I'd break the windows to get him. Calling Animal services and stuff might take long.

 

I would have to respectfully disagree with this. Without knowing all the circumstances, I think you could get into some trouble with the law if you broke out someone else's windows.

Here's how my day went today: Needed some money so I could go shopping for the dog so we (the dog and I) went to the bank, I ran the air hard on the way to the bank, parked right in front of the building so I could make sure she didn't eat the seats (she has seperation anxiety). I did crack the front windows a bit.

Then we went to the pet store for some much needed supplies. Of course I took her in with me. Shopped till we dropped and then headed to the local drug store for milk. I ran the air hard on the way there, parked in the shade, cracked the windows just enough for her nose to come through (don't want the whole head in case she snapped at someone). Ran into the store, grabbed the milk, maybe took me all of 2 minutes.

The dog was fine at both the bank and the drugstore but if I had come out to find my windows smashed, I wouldn't have been fine. In a perfect world where gas prices are 50 cents a gallon, I would have gone by myself to the bank and drugstore, then gone back home, picked up the dog and gone shopping with her.

I think you have to make dang sure the dog IS in distress before you jump to the conclusion and bust someone's window. My advice would be to call someone.

Val

 

Call A/C or the police and then find security for the shopping center.

 

Personally, I'd call animal services first and see what they say.

Yes, officers usually have the authority to break the window if needed but I doubt the average Joe does.

 

This site pretty much backs up SammyDog's advice:

http://www.askpatty.com/page.php?ID=1174

Definitely see if the owner is around, if not, then try to get the dog out of the car and save it and call 9-1-1 (I would do this first and then break the window...that way hopefully the law enforcement will show up sooner and they would be there in case the owner comes out and wonders what you are doing breaking their window in which I would say it is inhumane to leave a dog in a hot car and their dog is worth more than their car window).

I think if people are caught with their dogs in hot cars they should have the animal taken away from them. They obviously didn't seem to care much about it in the first place if they leave it in a hot car. I would make the owner sit in a hot car with no a/c and the windows up to see how they like it.

 

The appropriate actions were posted in the paper here earlier this year and went like this: Contact store security..they are responsible for the health and welfare of everyone on their property. They should immediately try to locate the owner and call 911. If store security does not call or take action, then you call 911 first and then try to find the owner. The article went on to talk about several instances of broken windows and the pet turned out to be a stuffed animal.

 

In the nanny state of California we have a law stating no dog can be left in a car under conditions of heat or cold enough to cause even minor injury. For minor injury the fine is $100.
It's just an expansion or clarification of the existing abuse of animal laws which were good enough in my opinion and carried higher potential fines and judicial discression.
With a distressed animal I would call 911. Most of us don't carry around Mall security or animal control phone numbers in our cell phones, but I'm going to add animal control now that I'm thinking about it.
I'd break the window only if the dog was obviously distressed, not just hot but I'd consider the car first. If its a pick up truck, with a Harley Davidson motorcycle in the back and a pit bull in the cab I'd leave it for the cops. Also keep in mind the dog of any size could attack if its able.

 

One time at a grocery store, I noticed a dog left in the front seat of a truck when I went in. Since the dog was still in there when I came out 10-15 minutes later, I went in and had customer service page the owner of the truck and I firmly told the guy to get his dog out of the truck because he could overheat and die quite easily. The guy was pretty cocky until I told him about 2 dogs I had seen a few weeks prior at the animal ER that both had heat stroke when left in a vehicle on a day cooler than it was that day.

 

What temperature is too hot too leave a dog in the car?

I have often thought what I would do if I saw an owner leave a dog in the car on a day I new was too hot. My thought was if the car was not locked or the window was cracked enough to reach my arm in and unlock I would just take the dog. I would maybe find new home for doggie. I dont think anyone who would do that to a dog deserves one. Even with the windows cracked on a hot day, so what? I would like to see the owner stick thier nose out and gasp for air just to stay alive till some one let them out.

 

See now, statements like that don't make any sense to me. This isn't a society where everyone can just go around being vigilantes. You can't simply take someone's dog and walk off because you feel its right. That’s why we have animal control and the police and the countless other organizations.

Further more, not to play devil's advocate here, but I'd hardly condemn someone as a pet owner for leaving their dog in the car (baring some extreme cases). Why? Because for the most part, I credit the problem to ignorance. Half the pet owners out there don't realize what they are doing is wrong, nor do they know of dogs dying in cars. Heck many of them grew up in the years where people just didn't worry about this sort of thing. Education is truly the key, in my opinion. I'd even count punishments in the 'education' category, providing they match the crime. Taking away someone's pet ISN'T proper punishment. But again, this is all just my opinion.

