Dad leaves 4-month-old baby, 2-year-old in car while he drinks at pub (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)

It used to be that moms were the ones accused in basic neglect cases like this. Now, as more and more dads are doing "childcare," we are seeing more and more dads like UNNAMED DAD, who left his kids (a 4-month-old baby and a 2-year-old!) in the car while he was at the pub. In fact, the fathers are proving to be much worse. Note mention of an earlier case, where a Canadian father left his child in the van while he was at the casino (we've posted on that case before). So did this guy have babysitting duty while mom was working? Or custody/visitation?

http://www.canada.com/infant+toddler+found+locked/1854503/story.html

B.C. infant, toddler found locked in car


Canwest News Service

August 2, 2009


ABBOTSFORD, B.C. - An infant and toddler were found locked in a parked car in B.C. early Saturday morning, after their father was seen drinking at a pub, say police.

Police were called to the Abbotsford Agrifair's temporary pub, The Fat Pig Saloon, around 12:30 a.m. by a distraught woman who'd overheard a man say he had to check on his kids, whom he'd left in the car.

Police followed the father, a 26-year-old Abbotsford resident, to his vehicle, where they found two children aged four months and two years - distressed, soiled and dehydrated - locked in the car with the windows rolled up.

The children were taken to hospital, where they were in stable condition.

Police did not know the whereabouts of the children's mother or how long they'd been locked in the car.

The Ministry for Children and Families has taken them into their care, as the police investigation continues.

Abbotsford is east of Vancouver.

Last month, a Calgary father admitted to leaving his toddler alone in a frigid minivan outside a city casino while he gambled inside for two hours in March.

The 51-year-old man pleaded guilty to causing the child to require protection under the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act. He still faces a criminal charge of abandoning a child.

A passerby heard the 21-month child crying inside the unheated vehicle; its windows obscured by a blanket and stuffed animals.

The outside temperature was -9 C, and the boy was wearing only a thin sweater and a light pair of pants, court heard.
Vancouver Province