Cops called on me: dog left in car

[john70t]

Went to the dog park earlier. Dog ran and drank cold water.
It was hot today admittedly. About 90deg but it didn't feel like it.

After that I had to go across town to the box store for supplies. Drove with the a/c on high for about 30 minutes. He kept panting.
I stopped at the gas station, got an iced coffee and tried to give him ice about three times.
Dog didn't want any ice cubes.
I left a few cubes on the towel and went inside the store.
Dog was barking furiously as I left because he is a demanding pain in the rump sometimes.

Light-colored car.
All windows were left open. 1/4 in front and 1/3rd in back.
Sun was almost setting over the store. A truck partially shaded mine.
Breeze was blowing across the parking lot.
Conditions were the same as if dog were left outside under a tree.

I was inside about 20-25 min tops getting one item and waiting on cashiers.
Too long admittedly.

Went outside, and some 6'3 guy standing near my car started questioning me.
I thanked him for his concerns but he wouldn't take that for an answer and kept edging forward. I finally had to back him up a foot.
I went inside the car and there was no temperature difference to the outside. Zero.
I offered to show the guy but he declined.

K-9 unit shows up. The officer is ready to check store security cams and write me up a ticket. Or worse.
He was pleasant but firm and repeating. I totally agreed in principle.
He took my info and put me on 'the list'.

On the way home there was a bad accident on the freeway so I altered course.
Going through side streets, some three year old girl was wandering alone across a larger intersection while dad was 75 yards away.

This was a slight lapse of judgement, but I guess I'll have to leave the dog locked up at home from now on throughout the entire day.
Much more humane. And legal...

[Baz]

Mine stay home in the AC while I go out and work in the heat.

Heat wave here in Florida right now...temps approaching records.....yet people taking their dogs for walks in middle of the afternoon - asphalt....dump azz selfish humans.....

[SoCal911T]

Originally Posted by john70t

This was a slight lapse of judgement.

I'm not a dog person but leaving your pet in a car in July for a half hour seems more than 'slight'.

[wdfifteen]

20-25 minutes in a car alone is too long.

[rusnak]

I think my Porsche is on the same "list".

I was donating 100 lbs of dog food to the local SPCA shelter. I somehow fit 2 50 lbs bags of Purina Dog Chow into my 911 and was inside their freaking building trying to give them the food when over the loudspeaker some bizzo cackles: "The person driving the GUN METAL BLUE Porsche - your dog is left in your car and we can break your windows to let it out".

I was like: "really. Try it. My dog will bite your face off. And which window, the windshield or the rear window, because the windows are wide open. As in all the way open".

I told them that I would not be donating any more dog food to their collective ungrateful ass. The hippie lady behind the counter told me that I'm making the dogs suffer because of it. I told her that she's making my eyes suffer from looking at her and all of humanity is suffering because of her inability to act like one, rather than some sort of robot.

And by the way, it was probably around Feb March, so 65F outside ambient temps.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by john70t

Went to the dog park earlier. Dog ran and drank cold water.
It was hot today admittedly. About 90deg but it didn't feel like it.

After that I had to go across town to the box store for supplies. Drove with the a/c on high for about 30 minutes. He kept panting.
I stopped at the gas station, got an iced coffee and tried to give him ice about three times.
Dog didn't want any ice cubes.
I left a few cubes on the towel and went inside the store.
Dog was barking furiously as I left because he is a demanding pain in the rump sometimes.

Light-colored car.
All windows were left open. 1/4 in front and 1/3rd in back.
Sun was almost setting over the store. A truck partially shaded mine.
Breeze was blowing across the parking lot.
Conditions were the same as if dog were left outside under a tree.

I was inside about 20-25 min tops getting one item and waiting on cashiers.
Too long admittedly.

Went outside, and some 6'3 guy standing near my car started questioning me.
I thanked him for his concerns but he wouldn't take that for an answer and kept edging forward. I finally had to back him up a foot.
I went inside the car and there was no temperature difference to the outside. Zero.
I offered to show the guy but he declined.

K-9 unit shows up. The officer is ready to check store security cams and write me up a ticket. Or worse.
He was pleasant but firm and repeating. I totally agreed in principle.
He took my info and put me on 'the list'.

On the way home there was a bad accident on the freeway so I altered course.
Going through side streets, some three year old girl was wandering alone across a larger intersection while dad was 75 yards away.

This was a slight lapse of judgement, but I guess I'll have to leave the dog locked up at home from now on throughout the entire day.
Much more humane. And legal...

Based on your description (Sun down, car in shade, windows open), I think you were OK. I'm a huge dog person (well, maybe not quite as big as Baz, but pretty close. I check the streets and sidewalks when I take my dogs for a walk to make sure they aren't too hot. My dogs are inside dogs. My dogs are part of my family.

[Craig T]

You will not get sympathy from me. How hard is it to take the dog home before you run your errands?

Baz is right about mid-day walks to. If the asphalt or concrete is too hot for us to walk on barefooted, then it's too hot for a dog. Their paws are tougher to rocks and gravel, but very heat sensitive.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by rusnak

I think my Porsche is on the same "list".

