Woman Upset After Six Flags Officials Break Into Car To Rescue 'Distressed' Dog, And It Runs Away

A California woman is upset after Six Flags officials broke into her car, took her dog and then lost it.

But a spokesperson at Six Flags Magic Mountain in California said that officials rescued the animal from the hot vehicle and brought it indoors to give it water.

“Our security personnel and the sheriff saw the dog, which they thought was dead,” Six Flags spokesperson Sue Carpenter told CBS Los Angeles.

"Malibu" the Pomeranian escaped from the park's kennel while a person left to fill up her water bowl, CBS reports.

Shalanon Brooks said she left Malibu in her vehicle after her carrying case broke earlier in the day and did not believe the animal was in any danger. In an on-camera interview (scroll below), Brooks says she left the windows open and left the dog with water.

The 1-year-old pup served as her "support dog" and was prescribed by a doctor, according to the report.

Malibu's fate might still be unclear, but the park stands behind its decision to break into the car.

Animal advocates regularly warn owners about the dangers of leaving animals in vehicles during warm months.

“Even when we have temperatures in the 70s, the inside of a car left in the sun can reach a fatal 130 degrees in a matter of minutes,” Seattle Animal Shelter Director Don Jordan said in a statement provided to the Seattle Post Intelligencer.

Temperatures in excess of 106 degrees will increase the likelihood that animals might suffer heatstroke, seizures or death, according to FOX Houston.

Cracking open windows barely makes a difference in temperature, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reports.

In July, two police dogs died in London after being left in a car, where the outside temperature reached about 86 degrees. Twelve chickens also perished in June after their owners left them in their vehicle while shopping at a Walmart.

To learn more about the Six Flags story, view CBS Los Angeles' report below.

WATCH:

Comments

[Debbie338]

09:27 PM on 09/16/2011

That woman should never get her dog back.

[Matt Hopkins]

07:54 PM on 09/16/2011

The dog was probably trying to escape its idiot owner! They really oughta arrest idiots like that. It's beyond disgusting.

[WHOGIVESADAMN pluh]

09:53 PM on 09/15/2011

That woman is a dope...

[AKQueenie]

09:46 PM on 09/15/2011

I would sentence her to sit in a Six Flags parking lot in a big, thick fur coat, for 1 hour and she could even have 1 bottle of room tempuratue water. Maybe then she'd get it....

[AKQueenie]

09:49 PM on 09/15/2011

I should also mention that all of this is to take place in a car with the windows down.

[BHSD BHSD]

03:31 PM on 09/15/2011

I do have a couple questions if anyone might have answers to.
1. Why would you leave your "Support" dog in the car at ANY time? Also you can check your dog in at six flags.
2. Does anyone actually think this lady deserves a "Support" dog? I mean you just left your dog in the car, that is pretty childish and you will not get the attention you are trying to get with all that fake crying.

[aintnoliberalnow]

12:43 PM on 09/15/2011

Two things stand out here, stupidity cannot be regulated or legislated against and no good deed ever goes unpunished. Hey lady, did you ever ask yourself which was more important? The life of your self proclaimed best buddy or a day at some amusement park. I live in a cold climate and I would never remotely consider leaving my dog in the car longer than 10 minutes, winter or summer, and I would never let that car out of my sight.

[mwnyy]

12:05 PM on 09/15/2011

Don't bring your dog with you if your not with it at all times. Poor dog. She shouldn't get the dog back if they find it.

[js0860]

10:48 AM on 09/15/2011

Support dog? I've heard of service dogs for the blind or handicapped. Is a support dog something for people with mental disorders?

[BHSD BHSD]

03:32 PM on 09/15/2011

service dogs are for those with mental issues.

[js0860]

05:35 PM on 09/15/2011

Then what is a "Support Dog". The article says it was prescribed by her doctor.

[evecaren]

10:27 AM on 09/15/2011

Why do people think it's okay to leave a dog in a car on a scorching hot day when temperatures can become extremely hot very quickly. Even having the windows open a little bit still won't make the temperature in the car any cooler. Imagine putting little Malibu, a year old puppy, in this situation. I'm glad the security personnel and the sherrif rescued Malibu and gave the poor little animal some badly needed water. I'm hoping Malibu isn't really "lost" and that the puppy has a new home with owners who will love the puppy and care for it properly.
If you're not convinced how quick the temperature heats up in a car on an extremely hot day,
try this. See how long you can stay in the car with the windows completely closed or even
opened a crack and imagine how you'd feel if you were in a fur coat and having to endure it.
It would be like torture no doubt and that's what it must be like for these poor dogs who are
left in stiffling hot cars with no water. It's heart breaking and deadly. Dogs should also not be
left in freezing cold cars in the colder weather for the same reason. A dog is supposed to be
man's best friend. Let's treasure dogs and treat them with respect and kindness they deserve.



man's best friend

[Red The Grey]

08:35 AM on 09/15/2011

This woman doesn't deserve a dog. She said she doesn't believe that the dog was in any danger. Lock her up in a car and then she can see how it feels.

[BHSD BHSD]

03:34 PM on 09/15/2011

AMEN

[Roadrun]

08:21 AM on 09/15/2011

Don't be so quick to praise security and condemn the woman. I traveled a lot with my 2 black labs. Did a full work up on my van so they could stay in it while I was working.

One day security comes to me and says I have to get my dogs out of my van because it was hot outside. I showed the guy the comfortable dogs with water and the thermometer showing that it was 20 degrees cooler inside the van than outside. He said I HAD to put the black dogs out in the hot sun or he would haul them off to an animal shelter. It was his rules.

Now, I had to get back to work or it just might have been worth it to me to have him charged with animal cruelty. I managed to find refuge in a fenced grassy area, which was still in the sun and thus 20 degrees hotter than in the van. Black dogs don't like a full sun beating down on them.

[BHSD BHSD]

03:35 PM on 09/15/2011

well first the praise should be given to the security crew. Secondly, a SUPPORT dog is to go with you EVERYWHERE or maybe you just do not need one.

You might look into what support dogs are for before you make your comments.

TY

[Roadrun]

08:55 PM on 09/15/2011

You might look into what comments are before you make YOUR comments.

[Gizmo9]

10:08 PM on 09/14/2011

The dog probably thought... let me get the hell out of here before she comes back.

[Mitchell255]

06:17 PM on 09/14/2011

I visit Valencia often, I can assure you, the 80s still feels pretty hot.. I can imagine how warm it was in the car. My question is, why did she bring the dog in the first place? I've seen people all over take animals into questionable places, but never a theme park.

[aonemandog]

05:59 PM on 09/14/2011

They should lock her in a car for a few hours with a bowl of water.....I hope someone was smart enought to take that dog and "lose" it to make sure the owner did not get another chance to abuse the poor dog. "support dog" indeed!

[AKQueenie]

10:06 PM on 09/15/2011

YA! I said the exact same thing! F&F!!

[Wanda Kay Mixell]

05:46 PM on 09/14/2011

The employees absolutely did the right thing. Unfortunately the little dog after getting cooled off a bit ran off. Yes maybe the employee getting the water should have watched a little closer, but I know because I have small dogs, they can get around you in a heartbeat, especially if they are scared, or even excited. This was this woman's support dog, but apparently she didn't worry much about it, I hope they fine her. Hope the little dog is found safe and sound and goes to a good home.