Costco is a place where you come for bargains and leave with a trunk full of things you probably didn’t need but couldn’t resist. What it shouldn’t be is the scene of a near-tragedy involving a dog tied up in the blazing sun because its owners thought Costco parking lot pet care was totally a thing. Spoiler: it’s not.
But that’s exactly what happened on May 5 at the Costco in Burnaby, BC. And while most people were busy deciding between Kirkland-brand olive oil and the fancy stuff, one couple was making a series of reckless, thoughtless, downright infuriating decisions that landed them, their dog, and a red Solo cup of water in the middle of a $300 disaster.
Two dog owners were fined $300 after leaving their dog tied to a car in direct sunlight while they went shopping at Costco on Monday. pic.twitter.com/A9JDtZ4vf1
— AccuWeather (@accuweather) May 9, 2025
The leash was so short that the poor animal couldn’t even reach shade. It was stuck in sunlight. Thankfully, Costco is not entirely populated by people who think dogs are heatproof. A concerned shopper and a Costco employee spotted the dog and did the right thing. They called Burnaby Animal Control. Enter Daniel McDonald, the officer who arrived on the scene at 4:35 p.m. Let me tell you, this guy deserves a medal for dealing with this kind of thing without losing his cool.
While the dog wasn’t on the brink of collapse just yet, it was clear that the situation could’ve taken a tragic turn if help hadn’t arrived. McDonald documented everything, took video footage, and waited for the owners to make their triumphant return. When McDonald confronted them, their excuse was as ridiculous as you’d expect: “It’s too hot inside the car.” Logic clearly wasn’t invited to this Costco trip. And when asked why they didn’t just leave the dog at home, the response was a dismissive, “Ugh, it won’t happen again.” You know, the kind of answer you give when you’ve been caught doing something dumb but don’t actually feel bad about it.
Here’s where things get frustrating. For three separate bylaw violations—including not having a proper dog license—these owners were fined a total of $300. That’s it. Three hundred bucks. For a dog’s brush with heatstroke, for complete negligence, for breaking multiple laws. Honestly, they’re lucky it wasn’t worse. What would’ve really driven the message home? A $1,000 fine. Or even better, mandatory community service at an animal shelter, where they could learn firsthand what happens to pets whose owners don’t take care of them.