And yes, I am well aware of the other section of the population that simply doesn’t care for their pets. Obviously they are the exception to what I've said above.

 

Here is what happened: The location was a strip mall with a lot of businesses. The temp was in the 80's. I was inside one of the stores and my husband was outside waiting for me when he spotted the little dog frantically hopping around in a car. The windows were closed tight and there was no air or water for the dog. The car was parked in the hot sun on an asphalt lot. After 30 minutes of franticlaly jumping around with her tongue hanging out she huddled on the floor in the backseat of the car. There were 3 concerned people standing around the car watching this and didn't know what to do. No one knew how much longer this little dog had been in the car before she was spotted.

My husband called me on my cel phone and asked me to come outside and figure out what to do. I didn't have any emergency numbers in my cel phone so I went into the closest department store to the location of the car and gave them the license number and asked them to page the owner of the car. Turns out the owner of the car WAS in that store and she quietly slipped by me and went outside where she met my husband standing there by her car. He politely asked her if she was aware that the dog was getting too hot.

This lady began screaming and shouting at my husband and telling him she was trying on clothes and was almost finished. She walked away from him in the direction of the store. She had a young child with her. About this time I walked out and saw what was going on. I asked the lady if she would let me have her dog if she was willing to let it die in the hot car. She told me NO she would not give me her dog. The lady kept walking toward the store and I begged her to at least roll down the windows. She said she would not roll the windows down because someone might steal the dog and she looked at me like I was a dog thief. I told her I would not leave the side of that car until she checked on her dog. Finally, she grabbed her child and angrily got in the car and drove off. We left then but I suspect she may have driven to a different parking place and gone back into the store.

I wished afterwards that I would have called the cops instead (I didn't have their number in my phone either and I was not in my own city) but I didn't know if they would respond to a dog in a car.

After this terrible experience I don't know if I would try to find the owner again. If it was MY DOG that I forgot in my car I would HOPE and PRAY that someone would find me and tell me. I would never forgive myself if I killed my dog in a hot car. Now I carry the animal emergency number in my cel phone and will call them instead. Or I will call 911.

Thank you for your responses. I was told by some people on another forum that I should mind my own business. I was totally shocked and upset by this. I was just wondering what others thought.

Sorry this is so long. I am still upset about it.

 

I am so glad you didn't mind your own business. You might have saved the dogs' life. I would have done the same thing.

My old dog, a lab, LOVED riding in my van. Wherever I went, he wanted to go. He would scurry in and jump in the back and sit there with a look on his face that said "you're not going without me lady". But last summer I never took him with me because of the heat. Even with windows cracked you just never know. I can't imagine that kind of death...for a human or a dog.

 

If I was there and thats how the lady responded I would have something like "if you don't at least open the windows I will break open your window and take the dog to the humane society." Then if she ignored me and kept walking the next thing she'd hear is glass breaking because I would have taken off my shirt or got a towel out of my car and wrap it around my hand and bust out the window.

 

If I run errands and the places I stop at only takes up to 10 minutes each stop I leave the truck on with the AC.. It uses more fuel to restart the engine than to leave it idleing for up to 5 minutes. If I will be in the stopping points longer than 10 minutes I leave on the AC or I bring them home.



But you betcha....If I seen a distressed dog in a hot car...My instinct would be to take actions and ask questions later. Thats how this cookie would crumble.

 

I went to a concert a few years ago and someone left their dog in the car, in the middle of summer, while they were watching the concert. After my friends and I parked, we were walking out of the parking area toward the concert and we saw security hanging around this car. They did bust the window to get the dog out, while they waited for police. I don't know what happened after that, that was just what I saw.

If I saw a dog in a car, with the windows rolled up, I would call the police or 911 and ask them what I should do. They would probably recommend calling animal control anyway. The only time I take my dogs anywhere with me is if I'm going some place that they themselves can go inside. I don't take my dogs with me when I know I have to get groceries or whatever and they would have to stay in the car alone. They only time I have gone grocery shopping and the dogs were in the car was when my boyfriend was with me and he waited in the car with the dogs. Not just with heat stroke, I worry about the theft of my dogs as well. I just don't see the sense in carting my dogs all over town with me while I run errands and they will be stuck in the car.

