Actress Beals criticized for leaving dog in car in Canada

Actress Jennifer Beals is defending herself as a loving and “discerning” dog owner after she was captured by a TV reporter briefly leaving her dog inside a vehicle on a warm day here.

A Global News reporter filmed the “Flashdance” star returning to her car Wednesday, showing her large dog inside with the windows partially opened.

When she returned to her car, a passer-by confronted her and the actress replied: “It’s fine. Thank you.”

Beals said in a statement Thursday that she loves dogs and it was a “cool” 73 degrees. She says she left the car briefly to pick up laundry.

Marcie Moriarty, an enforcement officer with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said the organization is not investigating Beals.

This story was originally published August 7, 2015 at 11:17 AM with the headline "Actress Beals criticized for leaving dog in car in Canada."