ATLANTA, GA -- A local woman was trying to help some dogs left in a car and ended up getting fired.
Valerie Cheathem was the assistant manager of precious jewelry at Neiman Marcus in Buckhead.
"Two of my co-workers and a police officer were pointing out the window saying two dogs were locked in car on the parking," said Cheatham.
Cheathem says it was 90 degrees that day. She got the number for animal control and went to write down the tag number on the black BMW, when she realized the sun roof was open and decided to get some water to the dogs.
"Because the car was so tall, I could not reach inside. So, I took off my shoes and got on the hood. That's when the owner came out, yelling screaming cursing."
The owner of the dogs, Ramona Lindsey, said Cheathem damaged her $80,000 car. She complained about Cheathem's actions to store managers and filed a police report.
In the police report, the officer says other customers complained of seeing the dogs in the car. Atlanta Humane Society officials say even with the sunroof open, the temperature in a car can climb to 105 degrees in under five minutes.
Lindsey, who says she spends thousands of dollars a year at the store, says she was trying on clothes for between 15 and 40 minutes. Cheathem was fired for improper behavior.
11Alive asked Neiman Marcus to comment on Cheathem's firing. A corporate spokesman says they do not comment on personnel issues.
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/georgia/news-article.aspx?storyid=42872