Fire Dept. causes $5k in damage to couple's Sonata
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From: Santa Ana, CA
Vehicle: 2001 Tiburon
Fire Dept. causes $5k in damage to couple's Sonata
DALLAS — One minute, a North Texas couple was having a birthday lunch. The next, Dallas police were surrounding their car and prying the trunk open with a crowbar.
The couple said officers crossed the line, all because of what they found inside their new Hyundai Sonata: Their two dogs, on a day when the weather was what many would consider perfect.
John and Danika Shipman came to Dallas from Pottsboro to celebrate John's birthday. They brought their two Yorkies, Copper and Penny, with them.
"Those dogs go with me wherever I go," Mr. Shipman said.
But when the Shipmans went into a West End Restaurant, they left the dogs in the car. They didn't see any problems. It was a cool, cloudy day.
Less than an hour later, John Shipman's cell phone rang.
“They said, 'You need to come outside immediately,' Shipman said. "The fire department has broken into your car and we have your dogs."
When they arrived at their car, parked one block away, they saw the damage. Firefighters had pried the trunk open with a crowbar, leaving what the Shipmans say is about $5,000 in damage.
"I was in tears," Danika Shipman said. "He just got me the car less than two months ago. It was the first new car I've ever had."
Officers explained to the Shipmans why they took action.
“They said it [was] too hot for those dogs to be in the car, and they got a call," Mr. Shipman said. "I said, 'Really guys, it's 55 degrees out here today. I don't think we have a problem."
The police took the Yorkies. John Shipman was charged with animal cruelty. He could face up to one year in jail and a $10,000 fine.
The Pottsboro couple wants the city to pay for the damages to their car.
"It seems common sense would be to first try a slim jim to open a door," Mr. Shipman said. "Second, if that doesn't work, bust a window out. We're talking a couple of hundred dollars of damage compared to $5,000 damage."
Dallas city officials believe firefighters and police acted properly, and did not go too far in getting the dogs out of the car.
The Shipmans said they love their Yorkies very much and would never put them in a potentially dangerous situation in any parking lot. Dallas Animal Services returned the dogs to the couple the next day.
The couple said officers crossed the line, all because of what they found inside their new Hyundai Sonata: Their two dogs, on a day when the weather was what many would consider perfect.
John and Danika Shipman came to Dallas from Pottsboro to celebrate John's birthday. They brought their two Yorkies, Copper and Penny, with them.
"Those dogs go with me wherever I go," Mr. Shipman said.
But when the Shipmans went into a West End Restaurant, they left the dogs in the car. They didn't see any problems. It was a cool, cloudy day.
Less than an hour later, John Shipman's cell phone rang.
“They said, 'You need to come outside immediately,' Shipman said. "The fire department has broken into your car and we have your dogs."
When they arrived at their car, parked one block away, they saw the damage. Firefighters had pried the trunk open with a crowbar, leaving what the Shipmans say is about $5,000 in damage.
"I was in tears," Danika Shipman said. "He just got me the car less than two months ago. It was the first new car I've ever had."
Officers explained to the Shipmans why they took action.
“They said it [was] too hot for those dogs to be in the car, and they got a call," Mr. Shipman said. "I said, 'Really guys, it's 55 degrees out here today. I don't think we have a problem."
The police took the Yorkies. John Shipman was charged with animal cruelty. He could face up to one year in jail and a $10,000 fine.
The Pottsboro couple wants the city to pay for the damages to their car.
"It seems common sense would be to first try a slim jim to open a door," Mr. Shipman said. "Second, if that doesn't work, bust a window out. We're talking a couple of hundred dollars of damage compared to $5,000 damage."
Dallas city officials believe firefighters and police acted properly, and did not go too far in getting the dogs out of the car.
The Shipmans said they love their Yorkies very much and would never put them in a potentially dangerous situation in any parking lot. Dallas Animal Services returned the dogs to the couple the next day.
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From: Upstate New York
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If they had the couple's phone number, why would they not call them in the first place and ask them to open the car? Maybe I'm missing part of the story but I feel like that should be your first move. Although I don't really condone leaving dogs alone in the car anyways. 
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From: ABQ, NM
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although i think it is totally stupid to bring your dogs with you to something like that, only to leave them in the car i think it is absolutely moronic that they would PRY open the trunk on a 55 degree day to 'save' two yorkies...
55 degrees is nowhere near warm enough, even with the sun for a few hours to be dangerous to anything.
and not trying a slim jim, locksmith, breaking out a window?
and then an animal cruelty charge when they weren't in danger.
a law SHOULD be passed though not to be able to bring your animals with you places unless you are handicapped.. I HATE seeing dogs in stores, purses and barking at me in cars in the parking lot..
55 degrees is nowhere near warm enough, even with the sun for a few hours to be dangerous to anything.
and not trying a slim jim, locksmith, breaking out a window?
and then an animal cruelty charge when they weren't in danger.
a law SHOULD be passed though not to be able to bring your animals with you places unless you are handicapped.. I HATE seeing dogs in stores, purses and barking at me in cars in the parking lot..
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From: Pflugerville, TX
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They were passing through, bringing the dogs with them. Why bother to find a local kennel while you get a meal when traveling on a cool day?
The local radio show was talking about this . . . sumdood called in and said they broke in his sunroof for the same type of deal. Shattered the window and destroyed the frame. WTF they don't teach people about a slim jim anymore? A coat hanger maybe?
Those dogs would have been fine for a couple of days in that weather. This is a lawsuit waiting to happen. I'd see if I could find a slimy "pain & suffering" damages lawyer and go on the "under color of law" angle.
The local radio show was talking about this . . . sumdood called in and said they broke in his sunroof for the same type of deal. Shattered the window and destroyed the frame. WTF they don't teach people about a slim jim anymore? A coat hanger maybe?
Those dogs would have been fine for a couple of days in that weather. This is a lawsuit waiting to happen. I'd see if I could find a slimy "pain & suffering" damages lawyer and go on the "under color of law" angle.
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From: CNY
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Um, I don't think "LETS PRY THE TRUNK OPEN!!!" whenever I need to get into a car...
How did they even know the seats would fold down from inside the trunk?
It's like a doctor giving you a colonoscopy to look at your tonsils, it COULD be done (with a long enough scope...), but would be MORONIC to actually DO...
"Hey, Bert, hold my beer and hand me da crowbar! I'mma bust that feerin car up to save them there doggies!"
How did they even know the seats would fold down from inside the trunk?
It's like a doctor giving you a colonoscopy to look at your tonsils, it COULD be done (with a long enough scope...), but would be MORONIC to actually DO...
"Hey, Bert, hold my beer and hand me da crowbar! I'mma bust that feerin car up to save them there doggies!"
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Why did the firefighters pry open the trunk? Because the owners had locked them in there, NOT in the cabin.
http://www.wfaa.com/news/entertainme...137149883.html
http://www.wfaa.com/news/entertainme...137149883.html
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From: New Jersey
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HAHAHA!!!
Moral of the story, don't lock dogs in cars period.
Firefighters might have been a bit stupid with this one, but if just one of them was a "dog lover" then I'd bet dollars to doughnuts it was that guys idea as a way to get back at the owners rather than calling or simply breaking a window.
Moral of the story, don't lock dogs in cars period.
Firefighters might have been a bit stupid with this one, but if just one of them was a "dog lover" then I'd bet dollars to doughnuts it was that guys idea as a way to get back at the owners rather than calling or simply breaking a window.