Something else: When I worked security at my college, before I graduated, we got a call concerning an unattended child in a car in the college parking lot. When we went to the car, they mother of the child was already there, getting ready to leave. We informed her that anytime we see a unattended child in a vehicle, we have the authority to break the window of that vehicle to ensure the safety of that child. Afterwards, the police would be notified as well as Children Service and they would then take over.

Also, it is my understanding that there is NO "safe" temperature to leave a dog or a child for that matter in a closed up vehicle.

 

Call the police, in MOST areas it's illegal to leave a dog or a child in a locked car.

 

Never mind looking for the owner, never mind calling animal control or security. The only appropriate action is to immediately call 911. Plain and simple. As someone involved in law enforcement, I cannot stress this enough!! If the dog is distressed precious seconds count - don't waste them. If windows are to be broken let the police do it unless the dog is in extreme distress and/or unresponsive, then all bets are off. If the owner was in the store for 30 seconds or 30 minutes, let the police advise them of the consequences of their actions.

I know I've posted here before about an elderly couple who took their dog, a 4 year old German Shepherd, with them to the hospital when the wife had to have tests. It was early am but it was a hot summer day on Cape Cod. As the hospital shift change was taking place employees noticed the dog in the car with the windows only slightly cracked. They called 911 and in the meantime they got the car unlocked, got the dog out, administered oxygen and did all the appropriate things but sadly he didn't make it. This couple now faces charges of animal cruelty and fines of thousands of dollars and they have to live with the fact that they've killed their dog.

I myself have called 911 several times regarding dogs left in hot cars. Know what? If it's a matter of the owner being in the store for 30 seconds - oh well! Next time they think about taking the dog with them, they will remember the incident and hopefully decide to leave the dog home.

I'm sorry if I sound arrogant, but I feel very strongly about this issue and wish people would not be afraid to call the police when there is a question about an animal's well being.

 

I would call 911 because it could take hours for animal control to arrive, this actualy happened to me once, we were on vacation, with our dogs and it was really hot out maybe 95* and we stopped driving for lunch and we left them in the car, windows up, AC on, and someone saw them and didnt know the car was running and called the cops on us they arrived and we saw them, they knew the AC was on and all was well but I'm glad someone cared enough to call, even know there was nothing wrong (they didnt know that).

 

That's what I'm talking about.....

 

Unless your police dept. is totally inept, they would not just simply suggest you call animal control. They would respond and they would respond quickly.

 

I'm going to be in soooooo much trouble here but I just can't help myself

What is the difference between a regular person leaving their dog in a running air conditioned car or a police K-9 unit leaving their dog in a running air conditioned car while they talk to whomever they have to talk to? Please don't say it doesn't happen because I've seen K-9 dogs left in cars for over 20 minutes at an accident before.

My tone in this post is not confrontational, it's amused.

Val

 

Hi Val, I personally wouldn't have a problem if I saw a dog in a car with the air conditioner running. But I would worry that when I came back out my car with my dog in it would be gone. Dog theft is on the rise and I for one just wouldn't take a chance and leave my precious dogs in the car. It's just something to think about.

 

I have extra key to lock my Truck. So I can keep a/c on. But I wouldnt leave my dog longer than 10 minutes.

 

I have no problem leaving my dogs in the car for short stops. If it is really hot I leave the air on. I would not suggest breaking into anyones car without calling the police first. My dogs travel well and generally like going places in the car. I don't tak them for me as much as they enjoy it.

Digits mama, the thing about using more gas to start a car than leaving it running is a myth. I don't really care about a little gas to provide comfort for the dogs anyway, but it burns more gas idling a car than starting it. The only possible exception is if you have a very old carburated car and you have to pump the gas pedal a bunch to start it. New fuel injected cars used almost no more gas to start than idle, so all the time it's running it is using more gas.

 

Cars with a remote starter can have the engine running and a/c on with no key in the ignition. If someone gets into the car and touches the brake or gas, the car shuts down. Of course, before that, they'd have Esther to deal with.

I don't do that because the engine could stall and the a/c shut down. Also, remote starters are set up to shut down automatically after a fixed time - maybe 15-20 minutes. And, finally, gas is too expensive to burn it without going anywhere.

 

You're right. There's no difference between a police K9 being left in the car with the a/c running or a civilian doing the same. I've done that myself when running into the store for 10 minutes. I carry an extra key for my vehicle. If the dogs are with me, the windows are up and the a/c is running full blast and the door is locked although I would have to wonder just how smart someone was if they were going to try stealing a vehicle with 2 rather large German Shepherds in it.

