RANT! Leaving your dog in a hot car

[ericad]

Here's my first official PS rant

This past weekend, DD and I went to Target to pick up a few things. We parked next to a car with a Golden locked inside. The windows were cracked, but it was over 85 degrees outside and black leather interior, and this doggie was clearly HOT and uncomfortable (no water left for him either!!!) Inside, the car must have been well over 100 degrees.

So we waited 10 minutes, thinking maybe the owner just ran in for a sec. No such luck. So I decided we'd do our shopping and assumed he'd be gone when we came back out. I asked inside if they would make any sort of announcement, and was told that they wouldn't intervene.

So 30 minutes later we go back out and HE WAS STILL THERE! So I waited 10 more minutes then called the police department non-emergency number. The operator was hesitant to assist me, but I told him (politely) that I wouldn't give up so he agreed to dispatch animal control and took all the information. After that, I left a nasty note on the windshield and we had to leave. I never heard back, so not sure if animal control ever came out or what may have happened. Hopefully my note shamed these people enough that they learned a lesson. I doubt it, though.

I swear, if there weren't so many people and cars milling about, I would have grabbed a hanger and busted into the car and taken that dog home with me.

Is there anything else I could have done? How can people be so cruel to their pets? I hope that doggie is ok

 

[Madam Bijoux]

You did all that you could have done. This happens every summer: idiots leave pets and children in boiling hot cars without partly opening any windows, and there are tragedies every summer. There is no getting through to these morons. Dopes spring eternal.

 

[ChloeTheGreat]

Disgusting. I'm a Texan, and it is waaaay too hot here to leave dogs in cars.

In December, I was driving home on the interstate from out of town (where the speed limit is 70 mph) and there was a person driving with their dog in the bed of their truck. It was during a cold front, it had been in the 30's all weekend. The poor dog must have been freezing and scared.

 

[Puppmom]

What idiots! I never understand why people take their dogs to places like that in the first place. I'm pretty sure my dog would rather be at home on the couch!

You really did far more than most people would.

 

[ericad]

Disgusting. I'm a Texan, and it is waaaay too hot here to leave dogs in cars.

In December, I was driving home on the interstate from out of town (where the speed limit is 70 mph) and there was a person driving with their dog in the bed of their truck. It was during a cold front, it had been in the 30's all weekend. The poor dog must have been freezing and scared.

Jeez, that reminded me of this couple DH and I saw last week, on a motorcycle, and the woman was wearing a babier carrier type of thing and had a little dog in it! While flying down the road! And the doggie kept squirming and I thought for sure he was going to jump out into the road (or that she'd let go of the other rider in order to hang on to the dog, and SHE'D go flying off the back of the bike). He was a teeny thing, some sort of teacup dog. Poor baby.

 

[yssie]

cruelty beyond idiocy

 

[Nashville]

You did what you could. Maybe your note will make them think twice about leaving their dog in a hot car again.

 

[bee*]

That makes me so angry to see a poor dog locked in a hot car. You did the best that you can-hopefully they won't do it again after seeing the note.

 

[sctsbride09]

Some people are beyond stupid. You did everything you can, hopefully the poor dog is ok, and his dumb a** owner learned a lesson. Maybe someone should try locking him/her in a car like that when its 100 or so out.

 

[ericad]

LOL, I actually included that in my note! It went something like this:

"It's NEVER ok to leave a dog locked in a hot car! Where is his water? I hope someday someone locks you in a 100+ degree car with black interior for over an hour. I called the cops and they are sending animal control out. I hope you lose your dog - you don't deserve him."

Emotional, yes, but I was nearly in tears writing it, while also trying to take the opportunity to teach my 5 year old daughter about doing the right thing and that when you see something wrong like this, you should always try to do something about it. Several days later she's still asking me about the doggie, if he's ok. I tell her that the police came - may not be true but helps both of us feel better

 

[Kaleigh]

This makes me mad every summer and also the winter. When I saw a dog locked in a hot car, I was in the parking lot of a grocery store. The one I always shop at. I went in, and said does anyone recognize this car?? I called 911 while staying with the dog, and trying to calm him down. In my area, 911 responds to this and takes it seriously..


