Be very careful when you have your pet in your vehicle
 

The strangest thing happened today …….. I was at my local WalMart. As usual, when I went into the store, I put Rosie into her crate in the back of the Van with the blacked out windows – I think it safer to keep her there while shopping than just loose in the vehicle for anyone to look in the windows and see her – it's too easy these days for people to open locked vehicles and steal dogs etc.

Anyway, when I came out of the store I opened the rear hatch and got Rosie out of the crate. My son, who was with me, went to the front and got his Labradoodle out of the front seat (he’d wiggled through the dog blocker we have in the back of the van ….. LoL !!!!) to bring him around to put him back into the back of the van.

A lady came up to me ohhhhing and awwwing over Rosie, reached her hands out to Rosie as if to take her out of my arms to pet her. I just had a real uncomfortable feeling so I looped my fingers around her harness and just held her to me – the lady kept ohhhhhing and awwwwwing all the while I had the feeling that she was wanting to hold Rosie, as she kept putting her hands around Rosie and pulling her, as if to take her out of my arms, but I wasn’t going to go there so held on tight. Then my son brought his dog around to the back of the van and she looked at him and said ……. ‘oh, you’re cute too’ but then immediately turned her attention back to Rosie.

As I said I just had a bad feeling about the whole scenario and really thought that the lady was actually trying to get Rosie into her hands and maybe claim her to be hers – I’ve heard of this happening before ....... this lady was just too *gushy* over Rosie.

I smiled sweetly at the lady, said, yes, we love her very much, backed away and put Rosie into her carry bag on the front console and got into the Van.

There was just something about the whole scene that gave me the creeps!

I believe it wasn't too long ago when I read on a local craigslisting of a person who had gotten her thesis stolen (inside a bag in the car) along with her caged rabbit out of her car while she was inside a Wal-Mart shopping. I'm thinking the amateur thief didn't even look inside the cage and figured it must have been a cat or dog and was willing to wait until s/he got the booty home before determining its value. It must be a Wal-Mart thing. :rolleyes:

This is another reason why I would never leave my girl in the car by herself. Times have gotten worse than they used to be, at least around here.

As for people helping themselves to petting my girl as if we human owners didn't exist, I've had little children and full grown adults do that. There was one late evening on a relatively quiet downtown night when all the retail shops have long been closed, my husband and I were walking our girl minding our own business. A not-all-there type of woman was window shopping and hovering around a certain store when she spotted our dog. She started going "ooooh"ing and "ahhh"ing and then I was watching her pull of her mitts as quickly as she could and was awkwardly trying to rearrange a couple of the bags she was carrying to free up her hands for the obvious, shuffling towards our direction as we walked right by and kept going. She started shouting out while following but at a slower pace than our speed walking, "Hey!" and then another "Hey! You there! Wait!" We just looked over our shoulder and gave her a "What the heck, are you kidding me??" Kind of look, and kept going... Not long after, as we were passing a bus stop on the same street, different block, there was a woman who had made the move to reach to pet our girl at the same time saying, "awwww" but we kept on going ignoring her and she spoke audibly enough for us to hear, "Is that a dog or more like a cockroach." And this was when she was a long and tall 5 lb'er. That was the same freaky night we ran into a guy bleeding from his head in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery twitching on the ground and while we were calling it in to the ambulance, he stumbled away leaning against vertical structures along the way.

I haven't gotten one who tried to steal her out of my hands yet, and definitely not one who'd approach our car to touch our baby, and I hope it stays that way. This city is full of crazy people!! :eek: :p

:eek: thats all very scary. I havent had any close encounters like you both have, but i worry because Molly is so friendly to everyone. I always make sure i have some treats in my pocket, and as she is such a little piggy, i like to think i can call her back to me quickly if i need to. When she is off the lead running about, I feel as though i need to constantly check the whole area to see who is approaching. I put her back on the lead if i feel unsure about anything. Oh how i wish we lived in a safe and happy world!

That is why I don't take Tricksie. I have heard about people snatching dogs out of peoples arms.

I had a very strange experience during the Holiday Season with SophieKate. I had her in a sling carrier in the Mall with me and some lady came right over to me and took her out of my carrier and was holding her.

Thank goodness I had her leash on her also, I kept a very tight grip on her leash and was prepared to beat that woman senseless if she took my pup (I keep it on her when she is in the sling carrier).

I understand Yorkies are cute and people want to hold them. I was the same way before I got mine but I always asked permission to pet the dog and would have never picked it up out of a carrier.

I just tell them she bites. That will keep their paws off my baby!! I'm totally creeped out when people aproach me and go all crazy. I hold on for dear life. I guess I'm used to having a million eyes, I have 4 "skin" they were all under 10 at one time. So try to watch them, my pocketbook, and try to shop. It's nuts. No one touches my babies with their dirty germy hands, sorry! Call me over protective thats fine.

When I go to Walmart or any other store, I leave my yorkies at home. And I would NEVER leave them unattended in a vehicle, crated or not. In my opinion, that is just asking for trouble.

You have to be very careful, especially in this bad economy. It always amazes me how rude and pushy people can be. :aimeeyork

Wow that lady was totally out of line to do that. You were alot nicer than I wouldve been

I dont mean to be rude but I think it is wrong to leave a dog in the car while shopping and not really fair to the dog either. Also what if someone stole your van?