I was donating 100 lbs of dog food to the local SPCA shelter. I somehow fit 2 50 lbs bags of Purina Dog Chow into my 911 and was inside their freaking building trying to give them the food when over the loudspeaker some bizzo cackles: "The person driving the GUN METAL BLUE Porsche - your dog is left in your car and we can break your windows to let it out".

I was like: "really. Try it. My dog will bite your face off. And which window, the windshield or the rear window, because the windows are wide open. As in all the way open".

I told them that I would not be donating any more dog food to their collective ungrateful ass. The hippie lady behind the counter told me that I'm making the dogs suffer because of it. I told her that she's making my eyes suffer from looking at her and all of humanity is suffering because of her inability to act like one, rather than some sort of robot.

And by the way, it was probably around Feb March, so 65F outside ambient temps.

If your story is accurate, which I believe it is, you were dealing with a relative of the guy that was holding the rail road crossing gate up.

[SoCal911T]

Originally Posted by rusnak

"The person driving the GUN METAL BLUE Porsche - your dog is left in your car and we can break your windows to let it out".The hippie lady behind the counter told me that I'm making the dogs suffer because of it.

I'm impressed the hippies singled out your car as "GUN METAL BLUE". Was that to avoid confusion with all the other Porsche owners that were donating food that day?

[island911]

The world is full of people just waiting to be offended, by something.

[john70t]

Originally Posted by Craig T

You will not get sympathy from me. How hard is it to take the dog home before you run your errands?

You are correct, and it was stupid on my part.
I was a bit wound up for a bit there.
I agreed with the 'concerned citizens' (except the parking lot fistfight part) and perhaps am now just in denial.

My point was conditions were about the same as any dog left outside under a tree.

[island911]

Originally Posted by john70t

....
K-9 unit shows up. .....

So, a dog in a car shows up for a complaint about a dog in a car.

That's right up there with getting a no-seatbelt ticket from a cop on a motorcycle.

[Red88Carrera]

There is a simple answer...

Would you leave your infant child in a car in that situation?
Treat your 4-legged friends with the same kindness and thoughtfulness. They are just as helpless and needy as an infant.

No sympathy here...

[LEAKYSEALS951]

20-25 minutes is asking for trouble, but in the long run- don't be to hard on yourself. My wife leaves ME and our DAUGHTER in the car for 45 minute shopping trips minimum!

(Nobody comes running to save us!)

...editors note- I listed "ME" before my "Daughter" (while grammatically incorrect) to signify that my wife doesn't leave my daughter by herself in the car so nobody feels compelled to call child protective services.... and such is the crux of the matter. Today's society, it's not a good idea to leave anything inside a car (well- maybe except a husband) for any length of time whatsoever!

[Red88Carrera]

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

Don't be to hard on yourself. My wife leave ME and our DAUGHTER in the car for 45 minute shopping trips minimum!

(Nobody comes running to save us!)

...editors note- I listed "ME" before my "Daughter" (while grammatically incorrect) to signify that my wife doesn't leave my daughter by herself in the car so nobody feels compelled to call child protective services.... and such is the crux of the matter. Today's society, it's not a good idea to leave anything inside a car (well- maybe except a husband).

You can make light of the situation, until it turns out badly. You guys that want to make him feel it was OK to do what he did are only giving him a sense of approval about his poor decision. This is another way bad things are allowed to happen...

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Originally Posted by Red88Carrera

You can make light of the situation, until it turns out badly. You guys that want to make him feel it was OK to do what he did are only giving him a sense of approval about his poor decision. This is another way bad things are allowed to happen...

I agree- I think the time is too long, but he felt the temps were not an issue. I wasnt there- however- I think he gets the picture. Last night, my daughter opened the rear door of the car while we are driving at 30 mph. She also know how to open her seat belt. The two of these things together could have been lethal. In short- while I forgot to disable the doors on that car- I am still a little stunned it could have cost a lot more.

I think he gets the picture.

[Red88Carrera]

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

I think he gets the picture. Last night, my daughter opened the rear door of the car while we are driving at 30 mph. She also know how to open her seat belt. The two of these things together could have been lethal. In short- while I forgot to disable the doors on that car- I am still a little stunned it could have cost a lot more.

I think he gets the picture.

I agree. No need to soften the edges though...

[Baz]

Originally Posted by Red88Carrera

There is a simple answer...

Would you leave your infant child in a car in that situation?
Treat your 4-legged friends with the same kindness and thoughtfulness. They are just as helpless and needy as an infant.

No sympathy here...

Exactly....spot on. Thank you....

[Baz]

Most responsible dog owners also know that dogs cannot process heat by sweating, like humans can. So you cannot think that if it's OK for a human...it's OK for a dog. It doesn't work that way.

Like Don said...treat your babies.......like your babies...because they are.....

[rusnak]

Originally Posted by SoCal911T

I'm impressed the hippies singled out your car as "GUN METAL BLUE". Was that to avoid confusion with all the other Porsche owners that were donating food that day?

Right?!! They didn't say the car with the adorable Cockapoo or something nice. They went right for the "gun" card.