The problem here is if the car stalls out - the a/c stops working. Some Police K9 units have special equipment installed in them that turns the vehicle on and off at a specified temperature. If the vehicle stalls out or when the vehicle reaches the specified temperature, there is an alarm sent to the officer's radio or cell phone and he can return to his vehicle. Civilian vehicles don't have this equip. This is also not fail safe. There have been K9's that have died because the vehicle stalled out - the officer did not get an alarm and the dog died.

The best way to prevent a crisis is to use common sense. If it's a hot day and you're going to the supermarket - is there really any good reason the dog has to go? Wouldn't he/she be better off lying on the couch in front of the a/c?

 

The best way to prevent a crisis is to use common sense. If it's a hot day and you're going to the supermarket - is there really any good reason the dog has to go? Wouldn't he/she be better off lying on the couch in front of the a/c?

Absolutely agree with you!! If I was going to the grocery store especially for the "big one" I would leave the dog at home. The problem with my first post was that apparently someone had a problem with me leaving the dog in the car (at most) for 2 minutes while I ran into a drugstore for milk.

Common sense - now that's what I'm talking about. If I was the type of person who was mean to my dog, left her in a hot car for long periods then came on here and bragged about, I could see people getting upset. That's not what happened.

Some people seem to read more into a post than what's there, especially if it's something they don't agree with. I know passions can run high when it's something that you believe in but people really do need to take a breath once in awhile and actually read what is written not what they think is meant.

And by the way, only the first paragraph is directed at you. The rest is just generalization.

Val

 

I called the police last month when a dog was left in a car, the cop asked me if the windows were cracked open, I then asked him if it really mattered in this weather? I then got I will try to get one out there, I gave him the plate number of the car and then asked him if I smashed the window would they come faster?
I was in the next state over from mine so I asked if there were laws in that state to prevent dogs being left cares and I did not get an answer from him even though I already knew there was.

After I got off the phone with the cop the owner came out with grocery's and was doing scratch tickets, words then went back and forth between us. He left and I don't know if the police followed up or not.

Animal control would be the last I would have called b/c in most towns you get a machine during the day as well as after hours.

 

Daisyluv, for future reference, the number for the police dept. is 911. Not being rude here, but if there's another incident like the one you described, that's the only number you need. If you're not comfortable dialing 911, using your cell phone if your call 411 and ask for the non-emergency number of the local pd, most cell phone providers will give you the number and connect you directly. Please don't hesitate again.

 

Thank you. I will definitely do that if I am ever in this situation again. But in this case the person was at the car before 911 would have been able to respond. The store was only a few steps away, the page was immediate and the person walked right out to the car. I know that it was only LUCK that I went into the store where the pet owner was shopping. I won't count on being that lucky next time because if I was wrong, valuable seconds or minutes could have been lost (I learned my lesson here).

The dog in this situation could have been saved from the heat immediately if we had been dealing with a CARING pet owner. I never in a million years expected the person to come out and not care about the dog's welfare. I was more than shocked at her behaviour. If there is a next time I will immediately call 911. And since I didn't call 911 in this situation I still worry that the pet owner just went to another parking spot and went back inside and shopped some more. Trust me, I will never try to save the dog myself again, I will call 911 and let the authorities handle it.

One more thing, I agree with the person who said that they would much rather have their car window broken then to come out and find their dog dead from the heat. I would NOT break someone else's window but I would be so grateful if someone broke mine if my dog was truely in distress from the heat. That is just my opinion and no one has to agree or disagree with it.

I think that some posters here are just trying to give a polite word of caution about leaving dogs in cars and not actually criticizing people for doing it when the a/c is left on for the dog's comfort. And I know a person would have to be pretty stupid to steal a car with a german shepard in it (LOL) but I have Yorkies and that would be more of a possibility for my dogs, or other smaller dogs, being stolen than a big dog. I hope no one was offended. I just love my dogs so much and I know most of us would be heartbroken to have our car stolen with our dog in it.

We recently had elderly visitors from another state visiting my state and their car was stolen with their 14 year old dog in a crate on the back seat. The empty crate was found a few days later with no dog. There were massive searches done here and no dog ever turned up. The elderly couple had to return to their home and still come back periodically looking for their dog. I guess this is still haunting me and I never want to take that chance with my dogs. It is just something to think about.