A 67-year-old man has been ticketed after Winnipeg police say he left his dog in a hot vehicle outside a grocery store and then struck a bystander with his car while fleeing the scene.
Oficers responded to a grocery store parking lot in the 600 block of Osborne Street on Wednesday afternoon after a report of a large German Shepherd left unattended in a vehicle, but the vehicle had already left by the time they arrived.
Police say the man parked and went into the store around 1 p.m., leaving his dog inside the vehicle. Several concerned bystanders gave the thirsty, distressed dog cold water through a slightly open window. The driver confronted the bystanders at one point before going back into the store to continue shopping, and bystanders kept giving the dog water while he shopped.
When the man returned to his vehicle, police say he continued to be belligerent with bystanders before striking one with his vehicle, reversing into a parked pickup truck and fleeing the area at a high rate of speed.
Officers identified the driver and attended a residence in the Lord Roberts neighbourhood, where they found the German Shepherd tied up in the backyard and were met by the belligerent man.
He was issued provincial offence notices under the Highway Traffic Act and Animal Care Act.
Police noted the outside temperature that day was approximately 30°C, with a humidex of 43.
