Dogs left in Cars....

[laurajetter]

Why is it cruel?

He likes watching the people and stuff more than being locked in his crate at home. I guess I feel meaner leaving him at home in his crate where there is nothing to watch or smell. (He likes to put his nose out the window and sniff the air)

I guess, ideally, he would not be left in the car and would be with us 24 hours a day, but that is not realistic. I have to go to the mall/restaurants sometime. My choices are to leave him home in his crate (if it is raining outside) or bring him with, where I can let him have little potty breaks in between errands where he likes to sniff and take little walks. He gets to at least spend SOME time with us.

I don't think I've left him for more than about 45 minutes....and again, it is wintertime, overcast and the mall has skylights so I can see if the sun comes out.

And it is NOT hot...the weather is like 40 degrees outside, and with the windows down, it is not more than 50 in the car. I have a thermometer inside the car just so I can check and make sure it does not get hot.

If the temperature outside is over 55, I would not do it except for a quick run into the post office or something.

You're fine. You obviously are using common sense, and know how to avoid putting your dog at risk. Some dogs just love outings!

 

[Bob Slydell]

Hey -- someone's gotta guard the kids, right?

 

[FSUGrad97]

I don't live in Florida...I live in Washington(sun does not shine much)...my friend that was shocked lives in Florida where he says there is a law. He was shocked there was no law here.

I realize that you are from Washington - I was just trying to give you some insight from someone else from Florida about your friend's reaction.

 

[luvwinnie]

Hey -- someone's gotta guard the kids, right?

 

[NMAmy]

Hey -- someone's gotta guard the kids, right?

Oh, you. You had to say it, didn't you?

 

[Bob Slydell]

Oh, you. You had to say it, didn't you?

Sometimes, it's just too easy, though.

 

[In a hurry]

Hey -- someone's gotta guard the kids, right?

I was sitting here thinking that I wouldn't leave my dog in the car any longer than I would my daughter...but figured that might backfire!

 

[FreshTressa]

Not sure, but she doesn't stay in the yard alone either, plus it's a 6 foot vinyl fence which is always locked. I've heard too many stories of bulldogs being stolen.

Yup...that is what happens with exclusive type dogs. So sad.

My dog is a fairly "rare" breed, but I don't think anyone would think he was anything but a mutt, lol.

It is still a risk though. People take dogs for all kinds of reasons.

 

[laurajetter]

I don't live in Florida...I live in Washington(sun does not shine much)...my friend that was shocked lives in Florida where he says there is a law. He was shocked there was no law here.

It's funny how things are in different places. When we visited the extremely small town of Gardiner, Montana above the northern entrance to Yellowstone, people would leave their dogs outside grocery/convenience stores while they shopped, UNLEASHED. We were amazed at how well behaved the dogs were, they would just sit there, very politely, until their owners came back out.

It wasn't like a ton of dogs everywhere, but we noticed it on several occasions by different people. No one seemed to bother the dogs, and the dogs didn't bother anyone either. I'm sure in such a small, remote town everyone knows everyone, and it just seemed like a neat little place to live.

Obviously, this situation would probably never work in most places, I just thought it was funny how different things can be in differing areas.

Laura

 

[Aimeedyan]

I have left my boys in the car alone a few times but never for more than 5 minutes. AND I was a nervous wreck the entire time! I was so afraid they were upset, barking, anxious, etc. I would never leave the windows down where someone else could get to them - that makes me very nervous as there are some sick people out there. I only do it in certain circumstances and cold weather; they are just happier at home for long periods of time.

I think it's the law in many places because some people don't have common sense and WILL leave their animal, in a locked car, when it's 100 degrees outside for an hour. Just like there are people that leave their child out there... =(

 

[luvwinnie]

Yup...that is what happens with exclusive type dogs. So sad.

My dog is a fairly "rare" breed, but I don't think anyone would think he was anything but a mutt, lol.

It is still a risk though. People take dogs for all kinds of reasons.

he's adorable!

 

[FreshTressa]

Where I grew up (also in Montana) the dogs would roam free in the streets in packs during the afternoon. They would come home at night to eat and sleep and if you called, your dog would come.

Very surreal to think about! I remember my dog's "pack"....there was a boston terrier, a chesepeake bay, a german shepherd, some tiny dog and a lab mix.

They were so motley it was hilarious. We knew who each and every dog we saw belonged to. They pooped everywhere, but no one had 'yards' as such because each house had so much land....you would never step in poo, cuz they usually pood way out somewhere.

VERY different, lol. It is still like that there, not not quite as bad. Now, the dogs usually just sit nicely outside the store, like you described, rather than run in packs.

I would be terrified now that I have kids that they would be bitten/attacked. Funny...I don't remember that actually happening to anyone when I was little, but I do remember one pack attacked a bunch of baby sheep adn the farmer was MAD. They wound up putting the dogs to sleep. I guess it is not safe in a farming community to have animals that are aggressive towards livestock.

Hehe, just telling this story makes me glad my parents moved here back when I was 10!

 

[Marseeya]

I don't think there's a law to that effect here, but we have called the police before. We went to the mall one time in the middle of August and there was a dog locked in a car with the windows just cracked. The dog really looked miserable. We stuck around for a few minutes to make sure the owners weren't just running right in and right back out, but they were nowhere in sight.

