Dogs in Cars - Hot Weather

keithclancy

After an experience this weekend I thought I'd share this.

Basically we left our Dog in the back of the car with all four Windows open in the shade as we had to grab some food on the way home, had plenty of water and also there were some ice packs in there too, where we were standing didn't have any shade so I thought this was better and it was only about 30 meters away from the car and I could keep an eye on her, plus periodically check how hot it is in the car.

Anyways, long story short I saw someone standing next to the car but assumed they were either waiting for someone in the toilet or waiting to go to the toilet next to the car, in fact they were actually waiting for us to come back (around 5 minutes) in between which time i'd gone to check the dog and they went and told someone in the Cafe place that the owners of the car (us) had left the dog in there for 3 hours (don't know how that happened but there was some breakdown in communication)

After we finished our food walked back over, there was a person from the same Cafe went ape****, saying she had called the Police, after explaining we were standing in her Cafe and we weren't gone 3 hours, plus opened the boot of the estate to show her that the inside of the car was actually far colder than the outside, we were only standing 30 meters away and the dog had plenty of water, her tone completely changed and she agreed that everything was fine.

My missus had actually asked this women for cold water for our dog and I don't think she put 2 and 2 together.

After contemplating the whole thing, while in these circumstances the dog was in no danger, a passer by wouldn't know this, they just see a dog in a car thats getting excited because the passer by is paying them attention.

Anyways, my lesson is learned, won't be leaving the dog in the car again at all, not matter how close by it is, or at the very least someone will have to be sitting in the car with the dog at all times.

I would recommend everyone else do the same, especially in this hot weather.

Atomic Pineapple

Facebook generation - overly dramatic tantrums about anything they remotely disagree with while not knowing anything about the situation.

Jimbob 83

I would have left the dog at home secured in it's shed, maybe im old fashioned

noddyone2

Dogs never to be left in a car in warm weather. I called the Garda about a car with a dog in distress last year, small bit of window left open. Another guy smashed a side windor before the garda arrived, who said he would have done the same.

Anan1

I'd be glad that someone cared.

Atomic Pineapple

noddyone2 wrote: »

Dogs never to be left in a car in warm weather. I called the Garda about a car with a dog in distress last year, small bit of window left open. Another guy smashed a side windor before the garda arrived, who said he would have done the same.

Dog was clearly well catered for in the OP's case though. If a dog was clearly in stress then I'd see the concern.

MetzgerMeister

Keith, the way I see it is that the dog would have been less comfortable sitting beside you and herself.

As has been said, an over-reaction by someone who didn't understand or know anything about the situation.

MugMugs

OP, Am I right in assuming that you were dining Al Fresco and as such, would it have been possible to bring the dog with you whilst dining?

MetzgerMeister

Antares wrote: »

OP, Am I right in assuming that you were dining Al Fresco and as such, would it have been possible to bring the dog with you whilst dining?

What's with the fancy wording?! He was 8in food

keithclancy

Antares wrote: »

OP, Am I right in assuming that you were dining Al Fresco and as such, would it have been possible to bring the dog with you whilst dining?

Yes, that was the case, but unfortunately it wasn't really suitable (on a footpath next to a road) no canopy either.

I wouldn't make the dog stand in direct sun, always have some sort of shade available.

I mean if the Cafe has a choice of take away, i'd have gone with that and went and sat in the car with the Windows open

kopfan77

Jimbob 83 wrote: »

I would have left the dog at home secured in it's shed, maybe im old fashioned

Yes you are

Jimbob 83

kopfan77 wrote: »

Yes you are

Access to food/water
Familiar surroundings
Plenty of slack on chain for toilet needs
Nice comfy shed to sleep/rest in.

My dog loved it's shed and generally hated being in the back of a car tbh

kopfan77

Jimbob 83 wrote: »

Access to food/water
Familiar surroundings
Plenty of slack on chain for toilet needs
Nice comfy shed to sleep/rest in.

My dog loved it's shed and generally hated being in the back of a car tbh

But thats your dog. I guess the OP needs to let us know if their dog enjoys the car rides...if it does then I see nothing wrong with what they did and I would encourage them to keep bringing their dog on road trips as they are as much a part of the family as any other family member, rather than leaving him/her tied up in the garden! I have 2 GSD and they love their road trips

MugMugs

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

What's with the fancy wording?! He was 8in food

I'm just in one of my moods

keithclancy wrote: »

I wouldn't make the dog stand in direct sun, always have some sort of shade available.

Fair point. I personally would have explained my case and if it fell on deaf ears then told the "worried" passer by to shove their concern where the sun doesn't shine. Pun intended.

keithclancy

kopfan77 wrote: »

But thats your dog. I guess the OP needs to let us know if their dog enjoys the car rides...if it does then I see nothing wrong with what they did and I would encourage them to keep bringing their dog on road trips as they are as much a part of the family as any other family member, rather than leaving him/her tied up in the garden! I have 2 GSD and they love their road trips

Dog loves the road trip, she just sits looking out the back Window, cant use the rear wiper though, she tries to attack it as it moves over and back

mhigh86

Jimbob 83 wrote: »

I would have left the dog at home secured in it's shed, maybe im old fashioned

surely U should of left her in the house, that way she can tidy up a bit.:p

franksm

Saw this on the DSPCA's Facebook page - thermometer/reminder for in-car use doggy style. Oh matron !

http://shop.dspca.ie/car-thermometer-p-574.html

Looks a bit naff, but if it serves the purpose... and I hope the scale is Fahrenheit and not Celsius...