CORNELIUS, N.C. (WBTV) – When Suzanne Vella saw a dog panting inside a hot car parked in a shopping center parking lot earlier this month, she knew she had to do something. But what Vella did next, almost ended with her facing a criminal charge.
Vella said she called 911 and looked in the area for the dog’s owner, but after not finding them, she opened the car door, which was unlocked, and gave the dog some water.
“I was really concerned because I know it only takes a few minutes for dogs to go into heat stroke. It was a 90 degree day,” Vella said. “It wasn’t even a decision, I knew.”
Vella said when a Cornelius police officer arrived at the scene, he reprimanded her for going into the vehicle to help the dog.
“I was shocked,” Vella said. I could tell [the officer] was really upset. He just kind of yelled at me and told me I had no right to go into the vehicle and he repeatedly asked the owner if he wanted to press charges on me.”
Cornelius Police said when its officer responded to the incident June 7, he asked the dog’s owner if he wanted to press charges against Vella for entering his car. The owner of the dog replied ‘no’ and left the scene, according to police.
For the officer to arrest the man for animal cruelty, state law requires the officer to witness the crime, and he did not observe the dog alone in the car, Cornelius Police said.
In a cell phone video recorded by Vella, the officer can be heard asking her, “What right do you think you have to open someone’s door?”
“All I said was that if there’s a dog on a 90 degree day, locked in the car panting, I’m going to give it water,” Vella responded.
No charges were filed against either party in the incident.
In a news release about the incident, Cornelius Police said, “We are conducting an investigation into the owner of the dog for the claim of animal cruelty. An internal investigation into our officer’s actions is underway. We are also reinforcing our training procedures to ensure that all personnel respond professionally, respectfully, and with empathy in every situation.”
Vella’s video of her interaction with the officer has been viewed more than half a million times online.
Most of the comments come to her support.
“It’s just been really honestly, heartwarming, and it’s really restored my faith in humanity,” Vella said. “I wasn’t sure what the reaction would be I honestly thought more people would be upset that I went into another person’s property, but all the people have passed the vibe check.”
Copyright 2025 WBTV. All rights reserved.
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
