Calif. Dog ‘Steals’ Truck, Bewilders Owner


CALIFORNIA - According to the Associated Press, Charles McCowan left his Boxer, Max, parked in the passenger seat of his pick-up truck last Wednesday while he made a stop inside a California mini-mart.

When he came back outside, he was astonished to learn that his truck, and 80-pound Max, had both gone missing. Assuming the truck had been stolen, McCowan called authorities, who shortly after arriving found the vehicle and its unlikely driver in the parking lot of a fast food restaurant across the street.

Apparently McCowan left his manual-transmission-truck in neutral, but with the emergency brake engaged. Somehow Max managed to disengage the brake, and as a surveillance video showed, the truck then rolled out of the lot, through traffic before disappearing off screen.

Luckily, Max managed to miss running into other cars, and came safely to a stop in the adjacent lot.

“God did it, because if it hadn’t been ... I was just thinking of the trouble it could have caused. It could have hurt somebody; the timing had to be just perfect.” said McCowan.

Both the dog and the vehicle went unscathed but as McCowan pointed out, things could have been much worse.

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1147 comments found.
 
Kimberly B.
Kimberly B. (Kad46)
2 months ago
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glad everything turned out good
 
Amy R.
Amy R. (herplace)
3 months ago
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so glad that all are safe. Hope the dog at least got a burger out of the deal! :)
 
alexis93
alexis93
3 months ago
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interesting story
 
Anonymous
Anonymous
3 months ago
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this comment has been removed from the system
 
CountryKennelNJ
CountryKennelNJ
3 months ago
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IF YOU MUST LEAVE YOUR PET IN THE CAR!!!
Always keep your pet restrained in your vehicle! Also, air on and doors locked! Use common sense people!
 
dwise
dwise
3 months ago
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amazing story
 
joann555
joann555
3 months ago
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*g* That dog must have really wanted something from that fast food place...
 
april8sue
april8sue
3 months ago
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I'm glad no one was hurt......Dog needed to be in his crate or a carseat.
 
ILoveEllensburg
ILoveEllensburg
3 months ago
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What next, drives licenses for dogs?
 
Sharon S.
Sharon S. (sfsanders)
3 months ago
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Don't leave your kids or your pets unattented in the car for any length of time. This man and his dog, and everyone else, was very lucky this time.
 
april8sue
april8sue
3 months ago
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I agree totally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Jill D.
Jill D. (demingj)
3 months ago
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He got lucky this time. Hopefully it is a lesson learned and won't happen again.
 
You're so right in saying they are like kids. I'm glad no one was hurt--and that the owner learned his lesson.
 
Tammy K.
Tammy K. (Tammo)
3 months ago
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Glad to hear the dog is okay. You have to remember they are like kids, where there is a will there is a way. I know my Jack Russell always tries to drive. I sure won't let him alone in the car with it running after this story.
 
Michelle H.
Michelle H. (sinbad90)
3 months ago
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I am glad the dog is okay and no one was harmed. It show accidents can occur quickly.
 
Karen M.
Karen M. (Karemel)
3 months ago
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Thank goodness no one was hurt. Makes it funny in retrospect.
 
JGeb
JGeb
3 months ago
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Wow! What a story! I'm sorry to say it's kind of funny now, knowing that no one was hurt. One lucky dog!! I wonder if the owner had to face any charges?
 
david n.
david n. (shihtzudad)
3 months ago
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i am glad nobody was hurt in this accidential use of a motor vehicle yes things seem funny now but it could have been a lot worse for the dog and any one in the street we must take time to protect our pets if left alone even for one minute as hard as it may be we have a duty to our pets let's try to watch out for them
 
ladydog
ladydog
3 months ago
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Did the dog get arrested for driving without a license?
 
Jasper323
Jasper323 (Jasper323)
3 months ago
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this is funny ... although it could have been serious! Glad no one was hurt!!
 
