Shelters. In addition, signs will be added to the front of all our stores across the country to advise customers of the dangers of leaving kids and pets in a hot car.
We also have a long standing protocol that directs associates to take appropriate action, and if necessary, notify the authorities if they believe an animal is in distress or at risk. With respect to the recent story in the media about our Kemptville store, as per our protocol, the store manager did speak to the customer in question about the dangers of leaving a dog in a hot car.
Sincerely,
Walmart Customer Care”
Thanks for sharing this update. It’s always helpful to hear more details and different perspectives. The most important thing is that pets are kept safe, and that everyone—pet owners, businesses, and communities—understands the risks of leaving animals in hot vehicles.
I’m glad to hear Walmart has protocols in place and is encouraging awareness. At the end of the day, we all share the same goal: protecting our furry family members.
Another reason NOT to shop at Walmart. Like we really needed another reason!
I understand the frustration. When it comes to our pets, emotions run high because they are family, not just animals. The hope is that situations like this encourage more awareness, better policies, and a culture where everyone feels empowered to speak up when an animal may be in danger.
At the end of the day, keeping pets safe is something we can all agree on.
Walmart is right. First she reported a dog in a car before she started her shift. This indicated that it is early morning and that she really did not spent enough time to do a thourough investigation. Walmart also gave her a choice to report to management or call police. She chose not to report to Walmart management. What goes on in someones’s car is non of anybody’s business unless a person is at risk. Dogs are not legal persons so they have no legal rights. The dog owner is the owner and has the right to have the discretion of if the dog is in a car or a hot house. The “Save a puppy, Get fired” is a lie as this story never included any evidence that the puppy was at risk and therefore was not being saved from harm.
Thanks for sharing your perspective. Situations like this can bring up strong opinions because we all care about animal welfare and also about making sure facts are clear.
Heat safety is an important concern for pets—vehicles can become dangerously hot very quickly, even on days that don’t seem extreme. At the same time, each situation has its own details, and the best outcomes usually come from calmly assessing the situation and following appropriate steps, such as notifying store staff or authorities when an animal may be at risk.
The common ground is simple: we all want pets to be safe and treated with care.
I say kudos to Carla. Unfortunately, this dog owner (and many others) will probably do this again somewhere else having no regard to the welfare of their pet. Being a member of an animal rescue group, I too have written license plate numbers down and have had them owner paged – like Carla the owner is not happy when they come out of the store. I am not above calling the police or breaking the window myself. My two huskies are NEVER left in the car during the hot months – not even with air conditioning running – our rescue group also has policies for this. I feel bad for ALL the pet owners who have negligent, irresponsible owners.
Thank you for caring and speaking up for animals. Hot cars can become dangerous very quickly, and prevention is always the best protection. Our pets rely on us to make safe choices for them.
Wall mart can suck a @%*#. This stupid a** store is always in the news for srewing or f*#%ing over some one. How are you going to get fired for doing what your job is. Protecting store pollcy. I think wal-sqirt employees just just let all the shop lifters in and go to town. Fu^$ protecting and telling on them, just let them steal it cause you might get fired. plus you the hell really wants to pay for walmarts juck ass shit anyways. everything they sell is just junk and cheap anyways. gone to china. And has for the dumd ass bitch that left his dog in the car. Well your a bitch and come see me f***. battle creek michigan. ********. come get some
I think we can all agree that the safety and well-being of animals matters. It’s understandable to feel strongly when a pet may be at risk. The best way forward is through awareness, responsible pet ownership, and making sure concerns are handled in a way that protects both the animal and everyone involved.
I would have done the same thing. I think the best thing to do, if the dog is not in distress (YET). Is leave a note on the car for the owner stating that it is not humane to leave any animal in a car in the heat. If the owner has not come back within a few minutes they should have called the local humane society and they would have taken care of it. That way she wouldn’t have got in trouble with her loser boss. I have called on several people that have left their dogs in a hot car.
Thanks for sharing. It’s great to see people looking out for animals. Hot cars can become dangerous very quickly, so awareness and quick action are important. A calm reminder, contacting the proper authorities, or alerting store staff can help protect pets and prevent tragedies.