I certainly agree with the 2 above posters. I'm sorry but anyone who leaves their dog alone in a car is asking for trouble. We recently had a women here whose car window was smashed and her 3 dogs taken when she was inside at an auction. I don't belive she ever got them back although she offered a $10,000 reward and it was in the newspapers and on TV.

Wow!! How scary. I have never taken mine anywhere if they have to be left in the car-I had my windows smashed in and my bookbags and purse stolen about 3 years ago-therefore showing me how fast it can all go downhill. I am glad you were able to get out of there with no harm done. Very creepy!! :O

I don't think I want to come to visit you any time soon:wink:

Thats terrible, I would have done the same thing. Be careful taking your pup anywhere....

omg! :eek: People are crazyyy! When I have my puppy out I'm going to be extra cautious. Especially around the adults. . . the LITTLE kids not so much because thats how kids are.

Creepy!!!!! You were a lot nicer than I would've been ;)
I would've told her to back off ?*!% :eek: Just Kidding :D

This is a great warning. Ive gotten away from putting harnesses and leashes on my boys when we are in the car, but I will get back to it again. I always think its a good idea to have their harness/leash on whenever you are out of the house. Its always easier to keep a hold on your pup if (god forbid) someone tries things like that! Im glad your baby is still safe with you! :)

maybe she ment well...(yorkies r so darn cute)I myself feel sorry for little dogs barking in cars,I always look if I hear barking... Around here they have security going around looking for people leaving dogs unattended... I know one time police waited for the owner to come to a car

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 know how you feel. You just get a strange feeling that something may not be right.
I took my youngest into Petsmart after a vet visit. I had her in the basket in a softsided carrier with the top unzipped so she could stick her head out and see everyone. This lady came up and before I knew it, had her scooped up in her arms. A cold chill came over me and I immediately started thinking about what I am going to do if this lady did not give her back. She lifted Zoey up to her face and let her give kisses and then put her down, whew. I have not stopped thinking about it since, you just can't be too careful.

This is really a wake-up call! When Cash was still a puppy, I took him to the mall with me and as I entered one store, the sales lady came over, took him and walked to the back of the store. I freaked out, followed her and took him back in a huff. I never go to that store now.
But I guess I am lucky in a way: the breeder I got Cash from had a young son and he wasn't taught how to handle a puppy correctly. He would pick them up awkwardly and hurt them. So now, Cash is very wary of strangers. The only way he will allow a stranger near him is when I am holding him.
I used to worry that someone might take him when he escaped from our yard (where we lived last year), but he is so damn fast and cheeky, no one ever got near him. :cool:
I guess having a slightly anti-social, wary and cheeky dog has its advantages.;)

Yes, that was an odd experience for you with that woman .However, I do not ever leave Suzi alone in a car , ever. If I am uncomfortable taking her inside a store , I just don't go in. i have taken her into the video store, Circle K with me, no issues. The Super walmart will let small carried in dogs in as long as they are not in the food area. I do believe there are a lot more shopping centers now that have seurity cameras everywhere in parking lots, however this still will not prevent a dumb ass from taking someone's animal right out of a car. :thumbdown

Ditto!

That is so true. A few months ago, a lady here in GA had her car stolen with two small dogs in it. The car was found, but the dogs weren't. I always keep Prince's carrier in my car, so if we are out and about and I need to stop somewhere, I put him in his carrier and take him with me. No one knows he's in there. I've done that at Hallmark, Barnes and Noble and Macy's. There is no way on earth I would leave him in the car by hmself. I would drop him off at home before doing that.

oh, wow, that is certaintly scary, I never leave my pups in the car alone, if we take them and we need to stop in a store that we can't take them one of us stays with them. also I am glad my pup is microchiped for creeps like that, they can't claim my dog :p the information is inside her..glad your pup is safe.
hugs.
Carmen in nj

Good Morning all..it's funny I came across this post..this Saturday morning I took my Bryan to get his face trimmed and nails cut at Petsmart in Yonkers NY...well I dropped him off and usually go across the parking lot to Pathmark to do a little shopping until he's readyn well when I came out of the store as I loading my groceriesin my car and I see this tiny red sweater in the front seat of a small car parked nxt to mine...upon a closer look I realized it was a small yorkie left unattended I couldn't believe it!!!! Who the #*@"(? Would leave a small defenseless puppy in the parking lot of. Supermarket by his self.... I was sooo mad I started to call the police..if I'm going some where and cannot take Bryan I just leave him at home... Oooh did I mention that it was also snowing...people r crazy

Where we live dog snatching is not as much of a worry.

Even so, I never leave Tosh in the car during the day even for a few moments because I'm afraid something might happen to me (like tripping and banging my head or getting struck be a vehicle on a crosswalk) and I won't get back to him. :(

If I have to go somewhere he can't go I leave him at home.

I take my babies everywhere!!! While I grocery shop they are in the cart in a carrier. I have only had one person ever try to deny me entry! I just walked out one door and came in another!!! :D

I could never leave my babies in the car!!! Not in todays world!!!

In Arizona ppl leave their dogs in the car in the smoldering heat!! We even had a police officer leave his german shepard, partner in the back of his patrol car. It died! He said he forgot he had him with him!!! :eek:
How could you forget?

I think they charged him!!! If I was the judge I would make him sit in a hot car for a few hours with a fur coat on!!!:mad:

I know! I used to just leave my car on with the ac/heat (depending on time of year) and lock the doors while I ran into the store. Now, I take the extra 15 minutes to take my guys back home after work before going anywhere!

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.... :) :)

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.