Hmmm... lucky the truck didn't smash into someone!!! This guy needs to slow down a bit during his route.
 
criscil
criscil
3 months ago
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One more reason why animals should not be left in a vehicle alone. Obviously, he was not seatbelted, either.
 
Nancy  H.
Nancy H. (Nancyhile)
3 months ago
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Pretty amazing that this happened and no one - including the dog - was hurt. Imagine the shock this man felt when he found out what happened...he will not be leaving that dog alone in the truck any time soon!
 
wow, that dog is lucky!
 
Sharon L.
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Max, were you hungry??? The craziest things can happen, wow, someone could
have been killed.
 
Jeanie F.
Jeanie F. (JFulton99)
3 months ago
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This could have had a horrible ending. Don't leave a vehicle running with children or animals.
 
ashley G.
ashley G. (ashgraham)
3 months ago
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Thats like leaving a kid in a running vehicle,big no no!
 
Satana H.
Satana H. (ksatana)
3 months ago
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This isn't funny, but imagining seeing the truck go by with just a dog at the wheel gave me a giggle. I'm so glad everything turned out alright.
 
Jill6Johnson
Jill6Johnson
3 months ago
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Imagine if you were near by and saw this truck being driven by a dog.....haha. Glad he is ok and no major damages were done. Cute story but use a warning that animals should not be left in cars even for a quick trip into a conveince store
 
Lynn C.
Lynn C. (Lynn1)
3 months ago
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Poor Max!! He isn't the first dog to get into trouble in a parked vehicle lately, but he's the only one so far to actually cause the problem! Most of the other dogs have been stolen. Luckily, no one was hurt ~ so maybe a lesson was painlessly learned.
 
Sharon L.
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Yes, these stories tend to help us remember to not do this sort of thing. The strangest accidents can happen.
 
good drivin dog glad he was okay
 
Kim T.
Kim T. (kimboli08)
3 months ago
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That is so cool. Thank goodness the dog didn't get hurt.
 
Kim
Kim (norswl1)
3 months ago
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could have been another pet napping! lucky dog!
 
Wow, someone was looking out for everyone that day.
 
That's a smart dog. I hope the owner has learned his lesson.
 
Another bizarre one.
 
martin s.
martin s. (marty6464)
4 months ago
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phrase of the day-- irresponsible owners
 
2koolkittys
2koolkittys
4 months ago
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I hate to see dogs left alone in cars and here is a perfect example of never knowing what might happen! Glad the dog is ok and that no one got hurt.
 
Alex J.
Alex J. (roadisland49)
4 months ago
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I hve never heard something like that!!!!weird!!!!! very weird!!!!!!!!
 
berniem
berniem
4 months ago
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this is why you don't leave your dog in a car alone. thank goodness he wasn't hurt
 
Jim  S.
Jim S. (lear08)
4 months ago
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Thats a lucky dog, glad it was OK.
 
jdarunner
jdarunner
4 months ago
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wow........that dog must've wanted something.........otherwise he probably wouldn't have drove the car.
 
LoriHill123
LoriHill123
4 months ago
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glad everything worked out
 
Denise A.
Denise A. (denisealex)
4 months ago
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What an amazing story. Luck was on everyone's side! Glad to hear no one was hurt!
 
loosey
loosey
4 months ago
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WOW!! That could have had a disastrous ending!!!
 
rszink77
rszink77
4 months ago
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wow
 
Linda S.
Linda S. (lmsund)
4 months ago
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Good argument for using doggie seat belts! They really do keep Fido safe and under control!
 
LynnLucyDoris
LynnLucyDoris
4 months ago
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Sign Max up for drivers ed and let's get him a license! I'd say he was one lucky pup...and his owner was, too.
 
Doglover1111
Doglover1111
4 months ago
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Bewildering
 
loishill
loishill
4 months ago
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Astonishing
 
Cindy Q.
Cindy Q. (cindypurple)
4 months ago
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whoa, I'm surprised the dog didn't get hurt!