‘It was just hanging there, lifeless’: Dog jumps out the window of a locked car to escape the heat on a scorching day – only to choke to death on its collar
- A family dog has died after jumping out of a parked car window wearing a chain
- The incident occured at a mall car park in Tweed Heads NSW on Wednesday
- A passer by spotted the limp animal hanging from the chain next to the 4WD
A beloved family dog has died after it jumped out of a car window and was found by horrified shoppers hanging limply from its collar.
The dog, believed to be a spaniel-collie cross, was locked in a Toyota Rav4 with another dog and a cat in the car park of Tweed Mall in Tweed Heads, NSW.
As the temperature climbed as high as 28C on Wednesday, the dog tried to escape by jumping through the partially open window.
A beloved family dog has died after it jumped out of a car window and was found hanging limply by its collar by horrified shoppers
However, it instead hanged itself as the choker chain tied to the seat belt wasn’t long enough to reach the ground.
Bystander Josh Davies said he saw the dog hanging out the window about 1.30pm and initially thought it was a jacket as he drove past.
‘As I got closer I realised and jumped out of my car to save it, but it was already gone. It was just hanging there, lifeless,’ he told Daily Mail Australia.
‘It’s such a sad and horrible way to go, it was heartbreaking. My partner had our puppy with her and she was in tears.
‘Tweed Mall has such a busy carpark so I don’t understand how no one heard and tried to help it before it was too late.’
Police attended the scene after 2pm along with the RSPCA after Mr Davies alerted the shopping centre’s security.
NSW Police told Daily Mail Australia the dog’s owner was ‘very distressed’ when they arrived back at their car.
The incident was being treated as a ‘tragic accident’ with ‘no malaise or negligence’ and no further action taken.
NSW Police told Daily Mail Australia the dog’s owner was ‘very distressed’ when they arrived back at their car