We had to leave, so I'm not sure what happened after the police showed up.

IMO, I think you can do it within reason. I'd never leave my dog longer than a few minutes and NEVER when the temperature is over 50 or so. She doesn't go in the car much anyway because she barks at everything in sight.

 

[Crankyshank]

I often take my dogs with me when I run errands. Since Petsmart is a reward for them when they've been good and it is a good 20min from my house and gas prices are high I combine errands. As a result, they need to stay in the car while I run quickly in and out of other places.

I only bring them when the weather is cool and preferably overcast, I leave the window cracked, the door locked, and I am seldom more than 10-15min. My dogs love to go for rides. They are comfortable, have water, well cared for, and not overheated at all.

 

[MeanLaureen]

I don't think there's a law to that effect here, but we have called the police before. We went to the mall one time in the middle of August and there was a dog locked in a car with the windows just cracked. The dog really looked miserable. We stuck around for a few minutes to make sure the owners weren't just running right in and right back out, but they were nowhere in sight.

We had to leave, so I'm not sure what happened after the police showed up.

I have to call several times every summer for people leaving their dogs in cars when the temperatures are in the high 80's and 90's.

Everytime when the police come out to check it out (we have off duty police officers as security in our mall), if they can't find the owner immediately they will get into the car - whether through getting the door open or breaking the window. And I'm sure the owner gets hit with a stiff "animal endangerment" fine.

One time last year someone tied their dogs leash to something in the car and left the windows mostly opened during the middle of the summer. The dog desperately tried to escape (it was a good sized lab/hound mix) and managed to get partially out the window and was dangling above the ground, HANGING by it's NECK. . A customer told me about it and I ran out there to hold the dog up while they called for a officer to help. We got the dog free and got him some water - then the owner showed up and the police officer got up in their face and chewed them a new one! I left at that point.. I figured the officer had it handled!

 

[disneynutt1225]

Personally, I find it a little sad to walk by a dog left in a car, but I don't know what the circumstance is - it could be a quicky thing. I don't really know. I don't see a problem with it if it was cool outside, but if we're talking HEAT then no way.

When Toby was a puppy, I thought it was a good idea to take him with me on an errand (I had to have something notarized at someone's house). Well, I left him in my car (it was warmish out, early Spring) but I left the windows cracked. He was really fine. So, I'm talking to the notary, and we got caught up in conversation. Toby had been barking off and on and I figured he was just upset that I wasn't with him. All of a sudden, my car alarm started going off like crazy. He had been running back and forth in the front seat and in doing so was rocking the car which set off the alarm! I don't think I ever ran quite as fast as I did that day! Needless to say, after that I never left him in the car unattended.

 

[MOMTOCUTESTDOGEVER]

I was talking to a friend in Florida, and he was saying it is illegal to leave your dog in a parked car. Is that true? He seemed SHOCKED and very upset with me that I took our dog to the mall and left him in the car.

Do you leave your dog in a parked car?

My dog goes with us lots of places and I just leave him in the car with the windows unrolled a bit unless it is sunny out, when I leave him home. He also has water

I live in Washington state where it is overcast pretty much 9 months of the year, so it doesn't get hot in the car. It is never for more than an hour.

What is the law where you are?

Why even bring your dog if you are going to leave him in the car? Sorry, but I think this is just wrong.

 

[FreshTressa]

Why even bring your dog if you are going to leave him in the car? Sorry, but I think this is just wrong.

Because usually it is a bunch of things we do....we stop by the mall, pick up the kids at school, we go for a walk in the park, we go to petco, we go to the bank, stop and visit my mom and her dog etc. We make a day of it. He'd much rather spend the day running errands with me than at home in his crate.

So...I just take him with me when I know I'm going to be gone all day and make sure and give him plenty of walks/water.

And, of course, if it is at all warm, doggy stays at home while I run errands. Or if I am JUST going to the mall, I would leave him home.

And I totally agree with calling the police if someone leaves their dog in a car on a sunny day...no matter the temp outside.

 

[LK03]

I've never done it and never plan to. There have been days I've wanted to take my pup to Petsmart and then swing by Target, but since he can't go into Target too he doesn't go on the trip or I just go to Target a different time.

DH and I went out to eat one night and saw a lab in a crate in the back of the truck. I thought that was so incredibly mean. Why bother taking your dog if you're going to leave it in a crate alone where people can put their hands in it?! Not to mention this is in Texas when it was humid/muggy outside. I felt so terrible. AND these truck owners had a smaller dog in free roam inside the truck. Totally not necessary.

I have a puppy too and after working and he's been in his crate all day I don't leave when I get home because I want to spend quality time at home with him and not crate him again.

 

[MissMinnie]

Unfortunately in Florida, we see this all the time and a law had to be passed due to those with no common sense. Even in the middle of winter cars get hot inside in South Florida. Where I live it is not smart to keep your car windows cracked or doors unlocked as there is usually someone around to take advantage of the fact. Dogs have been stolen from cars, cars have been stolen, and personal property stolen this way. I guess how you handle this situation just depends on where you live.