Again a few winters ago, it was freezing, like below zero. My neighbors left early when it was warmer and left their dog out in the cold. She was howling, and howling. I called the police, and said if they didn't show up soon, I would take her in , because I couldn't look at her crying anymore and suffering...


Animals are so innocent, and when they get abused I really have no words. A dog left in severe heat or severe cold warrants a call to 911.

 

[Steel]

I'm sure that dog was fine.

But dogs do die in hot cars so you were right to call in it.

That said, I would not have left a note like that; simply because I find that stating facts gets more attention that a heartfelt (emotional) note which could be overlooked by the owner as hysteria.

 

[April20]

You did everything you could. Leaving animals in a hot car angers me to no end. It's abuse IMO. It takes such a short amount of time for them to die. Why take them with you if you can't take them in EVERYWHERE you go?? If we have the puplet out with us and we can't take him in, one of us stays in the car with the a/c on.

 

[Brown.Eyed.Girl]

You definitely did the right thing, and definitely more than most people would. I'm so angry at those people.

 

[Puppmom]

Erica, so sad - it must have ruined your day. This is the kind of stuff that makes me lose sleep at night. I just love animals and they're so darn helpless and people are so sucky to them sometimes.

 

[Bleed Burnt Orange]

What idiots! I never understand why people take their dogs to places like that in the first place. I'm pretty sure my dog would rather be at home on the couch!

You really did far more than most people would.

Yeah, I wonder this too! I mean...your dog doesn't HAVE to go the store or to dinner with you. If you want to take him for a drive, drive him/her to the park to play!

 

[stepcutgirl]

You did the right thing Erica! I'm so happy to hear you are teaching your daughter about compassion and doing what is right! I also call the police, but I call 911 because say what you will but in my mind it is a life and death emergency. I'm in South Florida where within 2 minutes of shutting off your engine it is so hot you can't breathe in the car. I have no tolerance for it.

 

[Irishgrrrl]

Erica, thank you for doing what you did for this poor pup. People are such idiots sometimes.

 

[TooPatient]

Our local pet food store has signs posted on their doors warning of the dangers of leaving animals in hot cars. There is also a local number to call if we see an animal locked in a hot car. I talked to the ladies in the store and they said that the people at the number are quick to respond. (I think it is animal control - maybe local office? - or maybe an animal rescue organization)


I've only ever left my dog in a car alone once. It was 60 degrees or so outside and comfortable in the car -- then it was only with the car parked where I could see it from the store and I was in and out in under 5 minutes.

I get that sometimes an unexpected stop comes up when you've got your dog with you, but if it is hot or cold and ANYTIME you'll be gone for more than just a couple of minutes, the dog should be taken home FIRST.
(and by "you", I don't mean the PSers here -- I know that no PSer would ever do such a thing)

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Ugh, how sad.

Also, it DOES NOT MATTER that you cracked a window. It in fact has no effect on how hot your car will get on a summer day. People think it makes a difference and makes it ok, but there was a study done awhile ago and they found it didn't make a difference on how hot the car got inside.

 

[Kaleigh]

Today I was pulling into a space at a little Italian market. I noticed a dog panting. Small dog, and the windows barely cracked. I walked up to the car, the owner came out. He said no problem we are leaving, was only inside for 15 minutes.

I said MY GOD it's 100 degrees out...

Leave your dog at home in the AC... He gave me a humph and drove off.....

-------> This is me!!!!

 

[ericad]

Thanks for all the supportive posts, everyone! At first I was concerned that I was overreacting, but then after the dog was in there for over an hour, and I took the steps above, I have since been concerned that maybe I didn't do enough for him. I regretted not buying a bottle of water and giving him some through the cracked window (and perhaps ruining their leather seats to boot!)

I think I'll do some research about local resources for this type of situation (will ask our vet) and will keep some contact numbers in both our cars so that I can make any necessary calls immediately and know I've taken the right steps.

Steal, I agree that my note was emotional and I could have worded it differently, but to be honest I was so upset that I had difficulty just writing something coherent. I was hoping to shame them into doing the right thing next time. I don't know - I pretty much wrote what I felt. In my daydream version, the owners walked out of the store to their car surrounded by animal control officers and maybe they were fined, or scared straight in some other way. In reality, maybe animal control never came, or the owner was gone when they arrived. It really did spoil the rest of my day.

