colleague leaves a dog in car, what would you do?

[Hugo a Gogo]

I'm not going to smash any windows

his car is over at the other end of the car park today, but I could see the windows were open again, so the dog is there again

not much shade, a couple of small trees only

[Perec]

xstian said:

I'm a self employed sparky and I take my dog to work most days. He often has to stay in the van for a couple of hours on his own. I open the window and he's as happy as Larry. He loves coming to work. But, I wouldn't do this in the summer time. Even though he like the sun (he often wonders into the green house in the summer to have a kip).

The op said it was maybe 15 degree's. So not that hot, especially if the car was in the shade. He says the dog was barking, which is hardly the sign of a dog that was about to die of heat exhaustion.

So people take a deep breath and get of your high horse. Maybe a more reasonable solution (and normal), would be to have a chat to the guy about his dog. Then you can casually bring up the dog in the car and see what he has to say about it. This would stop you looking like a crazed maniac that has been out in the sun to long, and stop you getting in trouble with the law for smashing car window's.

Get a grip!

I have a gun dog who used to go everywhere in the back of the car. He wanted to be involved with EVERYTHING. On too many occasions I found notes on the car telling me not to leave the dog in the car when the sun was shining. On several occasions I was called back to the car over a PA system because the dog was "dying".

On one occasion an animal welfare bod showed up, decided that the dog was at no risk and politely explained the same to the concerned member of the public. The woman was aghast, "bbbbbut there's a dog... in a car... and the sun is out".

Despite the fact that my dog has never been put at risk, the outrage from the public has meant that he almost never comes with me anymore. Has his welfare been improved as a result?

The problem is every member of the public is a dog expert, dogs are cute and if a dog is in a car, when it isn't raining, said dog is in the throes of a slow and painful death right? Happily this is not usually the case.

[parakitaMol.]

Pathetic 'this one time my dog was didn't die so it's ok' ignorance.

There are always people who think it's OK for them. The same people who text when driving because they think they are better drivers than everyone else. Self-important prats.

It's not ok, and you are an ignorant if you put your dog (who you say you love) through ANY needless discomfort or risk.

As for forum ttwittery insults. Fill your boots. Couldn't give less of a st, quite frankly.

[xstian]

parakitaMol. said:

Pathetic 'this one time my dog was didn't die so it's ok' ignorance.

There are always people who think it's OK for them. The same people who text when driving because they think they are better drivers than everyone else. Self-important prats.

It's not ok, and you are an ignorant if you put your dog (who you say you love) through ANY needless discomfort or risk.

As for forum ttwittery insults. Fill your boots. Couldn't give less of a st, quite frankly.

What?

[User33678888]

A bit of common sense would be nice here. Two hours in the car with a slightly open window most of the year in this country is absolutely fine. Leaving the dog in a car all day parked in the sun on the hottest day of the year clearly is not. Does it really need spelling out? FFS

[Mr Pies]

Jesus H, you have to ask on a forum what to do? Simple anonymous phone call to RSPCA. Job done.

[bexVN]

Wait until you have dealt with the devastating effects of a heatstroke dog due to such circumstances and then you wouldn't think it was ok to leave a dog in a car, even in spring the temp in a car can escalate rapidly as soon as the sun is out.

Unless you can guarantee the car stays in shade where you take your dog and you can ALL windows open to enable a cross breeze and a bowl of water dogs should not stay in cars. Not only that dog theft from cars happens as well.

Barking can be a sign of distress, so this can't be assumed to be a sign that the dog is fine.

[scdan4]

bexVN said:

Unless you can guarantee the car stays in shade where you take your dog and you can ALL windows open to enable a cross breeze and a bowl of water dogs should not stay in cars. Not only that dog theft from cars happens as well.

Or read a weather forecast.

Ours stops in the car in most weathers. If it is roasting we'll leave her at home in the garden, otherwise she is far happier in the car.

OP, if it worries you why not ask him, nicely, if he is sure the dog is ok as it is causing you concern?

Edited by scdan4 on Wednesday 15th May 10:10

[bexVN]

scdan4 said:

bexVN said:

Unless you can guarantee the car stays in shade where you take your dog and you can ALL windows open to enable a cross breeze and a bowl of water dogs should not stay in cars. Not only that dog theft from cars happens as well.

Or read a weather forecast.

Ours stops in the car in most weathers. If it is roasting we'll leave her at home in the garden, otherwise she is far happier in the car.

OP, if it worries you why not ask him, nicely, if he is sure the dog is ok as it is causing you concern?

Edited by scdan4 on Wednesday 15th May 10:10

The trouble is that it does not have to be a roasting day for a dog to get in trouble in a car. We've had dogs in with heatstroke due that very reason.

[yellowjack]

bexVN said:

..[snip]...Not only that, dog theft from cars happens as well...[/snip]..

Just ask Brucie and his daughter how that feels!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-385830/Sto...

"Nice to see you, to see you... ...Oh! They've gone. Poliiiiiiice! BBC!"


Or, here's a novel idea. If you can't be at home with the dog, and you can't take the dog into work with you, do the dog a favour - don't have a dog. Simple. It's what I've done. Owning a dog would be better for me, and enrich my life. Abandoning a dog to a lonely existence during the working day is plain wrong. Doing that kind of thing to a human would constitute "cruel and unusual punishment" and would rightly be frowned upon. Just why are so many 'loving owners' so damned selfish?

[spikey78]

[Spiffing]

I do obedience and agility shows and the car is cooler than it is outside. I ensure that all windows are covered with reflective covers as soon as I park, what ever the weather, water is available and have a tailgate guard which means I can leave the boot open and the dog cannot get out and people cannot get in as I lock it and also have an extra padlock and hang a muzzle from the tailgate which acts as an extra deterrent.

Suggest that if he does have to leave the dog in the car he at least covers the car with sheets (ideally reflective, but old bed sheets work as well) and if it is going to be an on going thing I would strongly suggest something like this. I got mine from K9 cages and cannot fault it at all, It also protects the dog far better than a tailgate would.

Edited by Spiffing on Saturday 8th June 22:50