Dogs in cars

[mike001]

I agree, there is no cure for stupid. Leaving the a/c on is not an excuse to leave a dog in a car...anything could happen, like was posted, or you could be detained for some reason. What if you had a heart attack and were hauled away in an ambulance? What would happen to the dogs when no one showed up for hours? The a/c could stop workin, the car could run out of gas, etc. I would thank anyone who did something to remind me of my stupidity if ever I pulled a stunt as stupid as that....I surely wouldn't prosecute.

[mr.chiwawa]

Maybe not but i should as hell would be pissed off to find a super sticky sticker on my jeep and i would call the police and file a claim. However on the same hand I would not leave my chi in the jeep if he cant go in with me guess what HE DOESN'T GO AT ALL !!!!!!!! And the comment of leaving the dog in the AC on the way home from the vet well that in itself is stupid and if I were to see that I would call the police as I wouldn't know how long/short the dog has been left in there regardless if the ac is one which means your car is left running with doors unlocked correct? So then thus same person who does this would be BULLS*** if someone came along and stole your car with dog inside. People need to THINK THINGS THROUGH THINK OF ALL THE POSSIBILTIES THAT COULD GO WRONG NOT JUST ONE. WHY IS IT NOT OK TO LEAVE A BABY OR A CHILD IN THE CAR WITH THE AC ONE FOR 2-3 MINTUES BUT IT IS OK TO LEAVE A DOG?

[luvofallhorses]

You should call the police. It's animal cruelty and prosecutable, at least here.

I agree with Karen. nobody brings their dogs in the heat anywhere here unattended. we usually don't let the dogs go for car rides until it's way cooler in the evening and they usually don't get to go out and play until the evening, they just get potty breaks.

and with all the smoke we've been having from fires, it's too risky to have the dogs out in the heat, let alone the smoke. I would definately call the police because it IS animal cruelty and unacceptable.

[Lady's Human]

Okay, I NEVER said anything about leaving the vehicle running with the A/C on. What I stated was that the vehicle was cool inside as the A/C HAD been on.

While I'm clarifying things here, it is NOT a 5 minute trip to anywhere from here. To go up into town to get the aforementioned gallon of milk takes 20-25 minutes. That being the case, if we need something quick, and Lady is with me as we went wherever, even just on a ride for the heck of it, it's getting picked up on the way home. The chances of my getting detained/delayed inside a store are slim to none.

If I had a heart attack, and no one else was with me, would it REALLY matter where I was with the dog? You can come up with what if scenarios for damned near anything. If you're that worried about what if, it must be tough to leave the house in the morning.

[Jessika]

While I agree with the notion, I don't necessarily agree with the course of action.

I feel it would be better to leave a leaflet or a note under their windshield wiper and then call the local authorities. I see Lady's Human's point and do agree to an extent.

I agree 100% about your notion, but maybe just not about the stickers. I think it's a good idea, just maybe not the best way to go about doing it. While they may be breaking the law, you never know that one person could pin you for vandalism, and unfortunately that would probably get more attention and you'd get in a lot of trouble. Just leaving a sticker and going about your business will annoy the person, but chances are they won't learn anything from the experience. Calling the cops is a much better way of handling it, I think, because even if they don't think it's a "big deal" to leave their pets in an unattended car in the heat, I'm sure most people don't want to get into any legal trouble and will probably learn some sort of lesson, if not think twice before doing it the next time. And also, there's no way that you can be legally in trouble for anything (vandalism, etc).

I know here if I were to do something like that, even if the dogs were suffering, if the cops were called and both parties were present (myself and the owners of the dogs) I know that they would get a slap on the wrist and I would get a fine for vandalism. It's sad, but unfortunately that's just how it would happen here.

That having been said, yes, I have left my dogs in the cars with windows cracked while I ran inside a store or did whatever. I would never do it in a heat wave, even for a minuite, and I would be smart about it. But I don't think when I do it it would be considered "animal cruelty" or "neglect". So yes, I do it, have done it, and will continue to do so, but at the same time if I know I'm going to be making a couple of stops along the way and it's super hot out then I won't bring my dogs. Period.

However on kind of the same note, I have a word document saved on my comp for when we have visitors staying in our apartment complex that don't know how to park... Every time I come home to work to find there aren't any available parking spots because some IDIOTS don't know how to park properly, I run upstairs, print a few off, and slap them under their wipers...

[caseysmom]

Okay, I NEVER said anything about leaving the vehicle running with the A/C on. What I stated was that the vehicle was cool inside as the A/C HAD been on.