Luckily I have never come across a similar situation but with a child left in a car. That would send me over the edge (as in, Erica grabs the nearest rock, busts through the window, steals the baby and runs for the border).

 

[lulu]

Good for you! And I liked your note.

 

[Irishgrrrl]

Today I was pulling into a space at a little Italian market. I noticed a dog panting. Small dog, and the windows barely cracked. I walked up to the car, the owner came out. He said no problem we are leaving, was only inside for 15 minutes.

I said MY GOD it's 100 degrees out...

Leave your dog at home in the AC... He gave me a humph and drove off.....

-------> This is me!!!!

OMG, Kaleigh!!! Seriously?!?! WTF is WRONG with people?!?! I love how he said he "was only inside for 15 minutes." Only?!?! It's freakin' 100 DEGREES, jackass!!!!!!!

 

[Kaleigh]

Today I was pulling into a space at a little Italian market. I noticed a dog panting. Small dog, and the windows barely cracked. I walked up to the car, the owner came out. He said no problem we are leaving, was only inside for 15 minutes.

I said MY GOD it's 100 degrees out...

Leave your dog at home in the AC... He gave me a humph and drove off.....

-------> This is me!!!!

OMG, Kaleigh!!! Seriously?!?! WTF is WRONG with people?!?! I love how he said he "was only inside for 15 minutes." Only?!?! It's freakin' 100 DEGREES, jackass!!!!!!!

I KNOW RIGHT???? I just told my husband who is away.. He was disgusted.. I have a zero tolerance for this... And I mean ZERO.

15 minutes?? Like that was OK??

I said it was 100 degrees, but the heat index was more like 108....

We see this a lot in FLA too... Kills me.

Dogs left out and are chained to a tree.... In such heat. I am not there during the summer, but am there on and off from fall till the spring... So If I see it then, you know it happens during the summer.


I am such an animal lover.


I think that's why my Casper is 16, and that bird is 14...

 

[4ceRunner]

All the books say that if you have to leave your pet in the car the cutoff for that is 60 degrees. At 60 you should still leave plenty of water and and crack the windows. Anything over that temperature and you are supposed to leave the pet at home where it has air conditioning.

What really frustrates me is when people leave their pets in the car while they go and have a sit down dinner, which nowadays can take over an hour. Ridiculous. Some people just should not own pets.

 

[Irishgrrrl]

Today I was pulling into a space at a little Italian market. I noticed a dog panting. Small dog, and the windows barely cracked. I walked up to the car, the owner came out. He said no problem we are leaving, was only inside for 15 minutes.

I said MY GOD it's 100 degrees out...

Leave your dog at home in the AC... He gave me a humph and drove off.....

-------> This is me!!!!

OMG, Kaleigh!!! Seriously?!?! WTF is WRONG with people?!?! I love how he said he "was only inside for 15 minutes." Only?!?! It's freakin' 100 DEGREES, jackass!!!!!!!

I KNOW RIGHT???? I just told my husband who is away.. He was disgusted.. I have a zero tolerance for this... And I mean ZERO.

15 minutes?? Like that was OK??

I said it was 100 degrees, but the heat index was more like 108....

We see this a lot in FLA too... Kills me.

Dogs left out and are chained to a tree.... In such heat. I am not there during the summer, but am there on and off from fall till the spring... So If I see it then, you know it happens during the summer.


I am such an animal lover.


I think that's why my Casper is 16, and that bird is 14...

Wow! The fact that people do this in FL just completely boggles my mind! It's bad enough to leave your dog in the car anywhere else, but in FLORIDA?!?! Ugh!!! My parents live in Fort Myers, and if we ever saw that when we were down there visiting, I think I'd have to bust the car window and rescue the poor thing! And I would just DARE the owner to make a big stink about his broken car window!!!

 

[Hera]

What is too hot-80, 85, 90, degrees? Should we call animal control? Tell the store? Are there rules around this sort of thing? I want to do something next time I see this happening.

 

[Irishgrrrl]

What is too hot-80, 85, 90, degrees? Should we call animal control? Tell the store? Are there rules around this sort of thing? I want to do something next time I see this happening.

Good for you, Hera! Here's some reading for you: http://www.mydogiscool.com/index.php