Jennifer Beals Defends Herself After Caught Leaving Her Dog In A Hot Car [Video]
Jennifer Beals insists she’s not a terrible dog mommy, but not everyone is convinced. On Wednesday, the Flashdance actress was confronted after she left her large German Shepherd to sweat inside of a hot car in Vancouver.
Temperatures inside of a hot car can reach over 125 degrees inside five minutes. When it’s scorching out, animals and small children are vulnerable to heat stroke conditions created by hot cars. It was hoped that Beals would know better. However when a passerby confronted the actress about the dangers, she said things were just “fine.”
@NarcityMontreal @kick1972 Jessica Beals, vedette de Flashdance et The L Word a fait la même chose http://t.co/Cq59OfNxOB
— Maxime Tremblay (@MaximusTremblay) July 30, 2015
That statement wasn’t enough for the eyewitness, who said Jennifer’s large dog had been left in her vehicle with the passenger side windows down barely a few inches. He informed Beal that he would “report” what he saw. The 51-year-old actress was said to have ignored the man and entered her vehicle. She drove away a short time after the confrontation.
Marcie Moriarty of the British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said the man was right to be concerned by Jennifer Beals’ actions.
“That’s a German Shepard-type dog [and] they’re already carrying a coat on them. In this temperature, I don’t think that would necessarily create the type of cooling effect that would ever be sufficient.”
Jennifer Beals may have thought the issue was over when she drove away, but as the backlash spread to the internet, she felt forced to defend herself.
“I have loved dogs my whole life,” she said in a statement. “They’ve been in my life since the day I was born.”
“Every dog I’ve had has been a rescue. I would never ever jeopardize an animal’s safety. Ever. I’ve worked with dogs in obedience, agility and shepherding training. I am not only a loving dog owner but a discerning one.”
Jennifer said that she was only gone five minutes; she simply popped into a business to pick up some laundry. Beals noted that it was cool enough for jackets that morning, and she didn’t believe a short trip away from her car would create a safety issue for her beloved pet.
Woof! Jennifer Beals is under fire after leaving her dog in a hot car: http://t.co/4hSE6rRnsY pic.twitter.com/Wtu2k5kOb3
— E! Online (@eonline) July 31, 2015
Beals also claimed that she had rolled down all four of her windows and that she didn’t understand why people were “congregated next to her car” taking pictures. Jennifer said she appreciated the “vigilance” of passing Vancouver residents, but quipped that they were “barking up the wrong tree.”
What do you think: Is Jennifer Beals a bad dog mom or were these concerned individuals worried over nothing? Share your thoughts below!
[Image Credit: Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Turner]