I was so outraged I called the Kemptville Walmart right after hearing about this….big surprise…answering machine that cut me off. Called Walmart Canada’s head office in Mississauga to speak with the CEO (Ms Broader). Her assistant directed me to PR after at first saying she knew nothing about it. Got voicemail. Left my name, number and detailed message …even mentioning that I was seeing the yahoo comments that were very negative about the company. Asked her to call me back to let me know they’d look into this and do the right thing with regard to this heroic young woman and us gleams store manager. That was over a week ago and no response. Walmart fired her because it said they demanded utmost courtesy from their staff to customers. Apparently that’s only if you make minimum wage. They’ll never see a dollar of my money again and I tell everyone I know or meet who has pets this story and to find a different discount store. Walmart can go to hell though I truly believe they were probably there already!
Thank you for sharing your experience. It’s clear this situation touched a lot of people because we all want animals to be treated with care and compassion.
The important takeaway is that pets depend on us to speak up and make responsible choices when their safety may be at risk. Hopefully, stories like this continue to raise awareness and encourage better policies for everyone.
Shame on you Wal-mart and pet owner, time is of the essence in these situations. Well done to the person for helping the dog, hope you get a better job.
Thank you for caring about animals. In situations involving heat, time really can matter. The most important thing is awareness, responsible pet ownership, and speaking up when a pet may be in danger.
This makes me very mad. No animal or child should be left in a car no matter what the weather conditions. In the state I live in you WILL be arrested by the County Sherriff and will do jail time. He has absolutely no tolerance for animal abuse. Shame on Wal-Mart for firing a person that was only doing the right thing. Never really liked Wal-Mart but this has given me another reason to NEVER shop there again. Even if she does get her job back she shouldn’t take it, there are much better companies to work for. She should go to work for Petsmart or Petco.
Thank you for caring about animals. Pets depend on us to keep them safe, and awareness can help prevent dangerous situations.
I wrote to Walmart Corporate on this, and it seems that she may not have been fired for that. Here’s the response I got:
“Thank you for your message.
Dear Amy,
Thank you for your inquiry. The associate in question was absolutely not let go for trying to help a dog in a locked car. The decision to dismiss an associate is one that we take extremely seriously and must follow a comprehensive process. However, out of respect for the associate and for privacy reasons we cannot provide specifics about why this associate was let go.
Walmart is a major supporter and advocate for animal rights. Over the past year alone we have made donations to local SPCAs, the Humane Society and Animal Shelters. In addition, signs will be added to the front of all our stores across the country to advise customers of the dangers of leaving kids and pets in a hot car.
We also have a long standing protocol that directs associates to take appropriate action, and if necessary, notify the authorities if they believe an animal is in distress or at risk. With respect to the recent story in the media about our Kemptville store, as per our protocol, the store manager did speak to the customer in question about the dangers of leaving a dog in a hot car.
Sincerely,
Walmart Customer Care”
Is it possible that Walmart is trying to put a spin on it? yes. Is it possible that the employee was fired for some other reason and is doing a great job of playing us all to get back at Walmart? yes. Since I don’t really know what happened, I’m not passing judgement.
Thanks for sharing this perspective. It’s always important to look at the facts and remember there are often details we may not know.
The biggest takeaway is that pets in hot vehicles can be at serious risk, and we all share a responsibility to help keep them safe.
I agree with Hannah. The employee did nothing to help the dog. They don’t need people just being ugly to customers. I reported a dog in a truck at my Walmart just last week. The asst mgr and co-mgr went into action immediately. Took pictures and called PD immediately. Stayed at the truck watching the dog till help arrived. If the dog had looked overly stressed, I’m sure they would have taken matters into hand and done what was necessary. It was not an overly hot day, dog was in shade, but still too hot. I was very proud of the staff!!
Thank you for sharing this. It’s great to hear about people taking concerns seriously and working together to keep pets safe. The best outcome comes when we stay calm, act responsibly, and put the animal’s welfare first