B.C. guardians fined after dog leashed to SUV trunk in sunny Costco parking lot

TikTok video shows a dog leashed to the trunk of a Range Rover in a Costco parking lot in B.C.'s Lower Mainland. (Credit: TikTok user @vancityevents2025)

Officials are hoping viral videos of a dog leashed to a parked SUV on a sunny day in B.C.’s Lower Mainland will serve as a reminder about responsible pet ownership.

The videos were posted on TikTok this week, with one showing the dog alone, crouched underneath the bumper of a Range Rover outside the Costco in Burnaby.

The animal’s leash is closed under the door of the vehicle’s trunk.

Another video shows an animal control officer speaking to the dog’s guardians, after they had finished shopping and returned to the SUV.

“The reason we take it so seriously is because we see animals die from this often, far too often,” the officer says.

At one point, the animal control officer asks, “Is there any reason why he’s not at home right now?” The guardians pause before responding, “It won’t happen next time.”

After the incident went viral on TikTok – with one video getting more than five million views – another user shared video of the same dog, tied up in a similar fashion behind the same Range Rover. It’s unclear when that incident took place.

The City of Burnaby confirmed the Costco incident was reported around 4:15 p.m. Monday, and that the responding officer waited until approximately 4:45 p.m. for the guardians to come back for their dog.

“The dog was tethered in direct sunlight and unable to access shade due to the short length of the tether,” the city said, in a statement.

The witness who reported the incident had already provided the dog with water by the time the officer arrived. The city said the animal was “panting heavily but not in immediate distress.”

Once the guardians returned with their shopping cart, they were handed $300 in fines for several bylaw infractions, according to the city.

“The public is reminded that even brief heat exposure can be harmful to pets,” the city added. “On warm days, it is safest to leave dogs at home with access to shade and cool water.”