Leaving dogs in car.
 

Ok, so if we are going somewhere real quick or going to be eating somewhere with parking outside the window of seating (so I can see) I will take my dogs with me and leave them in the car. I will NOT under ANY circumstance leave them in the car under the beating heat of the sun. I won't even leave them in the shade with the windows cracked open if it's too hot out. Also, I have a schnauzer that is very intimidating so I am not worried about my dogs being stolen (but I still keep the car in my view to give me piece of mind).

Well, today, it was about 60ish degrees out and the sun was setting. It was about 15 minutes away from the sun being completely set. There were only shady areas in the parking lot for miles. When it's this cold out, I leave my windows up. It makes me feel even safer because I know no one can stick their fingers (or any other object) through the window. Well, some lady started complaining to the hostess that my windows were up and was threatening to call the humane society! I never actually got to see the lady, else I would've given her a piece of my mind. I don't see anything wrong with my windows being up. If anything, it was getting to the point to where it was almost cold out and having the windows open would make my 3 lb baby cold!

My question is: am I wrong? Was it cruel of me to leave me windows down? When I got in the car it was in no way stuffy. I don't really see how it's different than being in a room with the windows closed...

I don't think you were wrong. I just think that people are more sensitive to the issue of leaving dogs in the car and I think she had good intentions. She probably just didn't realize that it was getting colder out and she didn't know that you were within eye sight to watch out for your pups!!

I wouldn't leave my babies in the car. Maybe it's where I'm from (Miami) but if they got stolen or something I'd die. I leave them locked with the AC running to go pay for gas and I get anxiety if there is a line and I have to wait with them in the car by themselves even with a perfect straight view. Maybe I'm over protective but better safe than sorry. JMO

You know the Lady complaining about the Puppy in the car is one of those .... leaving her %$§&?!§ kids in the car with a running motor to go run into Wal-Mart ...... :mad:

I do not leave the dog in the car neither ... but that does not mean I will go and run my mouth about others ..... People need to mind there own business ... :cool:

At agility I have to leave them in the car at comps or if they're not in class. I don't have cages set up for them like many other agiliteers.

If it's cold I'll leave the windows up. My car's about ten years old and isn't all that well sealed so I figure there's enough airflow. I've never come back to find them in any type of distress. And they're out there for over an hour.

you werent being cruel!

i usually take Kaya in with me, wherever i go. The only places that ever kicked me out bc of her was Target & grocery stores bc they carry food. i also have a carrier that has lots of vents and i leave the top open she can still feel like shes getting the full view of a new enviorment, and the store owners know shes confinded and wont run amuck.

if i cant bring her in a store, i will only leave her in there for 10 min max. and i blast the AC before going in.

people assume that if they see a dog in a car, its been in there for hours. and if it was cold out, its not like she was panting and about to overheat.

i would have told the lady to screw.

They only time I leave my furbabies in the car is when I have an extra key with us so we can leave the car running with the air on:cool::cool: They love to go with us but it always scares me to death:lol tears to leave them for more than 10 minutes:2smileys: Donna

sixty degrees outside means it's probably 80 or 90 inside the car. On the one or two times I have had to leave mine in the car, I take an extra set of keys, lock the doors and leave the car running. What you have to watch doing that tho, is those power windows. Little paws can put a windown down in a heartbeat and jump out and be gone in the blink of an eye.

i have done that once, most of the time we eat in the car instead of leaving her alone.

i'm sure we have all done it once or twice... If it is a summer evening.. and for whatever reason we aren't leaving Lay at home.. we'll leave her in her crate in the car... i go check on her frequently and if she starts to pant... i take my dinner to go. I'l leave her for 5 min if i have to run in somewhere.. the the corner store, but i try not to do it especailly as the weather is getting warmer. We know you don't want to do anything to harm your pup so just use your best judgement. !

I have fallen asleep waiting in a car for a couple of hours on a cold day with the windows up and i don't remember the air being constricted. However i do agree with being careful about people taking them, that has happened, they are expensive and if someone sees a free way to get one they will. But since you could see them from where you were i don't think you were causing them any distress.

I would NEVER say you were being cruel! However, I would never take the girls with me if I had to leave them in the car alone...Even if it's to go into a convenience store to pick up milk and I can see the car the entire time. These little ones get stolen all the time and that is my worst fear. My parents will take their little mini schnauzer for rides with them and if they stop to eat they park right in front of a window so they can see her. But, they always leave a window down. Like dee said it gets hotter in the car than it is outside...I would worry about it getting stuffy.

To me, leaving a dog in a car, is a big NO, NO. I don't care how cool or how hot it is. I don't leave my babies unsupervised at all. If I'm super hungry that I can't make it home without eating I go to the drive thru, park somewhere and eat there.
I don't think you are being cruel. Me, personally, wouldn't do it because I'm so paranoid about leaving my babies in the car.:rolleyes:

I think it depends on where you are & what time of year it is. The weather is milder here in NJ, so say - in spring, when it's in the 60s and overcast & quite cool (like today, for instance), it wouldn't necessarily be a big deal. I've gone to the grocery store for a quick trip at night & left Amelia in the car. I also take her with me when I go to pick up my son from "school" on breezy spring days. I just crack the windows a bit & the sunroof so she can have air.

OTOH, I don't think I'd ever do that in GA. Just too hot. I also probably wouldn't do it in summertime, regardless of where I am. It's too dangerous IMO at that time.

If you were being precautious, (OMG! I can't think! Did I spell that right???) I wouldn't pay one bit of attention to that lady. Some people just aren't happy unless they're complaining about something or looking down their nose at someone else. I guess it makes them feel better about their own shortcomings.

I never leave my girls in the car because I have heard too many horror stories of dogs being stolen from locked cars. But in your situation you know they are in no danger and the person reporting probably just had the dogs best interest at heart.