Be very careful when you have your pet in your vehicle

[bcrass2]

Originally Posted by lilroxy

IMO, Its just a bad idea, period. Like it or not, most states have laws regarding this and the laws are written so that a violation is left up to the interpretation of an officer.

Maryland: It is against the law in most jurisdictions to leave a pet unattended in a standing or parked motor vehicle in a manner that endangers the health or safety of the animal.

Even if you are only in a store for 5 minutes, if an officer comes along and in his/her opinion the pets health or safety is endangered, you're going to be cited or worse. It won't matter what you say.

A quick web search reveals the following dangers:


It takes only minutes for a pet left in a vehicle on a warm day to succumb to heatstroke and suffocation. Most people don't realize how hot it can get in a parked car on a balmy day. However, on a 78 degree day, temperatures in a car parked in the shade can exceed 90 degrees -- and hit a scorching 160 degrees if parked in the sun!

Even when the outside air temperature is in the 60s, temperatures inside some vehicles can reach the danger zone on bright, sunny days. So many experts recommend not to leave pets or children in parked cars even for short periods if the temperature is in the 60s or higher.

Rolling down a window or parking in the shade doesn't guarantee protection either, since temperatures can still climb into the danger zone. And if the window is rolled down sufficiently, the pet can escape. Plus if a passer-by claims he or she was bitten through the car window, the pet owner will be liable.

What about leaving the dog in the car with the air-conditioning running? Many people do this, but tragedy can strike -- and it has. For example, in 2003, a police dog in Texas died after the air-conditioning in the patrol car shut down and began blowing hot air. The air system's compressor kicked off because the engine got too hot. Many cars, including modern models with computerized functions, are prone to the same problem. In August 2004, a North Carolina couple lost two of their beloved dogs, and nearly lost their third dogs, as result of a similar failure. They had left bowls of water and ice in the car, and the air-conditioning on, during their shopping trip of less than 30 minutes.
Animals are not able to sweat like humans do. Dogs cool themselves by panting and by sweating through their paws. If they have only overheated air to breathe, animals can collapse, suffer brain damage and possibly die of heatstroke. Just 15 minutes can be enough for an animal's body temperature to climb from a normal 102.5 to deadly levels that will damage the nervous and cardiovascular systems, often leaving the animal comatose, dehydrated and at risk of permanent impairment or death.

AMEN to that!

[jrsygal37]

When we first got Lilly from rescue, like a lot of new owerns we took her with us to Petsmart. I was getting her stuff from the car while my the 14 yr. old son was carrying her across the parking lot. A car with four men stopped and and watched as my son was appoaching, the one opened the door and I saw this and instinctively ran towards my son and Lilly. The car door shut and the car took off. My belief is they saw and easy target with a kid and they were going to snatch Lilly. She was not even 2 lbs. at the time. I was very fortunate that neither my son nor Lilly were taken or hurt. I've learned a lot from that incident and I am always unguard and very very careful. I personally would never leave my dogs in a car. I never left my kids in the car either, even when they got older. It just makes me too nervous. and even if I have them in the carrier (The dogs not the kids. LOL) I always have my hand on that carrier at all times. Elaine

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by Miao

But in this instance, I don't think her yorkie was barking in the car at all. Even if she was, the woman didn't show up until after the owners returned and was getting ready to leave. The stranger just treated someone else's property as a free-for-all petting zoo and tugging at the pet for possession is inexcusable. Even if you forced pats onto someone else's dog, it doesn't give you the right to take it into your arms no matter if it was barking or not, which I highly doubt it was.

As for police waiting for the owner, my husband's former co-worker had her little dog in the car (if I recall correctly, it was a chihuahua) since she didn't think straight I suppose, when she decided to go to the local zoo on a hot summer's day and obviously, couldn't take the dog inside. She left the window to her BMW open. I don't even believe that's enough. Sure enough, RCMP came along (Royal Canadian Mounted Police), smashed her car window (when they could very well have reached inside and unlocked it) and took the dog in. She had to pay the fine to pick her dog up, receive a lecture, and of course, she had to pay out to repair her window.

I am sorry but I am glad they broke the window she never should have left the dog in the car and braking the window gives her a consequence other then a fine to pay.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by celstu1

Thats not fair. You have NO Idea how long that person was in the store or why they had to leave their pup there. 5 mins alone in the car when its not boiling hot is not going to kill the dog. Yes, they do run the risk of someone stealing their dog though. I am kind of tired of hearing this from people. I need to stop at a store on my way home from my boyfriends when I have my dogs sometimes. They are alone in the car for 5 mins. No one has the right to think or say that I am not a good owner because of that. Please, think or watch before saying something to someone else. Its not fair to them that they get accused or something (especially neglect or abuse) because someone else just reacted without the facts. I know I'd be soooo upset and hurt if someone thought I abused or neglected my dogs when they are my life and I treat them like they are my children.

No hard feelings....

All it takes is 1 minute to steal a car and less then that to take the dogs in the car and leave the car. If you want to take the chance of losing your babies to a thief then thats your decision and honestly in my opionion and the stories I have heard a bad one. Dogs can freeze in a car so dont think just really hot weather is bad for them. I think something is wrong with people who leave there children in cars as well. Do you also really think its fair for the dog to sit in the car while you do your shopping when they could be at home comfy and happy playing with there toys, taking a nap and going potty when they have too. If I thought the police would do anything I too would call when I saw and dog left in a car! Its not right ever.

[Miao]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

I am sorry but I am glad they broke the window she never should have left the dog in the car and braking the window gives her a consequence other then a fine to pay.

hehe, my sentiment's exactly. I found it amusing how the owner felt victimized from the incident. I don't think she learned how wrong her decision was to leave her little dog in the car in the summer heat while enjoying the zoo with family/friends. It wasn't just a running in and out for an errand. She could have taken the time to take her dog home then go back to join her friends in the zoo if she lacked the common sense to realize you can't bring other animals into a place full of protected species in the first place.

Theft is a great concern. But I rarely see large dogs get targeted and very often see large breeds get left in the car unattended. The OP had her little one mostly concealed, while their larger dog, a labradoodle was left out for all to see. But the case with the OP, again, I don't think it was about car theft, etc., but that a woman approached the OP while she was holding on to her little one at the back of her vehicle and the strange woman was attempting to help herself to someone else's furkid. For one, the stranger had lacked the manners to gain consent from the owner before she helped herself to petting the dog.

[Rosie's Momma]

Originally Posted by Miao

The OP had her little one mostly concealed, while their larger dog, a labradoodle was left out for all to see. But the case with the OP, again, I don't think it was about car theft, etc., but that a woman approached the OP while she was holding on to her little one at the back of her vehicle and the strange woman was attempting to help herself to someone else's furkid. For one, the stranger had lacked the manners to gain consent from the owner before she helped herself to petting the dog.

THANKS Miao for trying to clarify my original posting ...... you are absolutely right - my concern was about the woman who approached me and attempted to take Rosie out of my arms.

Believe me people ...... I'm aware of NOT leaving dogs, cats, kids or chocolate in a car when the temperature is high but, where I live, at this time of year, the temperature is about 6 - 9 degrees Celcius (42 to 48 degrees F.) - so I'm NOT guilty of *Rosie abuse*.

Lets end this discusson here and now ....... AND ....... this is the absolutely LAST TIME I will post on YT ...... seems to me there is always someone ready to jump down your throat and I just don't need that ...... I'm already a caregiver 24/7/365 for my husband who is terminal so have more than enough to deal with without being made feel I'm a poor caregiver to my Rosie ......... goodbye!