'I think you stole a dog': Kind samaritan "rescues" dog tied to a car in the freezing cold, only to be accused of stealing someone's pet

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Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Feb 19, 2025 11:00 AM EST

Hey, dog enthusiasts and canine connoisseurs. In today's world, you never know what will be the consequences of your actions. Some people get in trouble for doing things with the best of intentions, and others skate by while doing wrong by others without so much as a slap on the wrist. We have to be honest with you: we're not sure how to classify this story below. On one hand, we feel for the author of this story, and if we had been in their shoes, we probably would have done the same thing.

Imagine you're walking outside on a cold winter night, it's freezing rain, and you see a dog tied to a car outside. No one near him, no one coming back for him, so what do you do? You assume he's abandoned and take him out of the cold. However, some people have accused this good samaritan of stealing someone else's pet! Scroll down to read the full story below, and make sure to tell us what you think at the end.

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  • 01

    Found this guy chained to car in the freezing rain last night

    2A 28 3A 38 4A
    via u/vlvtjones

  • 100% we would have taken the dog home. We cannot stand to see people put their dogs in situations like this. Imagine leaving your child out in the rain alone, even for a minute. You wouldn't, would you?

  • 02
    Need help rehoming. Bada rescue is at capacity, lighthouse hasn't responded. He's good with dogs and is very sweet.
    via u/vlvtjones
  • 03
    Natatatcat22 • 2h ago You're my hero
    via u/Natatatcat22
  • 04
    Cheezburger Image 10469145600
    via u/vlvtjones
  • 05
    SyPeanut_9279 • 27m ago Thank you for treating the dog like a sentient Being and not property. "It's someone's dog"- Who leaves their dog tied OUTSIDE A CAR THATS NOT THEIRS?! OP did the right thing in my opinion, why take your dog out at night and tie them up in the freezing rain for ANY amount of time?
    via u/SyPeanut_9279
  • 06
    Cheezburger Image 10469146112
    via u/vlvtjones

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  • 07
    Boatzie • 2h ago OP may have just committed theft and posted about it on reddit... Imagine running upstairs to grab something and tying your dog up only to come back and someone's stolen them. If there's more context from OP that they watched the dog out there for an hour- different conversation entirely
    via u/Boatzie
  • 08
    Meiie 2h ago Does OP say how long the dog was chained up for? Did you just steal someone's dog. 5 min in the rain is no big deal. Bunch of weirdos on Reddit man.
    via u/Meiie
  • 09
    Character-Bid-7747 • Thank you! It was night with that rain 1h ago freezing last
    via u/Character-Bid-7747
  • 10
    Cheezburger Image 10469145856
    via u/vlvtjones
  • 11
    baurette •1h ago Maybe out some photos next to where you found it? I think you stole a dog.
    via u/baurette

  • Well, if they did take someone else's dog, at least the post has gone viral enough that if someone is looking for them, they will find them. That's the beauty of the internet, nothing is secret for very long.

  • 12
    Ag ssive-Algae3713 • 13h ago For anyone wondering- I know exactly where this is, that car on the left is ALWAYS there. And If I'm correct, then the police station is literally across the street and so many people likely would've passed this dog, and done nothing.
    via u/Ag***ssive-Algae3713
  • 13
    OP did the right thing. This dog was 100% abandoned. and to make it worse, just out of view or where he's placed is always exactly where this giant pile of garbage goes. That's where their owner places them, with garbage. You don't understand, This is so so foul.
    via u/Ag***ssive-Algae3713
  • 14
    . SomewherelmD d 1h ago People always assume the worst. might've been a crappy dog owner but it isn't hard to get rid of a dog if you really hate them. How many people really ab e their dogs? Is it more likely that a man just left it for a few minutes. The only thing we need to know to come to a conclusion is how long did op wait for the owner. what
    via u/SomewherelmD**d
  • 15
    Eft223 • 2h ago Yea looking at the picture definitely was chained... more like just tied there. I really don't see why someone would leave it on a randoms car so I'm fairly sure you have just stolen a dog
    via u/Eft223
  • 16
    youaintgotnomoney_12 • 2h ago How long was the dog left outside OP? Unless you waited at least 15 minutes to see if there's an owner around then your sh and need to return this a dog. I wouldn't take a dog to the shelter(where they will likely unless they were obviously abandoned. This dog looks clean and well fed.
    via u/youaintgotnomoney_12
  • 17
    Gamerxx13 45m ago This breaks my heart. Some people are just so sh**ty. As a dog lover just give them to a shelter if you can't take care of them
    via u/Gamerxx13
  • 18
    No_Win3096 • 2h ago Glad you did the right thing and took him home
    via u/No_Win3096
  • 19
    Flimsy-Ad-8614 • 2h ago Aw thank you for saving him!! I have a contact at ama animal rescue located in Brooklyn and will ask her if they can help!
    via u/Flimsy-Ad-8614
  • 20
    Juleamun ⚫3h ago I hope you reported the license plate number. You're a good egg, op. I have a friend who said he was thinking of getting a rescue soon. I'll show him the post.
    via u/Juleamun
  • 21
    PinkRetroReindeer • 3h ago That baby must have been so scared and cold. You did an absolutely amazing thing. Very serendipitous that you happened to walk by and see him or her. Too many would have kept walking.
    via u/PinkRetroReindeer
  • 22
    NoTap0425 • 3h ago You should edit your original post so people don't think you "stole the dog”. If the dog was tied to a police vehicle, and the owner isn't responding to the microchip, then they clearly abandoned it. So good on you for saving it. Also, it looks like abandoning a dog in NYC is a misdemeanor. Idk how you feel about filing a police report, but the owner is definitely a POS.
    via u/NoTap0425

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aww wholesome dogs adorable adoption stealing pets heartwarming kindhearted animal rescue cute doggo animals rescue
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