While I'm clarifying things here, it is NOT a 5 minute trip to anywhere from here. To go up into town to get the aforementioned gallon of milk takes 20-25 minutes. That being the case, if we need something quick, and Lady is with me as we went wherever, even just on a ride for the heck of it, it's getting picked up on the way home. The chances of my getting detained/delayed inside a store are slim to none.

If I had a heart attack, and no one else was with me, would it REALLY matter where I was with the dog? You can come up with what if scenarios for damned near anything. If you're that worried about what if, it must be tough to leave the house in the morning.

I don't really think you need to explain yourself anyone on here that knows you at all knows you are careful with lady.

[Catlady711]

While I am a cat owner not a dog owner, I do have some cats that like to travel with me. I go with the theory that I don't leave my animals in a car any longer than I'D like to be left in a car.

I have taken Pooky and Dusty before with me and have had to stop for a very short stop (usually a very quick potty break) on the way in the summertime (2-5 minutes max, parked in the shade). I only crack the windows a very tiny bit (so not to let the cool air out) and I run my A/C on MAX up until I have to make my stop (to the point I'm almost freezing) so the car is good and cold and never take long enough at a stop that I'D be uncomfortable with staying in the vehicle myself.

If it's too hot for me to sit in the car without A/C for a few minutes, it's too hot for my pets!

The few stops I've had to make with the cats the car was not even stuffy when I got back in and I was perfectly comfortable checking on the cats and getting my things together before starting the car and getting the A/C going again without sweating.

While it's not possible for a common passerby to know that if they were to have walked by and saw my cats, it would be obvious from looking at them that they were not in any kind of distress or panting in any way. Even if they pried my doors open (which they wouldn't have time to do before I got back) they would find a comfortably cool car, cool fur and cool foot/nose pads.

I would never subject my cats to anything I wouldn't tolerate myself.

[Pawsitive Thinking]

Let me get this straight........

If I go into a store for a couple minutes to get, for instance, a gallon of milk, and leave Lady in the truck, which has had the A/C running, and is fairly cool, you feel that it is alright to vandalize my truck?

Sorry, I'd press charges in a heartbeat.

A teeny sticker is hardly vandalism is it - and compared to the suffering of an innocent dog I think you are over reacting a bit.

I'm not stupid enough to think that a sticker will save the dog - the main aim of those is to inconvenience the dumb owner. My first priority would be to either trace that particular cretin or call the RSPCA.

I am sending a letter to the local newspaper to highlight the issue too

[Lady's Human]

No, I'm not overreacting. There are some things that I just don't appreciate people playing games with, and I'm not alone in that regard.

If I don't remove it, it's an obstruction to my forward vision, hence it is illegal. Rather than waiting for the police to pull me over for driving an unsafe vehicle, I'm going to call them and ask them to find out who put it there.

[Pawsitive Thinking]

No, I'm not overreacting. There are some things that I just don't appreciate people playing games with, and I'm not alone in that regard.

If I don't remove it, it's an obstruction to my forward vision, hence it is illegal. Rather than waiting for the police to pull me over for driving an unsafe vehicle, I'm going to call them and ask them to find out who put it there.

Its a tiny sticker - 4.5cms x 5cms, easy to remove but the idea is that the action will make the driver stop and think about what could have happened to their dog.

[Grace]

And while we sit here debating the merits of calling the police, over in another forum THIS is being discussed!

[Pawsitive Thinking]

And while we sit here debating the merits of calling the police, over in another forum THIS is being discussed!

Oh for crying out loud!! The police would be my 3rd choice of call - in my experience they couldn't find their own backsides even if they had a map

[chocolatepuppy]

No, I'm not overreacting. There are some things that I just don't appreciate people playing games with, and I'm not alone in that regard.

I too, would be very angry if someone stuck a sticker on my truck window.

Its a tiny sticker - 4.5cms x 5cms, easy to remove but the idea is that the action will make the driver stop and think about what could have happened to their dog.

While your intentions are good Densie, I doubt an idiot (who left their dog in a hot car)would pay any attention to that warning.

[Pawsitive Thinking]

Okay, I give up the thread of this post appears to have got lost over whether or not a sticker should be used.

I will throw them away but won't hesitate to go to the aid of a dog in distress and urge you all to do the same

[pitc9]

Don't give up Denise!!

If someone is heartless enough to leave their dog in their car for too long and you can see that it's in distress they deserves to have a little sticky stuff left on their windshield after peeling the sticker off!